Overcoming food addiction can be just as tough as battling any other addiction. The obesity and overweight levels in the US are skyrocketing. Some people blame the wide variety of high calorie foods that are available on a daily basis. Never before has there been so many calories available to a population with such a relatively low price. Since food is so cheap some believe that we are eating too much just because we can. If there is food in front of us we will eat it. To a certain extent this may be true because our ancestors needed to eat a lot whenever they could because they never knew when their next meal would come.
But this doesn't answer all the question of why we have such a high level of obesity. There were times in history when food was plentiful but people did not get as gargantuan as they are now. This other aspect may very well addiction.
We have become a nation of addicts. The levels of drug addiction, nicotine addiction, and alcoholism are at all time highs for the younger generations. If our view of food is changed it could very well be that we would be seeing the same problems with food that we see with drugs. Food has become more than just a way for us satisfy our hunger. It has now become an entertainment item. If you watch TV you see all the time how food and restaurants highlight the fun factor of food. If you are sad, go out to dinner and be happy. If you are stressed, go out to dinner and forget your problems. If you are lonely, go out to dinner the ads always show lots of happy people having a great time when they are eating.
It is very possible that we have linked emotions to food and that is why we are overeating. We are eating to fill up an emotional need not to fill up our stomach. Until we come to grasp the idea of food addiction we will not be able to do anything about our obesity problem.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Food Addiction Recovery
There seems to be more and more evidence that people can actually be addicted to food and suffer the consequences of addiction just like an alcoholic or drug addict. In particular it seems the foods rich in simple carbohydrates may have an affect on a person suffering from food addiction that nicotine, alcohol, or illicit drugs have on people addicted to those substances. All of these substances can affect the serotonin levels in the brain and there is some evidence that the brain chemistry can be affected by high carbohydrate snack food also.
Basically, serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the nervous system. Low levels of serotonin have been associated with depression and most anti-depression drugs target serotonin manufacturing and the inhibitation of the uptake or absorbing of the transmitter. There is now a growing body of evidence that suggests foods rich in carbohydrates may have an affect on brain chemistry like addictive substances do.
In the digestion process dietary tryptophan is converted to serotonin. This is a normal occurance but in some people this inrush of serotonin acted like as a mood alterer. People who tend to binge late in the day on simple carbohydrate snacks tend to get a rush of good feelings that can lead to an addictive behavior. Everyone has heard of a sugar rush and this is exactly what happens. Some people who eat foods that are high in simple sugars receive a mood altering experience that can be reinforcing. If you crave candy, cookies, and chips it is quite possible that you may be experiencing this phenomenon.
I know sometimes I have such a craving for chocolate or sugar that I am almost in a trance state until I feed the craving. This type of food addiction can be very controlling as it can very easily lead to binging. Have you ever done really well for a few days by not eating junk food and then you have just one cookie. That cookie then sets up an eating binge that doesn't stop until you finally eat so much that you are sick? This could be a reaction to food addiction.
Many alcoholics and addicts in recovery find that they crave high carbohydrate foods. In fact there is a joke in recovery circles about the weight gain associated with addiction recovery. You lost the addiction but gained 40 pounds. It may be that the people in addiction recovery are satisfying their need for serotonin with simple carbohydrates instead of the alcohol and drugs that their brains had relied on.
If you have cravings for sugary foods that seem to take control of your actions you may have an addictive reaction. New research is shedding light on this problem and addiction treatment centers are being set up to help people who suffer from this unhealthy relationship with food. Considering how much sugar and corn syrup is being added to our diet today it is no wonder that our obesity levels are rising. This may be why overcoming food addiction is becoming such an important topic to discuss as we look at ways of combating our overweight problems. The good news is food addiction can be treated once it has been diagnosed.
Basically, serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the nervous system. Low levels of serotonin have been associated with depression and most anti-depression drugs target serotonin manufacturing and the inhibitation of the uptake or absorbing of the transmitter. There is now a growing body of evidence that suggests foods rich in carbohydrates may have an affect on brain chemistry like addictive substances do.
In the digestion process dietary tryptophan is converted to serotonin. This is a normal occurance but in some people this inrush of serotonin acted like as a mood alterer. People who tend to binge late in the day on simple carbohydrate snacks tend to get a rush of good feelings that can lead to an addictive behavior. Everyone has heard of a sugar rush and this is exactly what happens. Some people who eat foods that are high in simple sugars receive a mood altering experience that can be reinforcing. If you crave candy, cookies, and chips it is quite possible that you may be experiencing this phenomenon.
I know sometimes I have such a craving for chocolate or sugar that I am almost in a trance state until I feed the craving. This type of food addiction can be very controlling as it can very easily lead to binging. Have you ever done really well for a few days by not eating junk food and then you have just one cookie. That cookie then sets up an eating binge that doesn't stop until you finally eat so much that you are sick? This could be a reaction to food addiction.
Many alcoholics and addicts in recovery find that they crave high carbohydrate foods. In fact there is a joke in recovery circles about the weight gain associated with addiction recovery. You lost the addiction but gained 40 pounds. It may be that the people in addiction recovery are satisfying their need for serotonin with simple carbohydrates instead of the alcohol and drugs that their brains had relied on.
If you have cravings for sugary foods that seem to take control of your actions you may have an addictive reaction. New research is shedding light on this problem and addiction treatment centers are being set up to help people who suffer from this unhealthy relationship with food. Considering how much sugar and corn syrup is being added to our diet today it is no wonder that our obesity levels are rising. This may be why overcoming food addiction is becoming such an important topic to discuss as we look at ways of combating our overweight problems. The good news is food addiction can be treated once it has been diagnosed.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Is Food Addiction Like Drug Addiction
We have an epidemic of obesity in the US and it is getting worse by the day. For the first time in history we are seeing an increase the levels of Type 2 Diabetes in teenagers. Type 2 can be directly linked to lifestyle although there are some genetic aspects at play. So the question is why do we have so many people who are eating themselves to death? When you routinely see men and women who way in at 300 or 400 pounds there has got to be something different going on than just the physical response to being hungry.
It seems to me that food addiction is a very real problem because we have taken the idea of food away from satiating a hunger and have linked it to emotions. I bet the majority of Americans never feel hunger pangs once a week. Why? Because they are eating all the time for emotional reasons so they never let their bodies become hungry. We have turned food into a comforter and an entertainment experience. We are using food to manipulate are feelings and cover up what is really going on in our lives. I think there is a great need for and understanding of how food is becoming an addictive substance and treatment like we find in drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. We have go to learn to deal with the underlying causes of over eating if we are going to beat this obesity epidemic that threatens to bankrupt our health care system.
We can not continue to treat obesity as only a choice that people make to overeat. That is like telling the alcoholic to just stop drinking or telling the drug addict to just stop taking pill or snorting. Addiciton is much more complex than that. If anything, we are learning that addiction and rehab are tied to both psychological and physical causes. There is some study now of the affect of simple carbohydrates on brain chemistry that may cause a euphoric feeling when consumed. I know I feel really great when I eat carbs, for a while anyway, and sometimes I don't even want to eat but something forces me to put candy and chips in my mouth.
