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.
Showing posts with label overcoming food addiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label overcoming food addiction. Show all posts
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.
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.
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.
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.
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