Dr. Mercola February 12 2003 4,032 views
People may become addicted to the sugar and fat in fast food, much like a person can become addicted to a drug, which may help explain the rising rates of obesity in the United States.
Researchers determined that some animals, and therefore some humans, could become dependent on sweet food. In their study, rats fed a diet containing 25 percent sugar became anxious when the sugar was removed--displaying symptoms similar to people going through drug withdrawals, such as chattering teeth and the shakes.
In the study, a link was found between opioids, or the brain’s 'pleasure chemicals,' and a craving for sweet, salty and fatty foods. It is thought that high-fat foods stimulate the opioids, as when researchers stimulated rats’ brains with a synthetic version of the natural opioid enkephalin, the rats ate up to six times their normal intake of fat.
Further, long lasting changes in rats' brain chemistry, similar to those caused by morphine or heroin use, were also noted.
According to researchers, this means that even simple exposure to pleasurable foods is enough to change gene expression, which suggests an addiction to the food.
However, other researchers have disputed the addiction theory, peak and drop in blood sugar caused by eating fast food creates a desire for more, but is not necessarily an addiction.
New Scientist February 1, 2003
I suspect that people who don’t agree that they can be addicted to foods are likely in denial as they are addicted themselves.
Part of the reason for the confusion is that there are several factors involved here. One is the actual addiction to the food, which has emotional elements involved, and the second is the hypoglycemic episodes that result from eating an excess of sugars and grains.
Part of the central solution is to understand what foods you are designed to eat. Metabolic Typing is a major step in that direction. Eating foods for your nutritional type will gradually reduce your addiction to fast foods and sweets.
For many though it will be important to address the emotional aspects of the food addiction. Fortunately, there are many tools to help you do just that. One such tool that, as many of you know, I use personally and in my practice is EFT.
To try it for yourself, review my free EFT report. However, if you are not getting the results you would like, try consulting an EFT therapist. Gary Craig has compiled a list of EFT Practitioner Referrals. Many of these therapists even offer a free 15-minute phone session in which you can ask them questions to see if you connect.
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