I really think we could do a lot for people with food addiction if we would realize that the same methods used in drug rehab may work for people who can't stop eating. It is worth a try because the current levels of obesity can not be sustained for any length of time. Already the current generation of young people is the first one in history with a life expectancy less than their parents. It is time to take a hard look at food addiction.
It seems to me that food addiction is a very real problem because we have taken the idea of food away from satiating a hunger and have linked it to emotions. I bet the majority of Americans never feel hunger pangs once a week. Why? Because they are eating all the time for emotional reasons so they never let their bodies become hungry. We have turned food into a comforter and an entertainment experience. We are using food to manipulate are feelings and cover up what is really going on in our lives. I think there is a great need for and understanding of how food is becoming an addictive substance and treatment like we find in drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. We have go to learn to deal with the underlying causes of over eating if we are going to beat this obesity epidemic that threatens to bankrupt our health care system.
We can not continue to treat obesity as only a choice that people make to overeat. That is like telling the alcoholic to just stop drinking or telling the drug addict to just stop taking pill or snorting. Addiciton is much more complex than that. If anything, we are learning that addiction and rehab are tied to both psychological and physical causes. There is some study now of the affect of simple carbohydrates on brain chemistry that may cause a euphoric feeling when consumed. I know I feel really great when I eat carbs, for a while anyway, and sometimes I don't even want to eat but something forces me to put candy and chips in my mouth.
I really think we could do a lot for people with food addiction if we would realize that the same methods used in drug rehab may work for people who can't stop eating. It is worth a try because the current levels of obesity can not be sustained for any length of time. Already the current generation of young people is the first one in history with a life expectancy less than their parents. It is time to take a hard look at food addiction.
Monday, March 23, 2009
AreThere Natural Remedies For Food Addiciton?
Addiction is an enigma in the psychological world. Is it a disease or is a loss of will power or is it a caused by a chemical reaction in the brain that makes more people susceptible to losing control of their lives? Supposedly, people can be addicted to all sorts of things, including sex, work, danger, or exercise, which have nothing to do with ingesting a substance into their body. Unlike the alcoholic or drug addict, these people are not putting a substance into their body to change their mental state.
On the face of it then it would seem that addiction does not only deal with what goes in our mouth or what is sniffed up our nose or shot in our arm. Does this hold true for food addiction also? I think it does. There seems to be two components to people who are suffering from food addiction. First there is the psychological affect of the feelings a person feels when he or she eats. Food changes the chemistry in the brain and these changes can very easily be linked to particular mental states. As I have said before, my family is really good at using food as a means to control bad feelings. Are you sad? Then eat. Are you worried? Then eat. Are you happy do you want to celebrate? Then eat. Food has become more than a way to sustain our bodies it has become a comforter and an entertainment. This is just like the workaholic who gets satisfaction from working overtime and providing for his family, or the sexaholic who feels loved by having sex with strangers. The act is tied up with the emotions.
But there seems to be a chemical side to food addiction also. As we get farther and farther away from natural foods we are filling our bodies up with more and more manipulated substances. This is particular true in the field of drug medications. People are finding more and more that the old natural remedies your great-grandmother used are just as effective as the manipulated chemicals the drug companies put out. In fact most of the consumer drugs are nothing more than synthetic variation of the natural drugs that nature provides. They are synthesized because there is more profit. Go over to www.enaturesremedies.com and find out about natural organic alternatives to prescription drugs and see how we are missing the boat with these non-natural remedies.
One of the areas of food manipulation I am interested in is carbohydrates. We have sky rocketing levels of obesity and diabetes in this country and part of it can be directly related to how we have super charged foods to flood our systems with simple sugars. For thousands of years are bodies were adapted to eating whole grains. By eating whole grains the intake of carbohydrates was slowed and thus the bodies blood sugar levels were more stable. Now with white bread and processed sugar this is no longer the case. The carbs are so easy to digest that we get a massive blood sugar load on our systems. This causes the pancreas to go into overdrive making insulin for the liver the metabolize the sugar. This wears out the pancreas and overshoots the insulin levels which now gives us low blood sugar so we do it again. This yo-yo affect can lead to pre-diabetes. The best way to deal with this is to eat a lot of foods that are low carb and mix zero carb foods with the high carb foods to balance them out.
Food addiction like all addictions is an anigma. Is it a disease, is it a choice, or is it a chemical reation? I think it has a component of all three and we must treat all three when trying to help people who suffer from food addiction.
On the face of it then it would seem that addiction does not only deal with what goes in our mouth or what is sniffed up our nose or shot in our arm. Does this hold true for food addiction also? I think it does. There seems to be two components to people who are suffering from food addiction. First there is the psychological affect of the feelings a person feels when he or she eats. Food changes the chemistry in the brain and these changes can very easily be linked to particular mental states. As I have said before, my family is really good at using food as a means to control bad feelings. Are you sad? Then eat. Are you worried? Then eat. Are you happy do you want to celebrate? Then eat. Food has become more than a way to sustain our bodies it has become a comforter and an entertainment. This is just like the workaholic who gets satisfaction from working overtime and providing for his family, or the sexaholic who feels loved by having sex with strangers. The act is tied up with the emotions.
But there seems to be a chemical side to food addiction also. As we get farther and farther away from natural foods we are filling our bodies up with more and more manipulated substances. This is particular true in the field of drug medications. People are finding more and more that the old natural remedies your great-grandmother used are just as effective as the manipulated chemicals the drug companies put out. In fact most of the consumer drugs are nothing more than synthetic variation of the natural drugs that nature provides. They are synthesized because there is more profit. Go over to www.enaturesremedies.com and find out about natural organic alternatives to prescription drugs and see how we are missing the boat with these non-natural remedies.
One of the areas of food manipulation I am interested in is carbohydrates. We have sky rocketing levels of obesity and diabetes in this country and part of it can be directly related to how we have super charged foods to flood our systems with simple sugars. For thousands of years are bodies were adapted to eating whole grains. By eating whole grains the intake of carbohydrates was slowed and thus the bodies blood sugar levels were more stable. Now with white bread and processed sugar this is no longer the case. The carbs are so easy to digest that we get a massive blood sugar load on our systems. This causes the pancreas to go into overdrive making insulin for the liver the metabolize the sugar. This wears out the pancreas and overshoots the insulin levels which now gives us low blood sugar so we do it again. This yo-yo affect can lead to pre-diabetes. The best way to deal with this is to eat a lot of foods that are low carb and mix zero carb foods with the high carb foods to balance them out.
Food addiction like all addictions is an anigma. Is it a disease, is it a choice, or is it a chemical reation? I think it has a component of all three and we must treat all three when trying to help people who suffer from food addiction.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Dieting and Stress
Obesity rates are sky rocketing everyone agrees to that. In the US over 60% of the population is obese or overweight. People are starting diets and failing at amazing levels. Addiction rates are also rising all across this country. So what is going on? I think a lot of it has to do with stress and using substances outside of our bodies to control how we feel inside. Although their are a lot of illegal ways to do this there are also many legal ways. One of the easiest if food.
