HOW TO OVERCOME FOOD ADDICTION
WHY DO I CRAVE JUNK FOOD?
It doesn’t mean you’re a terrible person or suffer from a lack of willpower when you crave sweet, salty, fatty foods. We are at a disadvantage in the battle to shrink our waistlines. The food companies and their scientists are constantly innovating to develop the perfect combination of flavors to manipulate and reward the pleasure centers of our brains. These foods don't satisfy our hunger, so we keep going back for more.
Their goal is to create addictive foods to maximize profits. They would probably counter that they’re just giving the people what they want, and you can always choose to eat something else. In reality, they spend millions to “hook” us on these foods, and our willpower gets overwhelmed.
WHAT ARE PROCESSED FOOD
Processed foods are hyper-palatable and, therefore, are easily overconsumed. They can sit in your cupboard or a vending machine for months without spoiling. New spicy, sweet, fat combinations are being developed continually that target all the taste receptors and light up the brain. They are loaded with starch, sugar, salt, and fat. Many of these foods also contain additives created in a lab. They include preservatives, artificial colors, chemicals, and other “food-type substances.”
We are ingesting food additives that weren’t around 100 or even 50 years ago. An artificial flavor on the label might hide that there may be ten chemicals blended to give a specific flavor profile. The FDA has approved them, but no one knows the long-term effects of consuming these substances.
OUR BASIC SURVIVAL INSTINCTS WORK AGAINST US
We are hard-wired to consume calories and store them as body fat for when food is scarce. Our ancestors would gorge on food when it was abundant because they weren't sure how long it would be until their next meal. High caloric foods surround us in today's world, but our brain still operates under the old paradigm. What sustained us and improved our chances of survival 2,000 years ago is now making us sick and fat. To make matters worse, these processed foods have almost no vitamins, fiber, or other nutritional benefits.
FOOD SUBSTANCES CAN CAUSE PHYSICAL ADDICTION
Food addiction has been compared to drug addiction with its hold on the body and mind. In a study where rats were given a choice between more sugar or cocaine, the rats preferred sugar.[1] This makes sense as each substance lights up the same regions of the brain.
Since the carbohydrates in refined foods tend to be simple sugars (cheaper and longer shelf life), eating them spikes blood sugar and leads to insulin resistance, weight gain, and high blood pressure. It also disrupts your metabolism and keeps you from accessing your fat stores, a crucial step in losing weight and normalizing your hormones. (Read about resetting your metabolism here) Unfortunately, we tend to reach for these comfort foods when we are tired, sad, or angry—the "benefits" are short-lived. They won’t improve our mood, and they will undermine our health.
UNPROCESSED FOOD
If you rely on these foods, the “detox” is initially challenging to push through. But once you do break the hold, your body and metabolism will quickly rebound, allowing the healing and normalization of hormones to begin. The first 2 to 3 weeks of a new nutrition program are challenging and rife with roadblocks. A well-designed program is essential to achieving your ultimate goal. Research supports using a health coach to bolster your odds of success. You'll have better odds of success with a coach and improve your physical and mental health. [2]
Start investigating ingredient lists, and you may be surprised at what you’re putting in your mouth. Even something as straightforward as French fries at McDonald’s contains 19 ingredients—one of which is in Silly Putty!
EAT WHOLE FOODS
Processed convenience foods should not be a part of any diet, even if they are labeled “natural or organic.” If it’s in a bag or a box and has a long ingredient list, you shouldn’t be eating it. Trust Nature. It has provided food that nourishes and satisfies us.
A little planning is necessary when shopping and cooking for yourself, but not much. (Read why meal planning is crucial here) Scrambled eggs cooked in butter, a couple of slices of bacon (nitrate-free), and a small bowl of berries provide a meal that will keep you satisfied and nourish your body. And you can count the total ingredients on one hand.