What is Food Addiction?
The idea of being addicted to food may sound odd at first to many people. Since everyone needs food to live, it only makes sense that one would eat on a very regular basis. Real food addiction, is when someone’s eating habits have a severe negative impact on their health, typically because of overeating. Still, many would say that overeating and other unhealthy eating habits are just a lack of self-control rather than an actual addiction. In generations past, this may have been a good argument, but today there are quite a few
studies that show that consuming particular types of foods triggers the same activities in the brain that is triggered by drugs. While it may be controversial to the general public, the scientific community is largely in agreement that some people can become addicted to food.
Processed Food is Addicting
When it comes to food addiction, it seems that
processed food is at the top of the list of the most dangerous options. This is because processed foods are made with lots of
sugar, simple carbs, and other things that
trigger the release of dopamine, which is associated with pleasure. When people eat processed foods on a very regular basis, they can become
dependent on the release of that dopamine. Just as with drugs, the brain also adapts over time, and will require greater amounts of the processed foods to get the same pleasure. This is why many people who overeat on processed foods tend to keep eating more and more over time, becoming obese and struggling with other health problems.
Are You Addicted to Food
When trying to see if you are addicted to food or if you just need to work on your willpower, one should consider similar things that an alcoholic would. Since you need to eat on a regular basis, you can’t just go cold turkey (pardon the pun) and give it up entirely. To see if you or a loved one might be addicted to food, go through this quick list of symptoms associated with food addiction:
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Specific Food Cravings – If you regularly have cravings for specific foods or types of foods, even when you’re not hungry at all, this may be a sign of food addiction.
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Lack of Control – If you often have feelings of being out of control when it comes to food, it may be a cause for concern.
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Hiding Food Consumption – If you have to hide the amount of food that you eat from loved ones it is an indication that there may be a problem.
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Unsuccessful Diets – If you have repeatedly attempted to lose weight or get healthy, but failed because you can’t control your food intake, that is a problem.
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Mental Justification – If you find that you often justify your food intake in your mind, convincing yourself that it is okay, this is a problem.
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Feeling Guilty – If you feel guilty shortly after eating certain foods, yet you continue to come back to them again and again, it is an issue.
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Regularly Feeling Overfull – While overeating to the point of discomfort is something most people do occasionally (Thanksgiving, for example), those with a food addiction will do it quite often.
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Eating More than You Planned – If when you choose to indulge in food you find that you consume far more than you planned, it is a problem.
Overcoming Food Addiction
If you or a loved one is addicted to food, you need to treat it just like any other addiction. Seeking help from loved ones or a professional can dramatically improve the likelihood that you will successfully beat the dependency. One of the first things to be aware of is that you likely won’t ever be able to go back to just eating whatever you want. Just like alcoholics need to abstain completely from drinking alcohol, food addicts should give up any foods that they find trigger their unhealthy habits. Of course, you can’t give up food altogether, but you can stop eating the unhealthy foods that are triggering the dopamine release in the brain that is responsible for the addiction. For most people in America and other Western countries, that is going to be foods with lots of sugars and simple carbs. This means that when you are working to overcome this addiction, you don’t just need to eat less. You need to eliminate processed foods from your diet. Moving to a 100% natural diet will allow your brain to restore its natural balance. While it will certainly take time (typically several weeks) before the dangerous addiction cravings begin to subside, it is well worth it in the end. Overcoming this addiction will help you to live a longer, healthier life. Also, it will help your mind to be more focused, and improve the overall quality of life. So, if you or a loved one is struggling with food addiction, take the first step toward recovery today.