People have got to get back to the idea that food is not an entertainment item but a substance that is for the sustenance of life. It is really not surprising that so many people over eat and try one diet after another with no luck. Every where we look our senses are being bombarded with images of lushes, rich, high calorie food and the happy THIN people who are eating it. Subconsciously we are being manipulated and don't even know it.
The presentation of food in advertising images has been extended to an art form. Last night I was watching television and an ad came on for a pizza joint. The pictures of that pizza almost made me get up and go to the fridge and look for something greasy, and chewy to eat even though I wasn't hungry in the least. Luckily I caught myself before getting to the kitchen but it really showed how easy it is to me manipulated by these masters of the visual. Our diet and weight loss plans are shot almost before we start. It is no wonder we have such a hard time with weight loss and losing weight.
Being overweight is something I have struggled with my whole life. It runs in not only my immediate family but also in my extended family. Actually being overweight is one of the few things that do run in my family, the members sure don't. I have often wondered if we are all overweight because of our surroundings and upbringing or because of genetic factors. I am starting to think there is a genetic factor because members from other areas of the country are also overweight.
I'm not sure it matters because I still have to do something about my big fat belly. I also am starting to realize that I am the only person who can control it. The reality is I need to eat less and exercise more. Great, no pizza for me.
People have got to get back to the idea that food is not an entertainment item but a substance that is for the sustenance of life. It is really not surprising that so many people over eat and try one diet after another with no luck. Every where we look our senses are being bombarded with images of lushes, rich, high calorie food and the happy THIN people who are eating it. Subconsciously we are being manipulated and don't even know it.
The presentation of food in advertising images has been extended to an art form. Last night I was watching television and an ad came on for a pizza joint. The pictures of that pizza almost made me get up and go to the fridge and look for something greasy, and chewy to eat even though I wasn't hungry in the least. Luckily I caught myself before getting to the kitchen but it really showed how easy it is to me manipulated by these masters of the visual. Our diet and weight loss plans are shot almost before we start. It is no wonder we have such a hard time with weight loss and losing weight.
Being overweight is something I have struggled with my whole life. It runs in not only my immediate family but also in my extended family. Actually being overweight is one of the few things that do run in my family, the members sure don't. I have often wondered if we are all overweight because of our surroundings and upbringing or because of genetic factors. I am starting to think there is a genetic factor because members from other areas of the country are also overweight.
I'm not sure it matters because I still have to do something about my big fat belly. I also am starting to realize that I am the only person who can control it. The reality is I need to eat less and exercise more. Great, no pizza for me.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Are Carbohydrates Addicting
There has been a lot of information lately about the possibility that carbohydrates may actually be addicting to some people. There have been many medical studies performed that seem to indicate that some people's brains are more susceptible to the blood sugar spike that comes from the ingestion of foods high in carbohydrates and simple carbohydrates.
Apparently in these people the chemical receptors in their brains are more in tuned to the chemicals that result from the intake of carbohydrates. These receptors start to crave the chemicals that are derived from carbs and like an alcoholic they tell the other parts of the brain to get ingest more carbs. Then when the person eats more they feel better and so it is a self-replicating process. The brains starts to crave carbs, the body eats carbohydrates, this makes the brain and body feel relief and desire even more carbs.
If you think you may have an addiction to carbs try a no and low carb diet for a while and see if you feel better. There are a lot of no carb recipes that you can try for relief. Stay away from bread and pasta and sugar for a few weeks and see if you don't feel better. If so, contact your doctor or a nutritionist for help with your eating habits and diet.
Apparently in these people the chemical receptors in their brains are more in tuned to the chemicals that result from the intake of carbohydrates. These receptors start to crave the chemicals that are derived from carbs and like an alcoholic they tell the other parts of the brain to get ingest more carbs. Then when the person eats more they feel better and so it is a self-replicating process. The brains starts to crave carbs, the body eats carbohydrates, this makes the brain and body feel relief and desire even more carbs.
If you think you may have an addiction to carbs try a no and low carb diet for a while and see if you feel better. There are a lot of no carb recipes that you can try for relief. Stay away from bread and pasta and sugar for a few weeks and see if you don't feel better. If so, contact your doctor or a nutritionist for help with your eating habits and diet.
Food Addiciton and Anorexia
This blog is dedicated to exploring food addictions and the affect these addictions have on people. One thing that has interested me is whether or not these addictive behaviors we are experiencing through out our society are a new phenomenon or if they have always been a part of our surroundings. I think a lot of addictive behavior has been with humans for a long time.
Take alcohol for example. The fall of the Roman Empire has been attributed to excessive wine drinking. Although it must be added that lead was being added to the wine for flavor at the time that insanity seemed to make a big impact in the government. Lead is a very hazardous material for your brain. But there was definitely a large drinking problem at this time.
During the revolutionary war it was common to drink on the job. Benjamin Franklin, in his autobiography talked about his time in the printing room and how at the mid morning break his fellow workers would go next door to fill up their mugs with beer. They would then drink alcohol the rest of the day. Needless to say, he claimed productivity decreased dramatically in the afternoon hours.
So alcohol and we can assume alcohol addiction has been with us for centuries but what about other eating disorders? If you view pictures from several centuries ago the people generally seem to be plump. You must remember that the average person never had a portrait painted of them so we are only seeing how the very upper crust lived. The average person at this time was much shorter than today do to poor nutrition. This leads us to believe that food addiction did not show up because there was generally not enough food to overeat. Even though the disorder may have been present there was no way to feed it so to speak.
I am currently amazed at the number of people who are trying to create an eating disorder in themselves. There is a large number of young females and males who are trying to become anorexic. They are even searching for how to become anorexic websites to find anorexia tips. They think this is an easy way to lose some pounds.
This is very frightening to me in the sense that these people are willing to force themselves to have an eating disorder in order to manipulate how their bodies look. I think this comes directly from the advertising that is bombarding us every day. On one hand we are told over and over how eating this food or eating in that restaurant will make us happy. At the same time slim, sometimes underweight, models are used to portray this fun. So we are told if we eat a lot we will be happy and at the same time we have to be extremely thin to be happy. These two ideas are contradictory. Is it any wonder we are overeating and then using anorexic tips to try to keep our body weight down?
In order to fight these food addictions and eating disorders we must look at the messages of advertisers.
Take alcohol for example. The fall of the Roman Empire has been attributed to excessive wine drinking. Although it must be added that lead was being added to the wine for flavor at the time that insanity seemed to make a big impact in the government. Lead is a very hazardous material for your brain. But there was definitely a large drinking problem at this time.
During the revolutionary war it was common to drink on the job. Benjamin Franklin, in his autobiography talked about his time in the printing room and how at the mid morning break his fellow workers would go next door to fill up their mugs with beer. They would then drink alcohol the rest of the day. Needless to say, he claimed productivity decreased dramatically in the afternoon hours.
