Understanding Food Addiction
Food, like chemical substances, can be addicting. Many people use food as a comfort when feeling down, depressed, anxious, stressed or angry. Foods high in sugar, salt, starch and fat are the most addictive and can trigger the brain with “feel-good” chemicals, similarly to heroin or cocaine. When food addicts experience pleasure from feel-good chemicals, such as dopamine that are released after eating certain foods, they quickly feel the need to eat again. An addiction to food can also lead to a tolerance of food, meaning the food addict becomes less and less satisfied by food, leading them to eat more. Scientists believe this is the link between food addiction and obesity. Like an addiction to drugs or alcohol, food addicts will struggle to simply …
Do’s and Don’ts of Healthy Dieting and Healthy Weight Loss
It seems our society has a never-ending fixation on weight loss and being thin. While shedding excess weight can mean a healthier, more energized you, there are right ways and wrong ways to go about dieting and weight loss. Here are some do’s and don’ts of healthy dieting and weight loss. Do Find healthy alternatives to your favorite “guilty pleasure” foods. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, or tend to get the munchies during the day, take some time to find healthy alternatives that satisfy your cravings without adding extra inches around your waistline. Eat foods that will keep you feeling fuller longer. Doing so will help you avoid overeating. Protein and fiber-rich foods are the best foods for satisfying appetite. Apples, whole grains, …
Understanding Compulsive Overeating
Some call it a food addiction. Others refer to it as compulsive overeating. No matter the label, researchers and doctors agree on one thing: fat, salt and sugar can alter the brain chemistry, making it more difficult to resist eating more. In his book, “The End of Overeating”, former FDA commissioner David Kessler, MD explains that there are similarities between an individual who struggles with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, and someone who struggles with an addiction to food (or overeating). The key is to find the driving force behind the behavior and learn how to change it. Factors that may contribute to overeating Feel good foods: Foods high in sugar, fat and salt release a “feel good” hormone in the brain. Essentially, this reaction …