Can’t answer, my mouth is full… –
September 6, 2019 – If you’re a big fan of sugary snacks and desserts, or you love fried foods, for example, you know how strong the urge can be to devour extra helpings of “forbidden” foods. You may even joke about your cravings as you find yourself thinking about little other than your next indulgence and feeling as though you have no control over how much you eat.
Does that mean that food is your “drug of choice,” as Oprah once admitted about herself? Are you a “food addict” if you knowingly eat calorie-dense (and often quite delicious) but nutritionally questionable foods that can contribute to weight issues and could potentially harm your health? Are you a “food addict” if you overeat any foods for the sake of comfort and pleasure, however fleeting? Do you make a concerted effort to stay away from certain foods, only to relapse as your cravings build up? Do you routinely eat unhealthy foods even though you know they can potentially make you sick? If you answer “yes” to these questions, you have some traits similar to that of someone with a substance abuse disorder. For years, researchers have shown that high-calorie, sweet, and fatty foods can cause changes in the structure and circuitry of the brain. Studies show that many regions of the brain, including those involved in anticipation of and the satisfaction derived from rewards, are altered in similar ways by drug use and by consumption of certain high-carb and high-fat foods and especially combination foods that are rich in both carbohydrates and fats.