So alcohol and we can assume alcohol addiction has been with us for centuries but what about other eating disorders? If you view pictures from several centuries ago the people generally seem to be plump. You must remember that the average person never had a portrait painted of them so we are only seeing how the very upper crust lived. The average person at this time was much shorter than today do to poor nutrition. This leads us to believe that food addiction did not show up because there was generally not enough food to overeat. Even though the disorder may have been present there was no way to feed it so to speak.
I am currently amazed at the number of people who are trying to create an eating disorder in themselves. There is a large number of young females and males who are trying to become anorexic. They are even searching for how to become anorexic websites to find anorexia tips. They think this is an easy way to lose some pounds.
This is very frightening to me in the sense that these people are willing to force themselves to have an eating disorder in order to manipulate how their bodies look. I think this comes directly from the advertising that is bombarding us every day. On one hand we are told over and over how eating this food or eating in that restaurant will make us happy. At the same time slim, sometimes underweight, models are used to portray this fun. So we are told if we eat a lot we will be happy and at the same time we have to be extremely thin to be happy. These two ideas are contradictory. Is it any wonder we are overeating and then using anorexic tips to try to keep our body weight down?
In order to fight these food addictions and eating disorders we must look at the messages of advertisers.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
If You Have Food Addiction Treat It
We have spent several days talking about food addiction and the signs of addicted to food. Like any other addiction such as alcoholism and drug addiction food addiction is based in using a substance to modify our emotions. My addiction started when I was about 6 years old. I have a grandmother who believed that food was a great comforter. Every time one of us kids had a problem Gramma would fix us something to eat because we "would feel better."
It didn't matter if we were sad or scared or had our feeling hurt. If we would only eat the pie or cake or cookies we would feel better. This is no different than the alcoholic who needs a drink to feel more social or the cigarette smoker who needs a smoke to calm his or her nerves. It all comes down to using a substance to control our emotions.
The bad part is we usually don't really control our emotions we just use the substance to shove them down in our subconscious where they can fester. The absolute best action if you think you are addicted to food, or any substance for that matter, is to get addiction help. There are literally thousands of great therapists and programs out there that can help you with a food addiciton problem. If you are overweight and you feel that food is controlling your life please talk to a professional about the possibility of food addiction.
It didn't matter if we were sad or scared or had our feeling hurt. If we would only eat the pie or cake or cookies we would feel better. This is no different than the alcoholic who needs a drink to feel more social or the cigarette smoker who needs a smoke to calm his or her nerves. It all comes down to using a substance to control our emotions.
The bad part is we usually don't really control our emotions we just use the substance to shove them down in our subconscious where they can fester. The absolute best action if you think you are addicted to food, or any substance for that matter, is to get addiction help. There are literally thousands of great therapists and programs out there that can help you with a food addiciton problem. If you are overweight and you feel that food is controlling your life please talk to a professional about the possibility of food addiction.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Dieting and Food Addiction
I have talked before in this blog about my addiction to food. One of the problems with food addictions is you can't go cold turkey like an alcoholic or drug addict can. You are forced to eat something just by the nature of how your body works. For me this means a diet I can use and stick with for a long time. I'm sure you know how most diets go. You are all excited about losing weight and you are gung-ho to get started with the new diet you found. You start out the morning following it exactly and it doesn't seem too bad. You get to lunch and everything is still going well. Then the afternoon hits and the hunger pangs start. You use every bit of will power you have to stay away from the candy machine down the hall. OK. So far, so good. Then you get home, you are starved and can't wait to get something in your stomach. This is where I fall down as I think I'll just nibble a little bit on this and then I have a bite of that and before you know it I have consumed all the calories I am allowed for the whole week.
Dieting is not fun and so we actually need a lifestyle change to accomplish long term weight loss. I have been concentrating on no carb foods in my menus and that really seems to be helping. Like I said above you can't just quit eating like another kind of addict can stop their behavior. Cigarette smokers do not need cigarettes in order to survive. In fact cigarettes are a poison to your body and it functions better without them. So you can't go cold turkey. What then?
If you eat too much and you feel food has control over your life you can treat certain foods the way other addicted people treat their addictive substances. When an alcoholic decides to dry out he or she realizes they can never take another drink. Even one could lead them down the road to activating their addictive behavior. Sometimes they have to use every ounce of will power they have to stop from taking that first drink. You can use this method when you are on a particular diet and trying to lose weight.
For example, if you wanted to lose 10 pounds in a month you could make it your goal to never, ever eat desert during that time. That means no nibbling, no tasting, and no sneaking a small bite. Instead, you would approach it like an alcoholic who is fighting his or her addiction. Absolutely positively you do not let yourself get any where near desert. This way you don't stop eating everything you just completley stop eating the foods you chose.
Dieting is not fun and so we actually need a lifestyle change to accomplish long term weight loss. I have been concentrating on no carb foods in my menus and that really seems to be helping. Like I said above you can't just quit eating like another kind of addict can stop their behavior. Cigarette smokers do not need cigarettes in order to survive. In fact cigarettes are a poison to your body and it functions better without them. So you can't go cold turkey. What then?
If you eat too much and you feel food has control over your life you can treat certain foods the way other addicted people treat their addictive substances. When an alcoholic decides to dry out he or she realizes they can never take another drink. Even one could lead them down the road to activating their addictive behavior. Sometimes they have to use every ounce of will power they have to stop from taking that first drink. You can use this method when you are on a particular diet and trying to lose weight.
For example, if you wanted to lose 10 pounds in a month you could make it your goal to never, ever eat desert during that time. That means no nibbling, no tasting, and no sneaking a small bite. Instead, you would approach it like an alcoholic who is fighting his or her addiction. Absolutely positively you do not let yourself get any where near desert. This way you don't stop eating everything you just completley stop eating the foods you chose.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Food Addiction And Obesity
The levels of obesity in this country are skyrocketing especially in children and young adults. It appears as though part of this increase is related to instances of food addiction. In an addiction, the sufferer is replacing good emotional health with a substance that they perceive can give them a better feeling than they are able to produce themselves. In food addiction, this is usually manifested at using food to change our emotional state instead of dealing with the external causes of the state or learning how to deal with causes in a healthy way.
Thus, if we are sad we eat to feel happy. If we are bored we eat for something to do. If we are happy we eat to celebrate. All of these are examples of using food as an emotion changer instead of dealing with the emotions themselves. This may be effecting children and young adults more than older people because of how they view the world. Most children and young adults have spent the majority of time in a fantasy world. Whether it was TV, video games, or music videos, the last few generations have spent a majority of their time watching other people live their lives instead of the children and young adults living their's.
What this means is people never get to experience emotions of their own and learn how to deal with them. All through history there have been good times and bad, wonderful lives and tragedy, but if a person views these fantasy lives in movies, TV, and video games this realization can be lost on them. It appears that life should always been fun and exciting. The characters almost always have their problems solved within the one hour or two hours alotted. This makes us want to search for the quick answer in our lives instead of understanding that we have to work through problems and learn to deal with them.
There are a lot of causes of our current epidemic. With childhood obesity there are other factors such as the types of foods eaten and how much exercise a child is getting each day. But from what I have seen, food addiction and treatment could be a major cause.
Thus, if we are sad we eat to feel happy. If we are bored we eat for something to do. If we are happy we eat to celebrate. All of these are examples of using food as an emotion changer instead of dealing with the emotions themselves. This may be effecting children and young adults more than older people because of how they view the world. Most children and young adults have spent the majority of time in a fantasy world. Whether it was TV, video games, or music videos, the last few generations have spent a majority of their time watching other people live their lives instead of the children and young adults living their's.
What this means is people never get to experience emotions of their own and learn how to deal with them. All through history there have been good times and bad, wonderful lives and tragedy, but if a person views these fantasy lives in movies, TV, and video games this realization can be lost on them. It appears that life should always been fun and exciting. The characters almost always have their problems solved within the one hour or two hours alotted. This makes us want to search for the quick answer in our lives instead of understanding that we have to work through problems and learn to deal with them.
There are a lot of causes of our current epidemic. With childhood obesity there are other factors such as the types of foods eaten and how much exercise a child is getting each day. But from what I have seen, food addiction and treatment could be a major cause.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Is Food Addiciton Real
Obesity is epidemic in our country. This generation of children is the first one to have a life expectancy less than their parents. Diabetes, heart disease, and other weight related ailments are bankrupting our economy. What is going on? Is there such a thing as food addiction and if so how do we combat it?
There has never been a time in history where such a large number of people had such easy access to so many calories on a daily basis. It is simple for almost anyone in this country to consume 4000-5000 calories a day just by eating what is advertised on TV and other media. When the average person only needs 2000 calories a day you can see how easy it is to gain massive amounts of weight. But the question is, are people addicted to food or are they just choosing to eat everything in sight even when eating makes them physically sick? There is a lot of discussion about this and some scientists are saying that there is no such thing as food addiction.
These are probably the same people who claim that alcoholism is not a disease and that drug addicts should just say no. It is much deeper than that. I have had first hand experience with both alcoholism and drug addiction and I can tell you that people who suffer from these are being driven by something other than their own conscious decisions. With treatment these people can learn to control their cravings and behavior but they are never cured. People who have never experienced an addiction can not understand what it is like to feel as if something has control of your body and is making you do things you really don't want to do. I have met many alcoholics who get sick thinking about drinking and yet drink every night. I can't count the number of meth addicts I have seen literally crying for help while they are doing everything they can to get that next fix. They are not choosing to feel this way. Instead, they are living out their addictive behavior.
It is the same with food addicts. We wake up in the morning with the best intentions of not overeating today. Maybe we make it through breakfast with a little bowl of cereal and some fruit. Then about 10:00 the hunger pangs start. We start by having those carrots and celery sticks we brought from home. This works for a little while then it is "I'll just eat part of my lunch now." Pretty soon the lunch is gone and it isn't even 10:30 yet. The hunger pangs have stopped but desire to eat is still there. It is pulling us to the candy machine. "Just a little chocolate and I'll feel better." No, we say. I want to lose weight an I am going to be successful this time.
Then it happens. Things get crazy at work, maybe the boss yells, or a customer rants and food is the only comfort we need. It is straight to the carbs and the rush we get when those sugars hit our brain. Ahh, relief. But only for a moment then the self-loathing starts in. Why did I do that? Why am I such a failure? Well I already ruined today so I might as well eat some more. And another pound is gained.
There have been some studies that indicate the high fructose corn syrups found in almost all processed foods may have something to do with the increase of addictive behavior. Eating this high intensity, ramped up corn syrup instead of regular sugar may trigger different chemicals in the brain. This may have merit as High fructose corn syrup came into wide spread use about the same time the obesity epidemic started. Maybe there is a chemical imbalance problem with the group of people who can't stop eating just like there is a chemical part to alcoholism.
If we treat overeating as an addiction then we can use the same methods as are used with alcohol and illicit drugs. Group support is important. Also, abstinence from the foods that trigger the over eating episodes. Addiction recovery is possible from food addiction just like other addictions but it starts with recognizing the root causes of the problem and attacking them head on. Saying a person just eats too much is not going to help him or her to reach a healthy weight.
There has never been a time in history where such a large number of people had such easy access to so many calories on a daily basis. It is simple for almost anyone in this country to consume 4000-5000 calories a day just by eating what is advertised on TV and other media. When the average person only needs 2000 calories a day you can see how easy it is to gain massive amounts of weight. But the question is, are people addicted to food or are they just choosing to eat everything in sight even when eating makes them physically sick? There is a lot of discussion about this and some scientists are saying that there is no such thing as food addiction.
These are probably the same people who claim that alcoholism is not a disease and that drug addicts should just say no. It is much deeper than that. I have had first hand experience with both alcoholism and drug addiction and I can tell you that people who suffer from these are being driven by something other than their own conscious decisions. With treatment these people can learn to control their cravings and behavior but they are never cured. People who have never experienced an addiction can not understand what it is like to feel as if something has control of your body and is making you do things you really don't want to do. I have met many alcoholics who get sick thinking about drinking and yet drink every night. I can't count the number of meth addicts I have seen literally crying for help while they are doing everything they can to get that next fix. They are not choosing to feel this way. Instead, they are living out their addictive behavior.
It is the same with food addicts. We wake up in the morning with the best intentions of not overeating today. Maybe we make it through breakfast with a little bowl of cereal and some fruit. Then about 10:00 the hunger pangs start. We start by having those carrots and celery sticks we brought from home. This works for a little while then it is "I'll just eat part of my lunch now." Pretty soon the lunch is gone and it isn't even 10:30 yet. The hunger pangs have stopped but desire to eat is still there. It is pulling us to the candy machine. "Just a little chocolate and I'll feel better." No, we say. I want to lose weight an I am going to be successful this time.
Then it happens. Things get crazy at work, maybe the boss yells, or a customer rants and food is the only comfort we need. It is straight to the carbs and the rush we get when those sugars hit our brain. Ahh, relief. But only for a moment then the self-loathing starts in. Why did I do that? Why am I such a failure? Well I already ruined today so I might as well eat some more. And another pound is gained.
There have been some studies that indicate the high fructose corn syrups found in almost all processed foods may have something to do with the increase of addictive behavior. Eating this high intensity, ramped up corn syrup instead of regular sugar may trigger different chemicals in the brain. This may have merit as High fructose corn syrup came into wide spread use about the same time the obesity epidemic started. Maybe there is a chemical imbalance problem with the group of people who can't stop eating just like there is a chemical part to alcoholism.
If we treat overeating as an addiction then we can use the same methods as are used with alcohol and illicit drugs. Group support is important. Also, abstinence from the foods that trigger the over eating episodes. Addiction recovery is possible from food addiction just like other addictions but it starts with recognizing the root causes of the problem and attacking them head on. Saying a person just eats too much is not going to help him or her to reach a healthy weight.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Overcoming Food Addiction
Overcoming food addiction is as difficult as overcoming any other addiction. In fact, it may be more difficult than some others because you can't just go cold turkey on eating. I think it would be easier to stop intaking food altogether than it is to limit the foods I eat. I have fought my addiction to food since I was about 6 years old. I was a normal sized child until that time. I had a fairly tramatic incident and I found comfort in food. Since then I use food for a comforter whenever I am stressed or sad or mad or scared or happy or... Actually I use food as an emotion changer much more than I do a form of sustenance.
I have other addictions such as being a workaholic and a little alcoholism although I have not drank for a few years. I have attended Al-Anon a lot and have developed a good handle on dealing with others addictions but now I need to learn how to deal with mine.
One of the important aspects of overcoming food addiction is to learn what triggers cause the overeating. As I said above my triggers are either stress related or celebratory in nature. I have lost sight of the true use of food and instead I use the food as a way to manipulate my emotions. I have given over the control of my life to food. This is a very common addiction scenario. I have lost the ability to keep my emotions in check by myself and so I look for something outside me, in this case food, to given me the emotional support I need.
There is also a physical aspect that needs to be addressed when learning how to overcome food addiction. I my case I go for high power carbohydrates when I need an emotional boost. Within a few minutes of visiting the candy and chip machine I feel an amazing rush of calmness and warmth flood over me. The simple sugars in the snack foods have a quick acting and dramatic affect on my brain chemistry so not only am I emotionally tied to the food addiction but I am also physically tied to it. Like other addicts I really enjoy that rush of great feelings that comes from manipulating my brain.
So I am fighting two aspects of addictive behavior. The emotional aspect and the physical aspect. The food addict in me is always looking to get that emotional high which comes from manipulating my brain chemistry. I am starting to view my life and my eating through the eyes of an addict like I need to. I am starting to change my eating habits which is a necessary step to overcoming food addiction.
I have other addictions such as being a workaholic and a little alcoholism although I have not drank for a few years. I have attended Al-Anon a lot and have developed a good handle on dealing with others addictions but now I need to learn how to deal with mine.
One of the important aspects of overcoming food addiction is to learn what triggers cause the overeating. As I said above my triggers are either stress related or celebratory in nature. I have lost sight of the true use of food and instead I use the food as a way to manipulate my emotions. I have given over the control of my life to food. This is a very common addiction scenario. I have lost the ability to keep my emotions in check by myself and so I look for something outside me, in this case food, to given me the emotional support I need.
There is also a physical aspect that needs to be addressed when learning how to overcome food addiction. I my case I go for high power carbohydrates when I need an emotional boost. Within a few minutes of visiting the candy and chip machine I feel an amazing rush of calmness and warmth flood over me. The simple sugars in the snack foods have a quick acting and dramatic affect on my brain chemistry so not only am I emotionally tied to the food addiction but I am also physically tied to it. Like other addicts I really enjoy that rush of great feelings that comes from manipulating my brain.
So I am fighting two aspects of addictive behavior. The emotional aspect and the physical aspect. The food addict in me is always looking to get that emotional high which comes from manipulating my brain chemistry. I am starting to view my life and my eating through the eyes of an addict like I need to. I am starting to change my eating habits which is a necessary step to overcoming food addiction.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Adicted To Food For Life
You would think that I would be able to attack my food addiction in a logical and straightforward manner. I am an intelligent person who has a job that requires solving problems every day. In fact that is pretty much what my job is all about. I manage a factor so it is my responsibility to supervise about sixty people and make sure all the machinery is maintained in a way that will allow the factor to work at maximum output levels. As you can imagine there is always some problem to solve. In fact, there is usually about 4 or 5 on the front burner.
So you would think that I could apply my problem solving skills to my food addiction. But it seems to be something I can't get a handle on no matter how hard I try. It really reminds me of how my oldest daughter has to deal with life. She has autism but she is high functioning which means she can fairly well get along but there are definitely things she can not control. For example, the autism affects how she deals with information. If she has too much information coming toward her she either just shuts down or she goes ballistic. For years I would tell her to just take a deep breath and relax but she couldn't. Her autistic behavior was something that was out of her control.
This is the same way I feel when I am approached with a stressful situation only my response is to eat. Yesterday we had a problem with a log scanner. This basically is an electronic item that is used to measure the size of logs. It wasn't a big problem but I was drawn to the snack machine as soon as I heard of the problem. I needed that relief the candy would give me. so I ate two packages of peanut M&M's and felt terrible afterwards. But I had no control. It was like something else was in control of my body and whatever that evil thing was it wanted candy.
The big thing is, I actually did feel better as soon as the chocolate hit my mouth. For a few minutes that is until I came back to reality and hated myself again for eating junk food. This food addiction is a very powerful beast that I feel helpless over.
So you would think that I could apply my problem solving skills to my food addiction. But it seems to be something I can't get a handle on no matter how hard I try. It really reminds me of how my oldest daughter has to deal with life. She has autism but she is high functioning which means she can fairly well get along but there are definitely things she can not control. For example, the autism affects how she deals with information. If she has too much information coming toward her she either just shuts down or she goes ballistic. For years I would tell her to just take a deep breath and relax but she couldn't. Her autistic behavior was something that was out of her control.
This is the same way I feel when I am approached with a stressful situation only my response is to eat. Yesterday we had a problem with a log scanner. This basically is an electronic item that is used to measure the size of logs. It wasn't a big problem but I was drawn to the snack machine as soon as I heard of the problem. I needed that relief the candy would give me. so I ate two packages of peanut M&M's and felt terrible afterwards. But I had no control. It was like something else was in control of my body and whatever that evil thing was it wanted candy.
The big thing is, I actually did feel better as soon as the chocolate hit my mouth. For a few minutes that is until I came back to reality and hated myself again for eating junk food. This food addiction is a very powerful beast that I feel helpless over.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
How To Fight Bulimia
I am bulimic even though I haven't purged for years. I haven't because it became ineffective as a way to get the food out of my system. The problem is I still eat in a way that fits into the bulimic pattern. When I get started I just gorge myself on what ever I can find to eat. I know I am not really hungry because I have been checking that lately. I am just looking to fill myself with whatever I can. I have been doing some thinking about how this addiction takes a hold of me.
I have started to look at other food addictions for an understanding of how I act. I started a new blog called anorexia tips to explore how anorexics manifest their addiction. I am hoping to gain insight into my problem by looking at this other problem. I am trying to fill myself because I am so empty and anorexics are trying to empty themselves out. Completely different desired end results to treat the same problem. The problem of not being able to appreciate what great people we are.
We both view ourselves and unworthy and so I try to fill myself up and the anorexic trys to control their body shape. In my desire to fight bulimia I hope to be able to learn how to like myself and thus allow myself to be at a desired, stable weight.
I have started to look at other food addictions for an understanding of how I act. I started a new blog called anorexia tips to explore how anorexics manifest their addiction. I am hoping to gain insight into my problem by looking at this other problem. I am trying to fill myself because I am so empty and anorexics are trying to empty themselves out. Completely different desired end results to treat the same problem. The problem of not being able to appreciate what great people we are.
We both view ourselves and unworthy and so I try to fill myself up and the anorexic trys to control their body shape. In my desire to fight bulimia I hope to be able to learn how to like myself and thus allow myself to be at a desired, stable weight.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Binge Eating Disorder
A very real part of Food Addiction is binge eating disorder. This is a painful and unhealthy way to live but it can be combated. do you think about food constantly? Do you hide your eating so others don't know how much you have? Do you eat when you are not hungry and do you eat until you feel sick? You may have Binge Eating Disorder.
Also known as BED. This disorder is treated with counseling and is one of the food disorders that has the highest levels of recovery. This disorder is usually caused by an association in the person's head between food and emotions. The food no longer is viewed as something to offer sustenance and instead is viewed as relief from some emotional problem.
For example, if thing start going bad a work a person with BED will head straight for the snack machine or the left over donuts from this morning's break. They will stuff the food in their mouths so quickly that taste isn't even an option. Instead, the eating has become a way to stuff their body with something that will cover up the emptiness they feel inside.
Binge Eating Disorder can play havoc with a person's insides both emotionally and physically. If you tend to binge eat be sure to get counseling.
Also known as BED. This disorder is treated with counseling and is one of the food disorders that has the highest levels of recovery. This disorder is usually caused by an association in the person's head between food and emotions. The food no longer is viewed as something to offer sustenance and instead is viewed as relief from some emotional problem.
For example, if thing start going bad a work a person with BED will head straight for the snack machine or the left over donuts from this morning's break. They will stuff the food in their mouths so quickly that taste isn't even an option. Instead, the eating has become a way to stuff their body with something that will cover up the emptiness they feel inside.
Binge Eating Disorder can play havoc with a person's insides both emotionally and physically. If you tend to binge eat be sure to get counseling.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I am Addicted To Food Like An Alcoholic
I have finally bought into the belief that I am a food addict. I view food just like an alcoholic views alcohol and a drug user views heroin. The thought of eating gets a hold of me and I lose all ability to stop eating. It is like someone else in in control of my body and is making it eat what ever the food is I crave.
This really happens a lot when I am stressed at work. We have a vending machine that calls me with the sweet siren sound of relief when I am stressed. I usually don't even taste the candy bar or chips but the instant I start putting them in my mouth I feel better. It has a calming affect on me like nothing else. I instantly start to feel calm and good.
It is only later that I feel regret and disgust at what I have done. I know logically that if I eat junk I will hate myself but this addiction has such a hold on me that I can not stop it. Thinking about what I am writing makes me realize I am speaking just like an alcohoic or drug addict would. It is the same words they use. This is the same disease I am fighting and I need help. I can not do this alone. I need a lifelong program that allows me ways to feel relaxed without eating. I need to find out what my triggers are and stop those triggers from sending me over the edger into food oblivion.
This really happens a lot when I am stressed at work. We have a vending machine that calls me with the sweet siren sound of relief when I am stressed. I usually don't even taste the candy bar or chips but the instant I start putting them in my mouth I feel better. It has a calming affect on me like nothing else. I instantly start to feel calm and good.
It is only later that I feel regret and disgust at what I have done. I know logically that if I eat junk I will hate myself but this addiction has such a hold on me that I can not stop it. Thinking about what I am writing makes me realize I am speaking just like an alcohoic or drug addict would. It is the same words they use. This is the same disease I am fighting and I need help. I can not do this alone. I need a lifelong program that allows me ways to feel relaxed without eating. I need to find out what my triggers are and stop those triggers from sending me over the edger into food oblivion.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Food Addiction Help
We will only start making headway on our national food addiction problem when we are willing to admit that it is an addiction problem like alcoholism or drug addiction. Both of these addictions have both a psychological and a physical component. With food addictions it is the same thing. We have our emotions tied to food so we use food as a way to feel better or to celebrate. And, there is more and more research finding out that our bodies become physically addicted to certain carbohydrates.
One big aspect of the Adkins diet was the thought that High Fructose Corn Syrup can have a major impact on how our bodies deal with nutrition. High fructose corn syrup is corn syrup that has been revved up to be more powerful than the corn syrup found by natural means. It is like what has happened with illegal drugs the last 40 years. They are so potent now that you can literally use once and be hooked for your life. This chemically manipulated corn syrup acts in the same way. It is so powerful that your body doesn't know how to handle it and you become addicted to the feelings you get.
Until we look at obesity from the addiction standpoint we will no have much luck combating this menace. There is help for addiction and if you are obese this is an option you should look at. Like any other addiction you need to review all aspects of your life to see what and who is having an effect on how you treat food. You can overcome your food addiction with help.
One big aspect of the Adkins diet was the thought that High Fructose Corn Syrup can have a major impact on how our bodies deal with nutrition. High fructose corn syrup is corn syrup that has been revved up to be more powerful than the corn syrup found by natural means. It is like what has happened with illegal drugs the last 40 years. They are so potent now that you can literally use once and be hooked for your life. This chemically manipulated corn syrup acts in the same way. It is so powerful that your body doesn't know how to handle it and you become addicted to the feelings you get.
Until we look at obesity from the addiction standpoint we will no have much luck combating this menace. There is help for addiction and if you are obese this is an option you should look at. Like any other addiction you need to review all aspects of your life to see what and who is having an effect on how you treat food. You can overcome your food addiction with help.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Diet For Food Addiction
I have found one problem with food addiction is I lose sight of the use of food. I eat when I am not hungry because I am trying to get something out of the food other than the energy stored there. somewhere along the way I started matching food to feelings and now I eat when I am worried. I eat when I am sad. I eat when I am happy. Eating has become an emotional thing instead of a nutritional thing.
I take responsibility for my addiction and I am the only one who can decide to combat it. That said, I remember my grandmother using food as a comforter for us often. Her words were "Here, eat this it will make you feel better." I think she really was trying to comfort us and apparently she had learned to use food as an emotion changer at some point in her life. The funny thing is she was not overweight. She did smoke though and ended up dieing of lung cancer. I think she taught us to be addicted to food like she was addicted to cigarettes.
I don't blame my addiction on her and my mother (who does the same thing) but it definitely did not help to grow up with that view of food as a comforter. I have 6 siblings and first cousins. Six of us ore obese and the seventh fights her weight with alcohol. I am not sure how this compares to the rest of the nation but it shows some sort of a trend.
I think a good way to start getting back to a healthy view of food is to realize that food is only for sustenance and not for emotional control. I like how they treat food on the TV show The Biggest Loser. The biggest loser diet is based on the fact that food is for fuel and not for feeling good. I know I need structure in my eating and a diet can give that. The key is to view this as a life long lifestyle change and not a month or 6 month long diet.
I take responsibility for my addiction and I am the only one who can decide to combat it. That said, I remember my grandmother using food as a comforter for us often. Her words were "Here, eat this it will make you feel better." I think she really was trying to comfort us and apparently she had learned to use food as an emotion changer at some point in her life. The funny thing is she was not overweight. She did smoke though and ended up dieing of lung cancer. I think she taught us to be addicted to food like she was addicted to cigarettes.
I don't blame my addiction on her and my mother (who does the same thing) but it definitely did not help to grow up with that view of food as a comforter. I have 6 siblings and first cousins. Six of us ore obese and the seventh fights her weight with alcohol. I am not sure how this compares to the rest of the nation but it shows some sort of a trend.
I think a good way to start getting back to a healthy view of food is to realize that food is only for sustenance and not for emotional control. I like how they treat food on the TV show The Biggest Loser. The biggest loser diet is based on the fact that food is for fuel and not for feeling good. I know I need structure in my eating and a diet can give that. The key is to view this as a life long lifestyle change and not a month or 6 month long diet.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Food Addiction Healthy Eating
As you may know, not fueling up with the right
nutrients can affect how well your body performs
and your overall fitness benefits. Even though
healthy eating is important, there are myths that
hinder your performance if you listen to them.
Below, you'll find some myth busters on healthy
eating.
1. Working out on an empty stomach.
If you hear a rumbling noise in your stomach, the
rumbling is trying to tell you something. Without
listening to them, you are forcing your body to
run without any fuel. Before you exercise or do
any physical activity, always eat a light snack
such as an apple.
2. Relying on energy bars and drinks.
Although they are fine every once in a while, they
don't deliver the antioxidants you need to prevent
cancer. Fruits and vegetables are your best bets,
as they are loaded in vitamins, minerals, fluid,
and fiber.
3. Skipping breakfast.
Skipping breakfast is never a good idea, as
breakfast starts the day. Your body needs fuel
as soon as possible, and without it, you'll be
hungry throughout the day.
4. Low carb diets.
Your body needs carbohydrates for your muscles and
the storing of energy.
5. Eating what you want.
Eating healthy and exercising doesn't give you an
all access pass to eat anything you want. Everyone
needs the same nutrients whether they exercise or
not, as well as fruits and vegetables.
6. Not enough calories
Although losing weight involves calories, losing
it too quickly is never safe. What you should do,
is aim for 1 - 2 pounds a week. Always make sure
that you are getting enough calories to keep your
body operating smoothly. If you start dropping
weight too fast, eat a bit more food.
7. Skip soda and alcohol.
Water, milk, and juice is the best to drink for
active people. You should drink often, and not
require on thirst to be an indicator. By the time
you get thirsty, your body is already running a
bit too low.
Changing how you eat is always a great step
towards healthy eating and it will affect how your
body performs. The healthier you eat, you better
you'll feel. No matter how old you may be, healthy
eating is something you should strive for. Once
you give it a chance, you'll see in no time at
all just how much it can change your life - for the
better.
nutrients can affect how well your body performs
and your overall fitness benefits. Even though
healthy eating is important, there are myths that
hinder your performance if you listen to them.
Below, you'll find some myth busters on healthy
eating.
1. Working out on an empty stomach.
If you hear a rumbling noise in your stomach, the
rumbling is trying to tell you something. Without
listening to them, you are forcing your body to
run without any fuel. Before you exercise or do
any physical activity, always eat a light snack
such as an apple.
2. Relying on energy bars and drinks.
Although they are fine every once in a while, they
don't deliver the antioxidants you need to prevent
cancer. Fruits and vegetables are your best bets,
as they are loaded in vitamins, minerals, fluid,
and fiber.
3. Skipping breakfast.
Skipping breakfast is never a good idea, as
breakfast starts the day. Your body needs fuel
as soon as possible, and without it, you'll be
hungry throughout the day.
4. Low carb diets.
Your body needs carbohydrates for your muscles and
the storing of energy.
5. Eating what you want.
Eating healthy and exercising doesn't give you an
all access pass to eat anything you want. Everyone
needs the same nutrients whether they exercise or
not, as well as fruits and vegetables.
6. Not enough calories
Although losing weight involves calories, losing
it too quickly is never safe. What you should do,
is aim for 1 - 2 pounds a week. Always make sure
that you are getting enough calories to keep your
body operating smoothly. If you start dropping
weight too fast, eat a bit more food.
7. Skip soda and alcohol.
Water, milk, and juice is the best to drink for
active people. You should drink often, and not
require on thirst to be an indicator. By the time
you get thirsty, your body is already running a
bit too low.
Changing how you eat is always a great step
towards healthy eating and it will affect how your
body performs. The healthier you eat, you better
you'll feel. No matter how old you may be, healthy
eating is something you should strive for. Once
you give it a chance, you'll see in no time at
all just how much it can change your life - for the
better.
Food Addiciton Can Be Combatted
Being a healthy eater requires you to become both
educated and smart about what healthy eating
actually is. Being food smart isn't about
learning to calculate grams or fat, or is it
about studying labels and counting calories.
Healthy eating is all about balanced and moderate
eating, consisting of healthy meals at least
three times per day. Healthy eaters eat many
different types of foods, not limiting themselves
to one specific food type or food group.
Eating healthy requires quite a bit of leeway. You
might eat too much or not enough, consume
foods that are sometimes more or less nutritious.
However, you should always fuel your body and
your brain regularly with enough food to keep
both your mind and body strong and alert.
A healthy eater is a good problem solver. Healthy
eaters have learned to take care of themselves
and their eating with sound judgement and making
wise decisions. Healthy eaters are always aware
of what they eat, and know the effect that it
will have on their bodies.
When someone is unable to take control of their
eating, they are also likely to get out of control
with other aspects of life as well. They could
end up spending too much, talking too much, even
going to bed later and later.
You should always remember that restricting food
in any way is always a bad thing. Healthy eating
is a way of life, something that you can do to
enhance your body or your lifestyle. If you've
thought about making your life better, healthy
eating is just the place to start. You'll make
life easier for yourself, those around you, and
even your family.
educated and smart about what healthy eating
actually is. Being food smart isn't about
learning to calculate grams or fat, or is it
about studying labels and counting calories.
Healthy eating is all about balanced and moderate
eating, consisting of healthy meals at least
three times per day. Healthy eaters eat many
different types of foods, not limiting themselves
to one specific food type or food group.
Eating healthy requires quite a bit of leeway. You
might eat too much or not enough, consume
foods that are sometimes more or less nutritious.
However, you should always fuel your body and
your brain regularly with enough food to keep
both your mind and body strong and alert.
A healthy eater is a good problem solver. Healthy
eaters have learned to take care of themselves
and their eating with sound judgement and making
wise decisions. Healthy eaters are always aware
of what they eat, and know the effect that it
will have on their bodies.
When someone is unable to take control of their
eating, they are also likely to get out of control
with other aspects of life as well. They could
end up spending too much, talking too much, even
going to bed later and later.
You should always remember that restricting food
in any way is always a bad thing. Healthy eating
is a way of life, something that you can do to
enhance your body or your lifestyle. If you've
thought about making your life better, healthy
eating is just the place to start. You'll make
life easier for yourself, those around you, and
even your family.
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