What do you think about food addiction?

sarahhan95

So a friend got me interested in watching this documentary called "Hungry For Change," and while there are many, MANY things I find incredibly wrong with this movie, it still leaves me with a lot to think about.

I think the main point of the documentary is, "We have to start thinking of a diet as what a species habitually eats." love the beginning, where they talk about how most people are undernourished despite consuming a large amount of Calories everyday, "being overfed yet starving to death."

However, what fascinates me the most is when they make the claim that sugar is an incredibly addictive substance that have nearly the same effects as nicotine or even cocaine. They proceed to compare the food industry to the cigarettes companies 70 years ago, or how there is no difference between the relationship of concentrated cocaine/harmless coca leaves and corn syrup/healthy corn.

Now, I know that there is a crap load of hyperbole and assumption in this thing. Many of the studies are sketchy, and the confusion between correlation/causation in its argument is off the roof. But still, drawing my experience as an ex-smoker, I SWEAR, sometimes I can barely see the difference between my former craving for a cigarette and my hunger for a cookie. It's just so weird; my taste-bud tells me that a kiwi or a strawberry actually tastes 10,000 times better than a sickeningly sweet cupcake, yet I reach for the cupcake anyway, not because I like it more, there was a point I felt like I NEEDED it more.

We all know that sugars and fats are addictive to some degrees. But how addictive do you think they are? What is your experience regarding this? Do you think there will be a point in the future where people starts treating refined sugars like they do cigarettes, that it is better for us to just cut it out entirely?

I indulge in sweets regularly, and I often think life is too short to cut out this little enjoyment. But then again, that was how I also felt about cigarettes, and now I'm kinda confused :-/

grimendale

Evolution has created a strong love of sugar in humans. During hunter-gatherer days, sugar was an indication of a relatively high caloric density, which is great when you are constanly moving and don't have easy access to food. In a survival situation, more calories is always better. We are no longer in that situation, but no one told our bodies. Food companies are aware of this predeliction and so do intentionally design food to stimulate the crazing centers of the brain bred into us by evolution. Eating more equals better profits. That being said, I have managed to get my cravings under control. I used to eat an absurd amount of candy and refined carbs (cheez its, chips, combos, etc) because I would have a serving and then be unable to relax until I got another and another until there were none left. I worked with a dietician for several months to get on a clean diet long enough to do a mental detox. Once I broke the mental habits that led to the overeating, I was able to reintroduce the foods I enjoy at reasonable amounts. IIFYM works for me and I haven't had any issues with cravings for sugar, uncontrollable or otherwise. I don't think that the physcial addicition to sugar is a thing for most people, but the mental aspect definitely qualifies. As long as you can eat things in reasonable amounts and get all of the nutrition you need, I see no reason to cut sugar out forever.

metacognition

I think sugar and fat triggers overeating. The sugar spike and crash is an unpleasant roller coaster that I would rather not get on in the first place. For me, simple carbohydrates and sweet, fatty deserts can easily result in a binge.

The problem is not really that they taste good, but that they fail to provide you with nourishment and leave you craving more just minutes later.

Squidgeypaws007

Interestingly I was pointed to a study a couple of days ago by a friend of mine when we were discussing just this - there has been some research that shows that high fructose sources don't actually "register" in the brain's satiety centre, leaving you feeling not quite as full as if you'd eaten something different but worth the same amount of calories. I'll see if I can find the link - it was an interesting read and like you said, left me lots to think about!

I personally feel that a source of "quick" energy would give a lot of evolutionary benefits, so we've come to have a different relationship with these sources than other foods. This is my opinion and only based on my background reading though!

I DO personally feel that high-sugar sources for me are an addiction, even though they make you feel crappy afterwards. I simply don't keep them in the house any more and won't until I've managed to break whatever it is going on in my noggin!

ETA: Found the link - http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/01/02/brain-image-study-fructose-may-spur-overeating/ although there are no "conclusive" studies I think there is a lot to ponder with what we have! Although demonising a certain macro is completely against what I believe in, I think maybe taking a little more care around sugar would not be a bad thing!

choijanro

Processed Foods,Junk Foods,Sweets & Salty Foods,, not good,, can lead to food addiction,,

clairyfairy247

In 2002, research at Princeton began showing the neurochemical effects of sugar, noting that sugar might serve as a gateway drug for other drugs.

The research group fed chow to the rats as well as a 25% sugar solution similar to the sugar concentration of soft drinks. After one month the rats became "dependent" on the sugar solution, ate less chow and increased their intake of the sugary drink to 200%.

The sugar industry asserts that similar effects have been reported for rats given solutions that tasted sweet, but contained no calories. However, some scientists say that caloric value may not be the issue.

Researchers say that sugar and the taste of sweet is said to stimulate the brain by activating beta endorphin receptor sites, the same chemicals activated in the brain by the ingestion of heroin and morphine.

Witchdoctor58

First, any behavior can become compulsive and self-destructive, whether it be sex, gambling, food, video games, etc.

Food addiction is insidious, because we all need to eat, and sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between an unhealthy appetite and real hunger.

Another factor is that the human body has not evolved to deal with the refined starches and sugars in the typical modern diet. The quick metabolism causes an insulin spike and a dopamine surge that stimulates the brain pleasure centers. Some people are much more sensitive to insulin triggers than others. The crash and burn leads to binge sugar eating.

We must be clear that fructose is naturally found in furits and has a lower glycemic index than sucrose, which is highly concentrated from natural plant sources like beets and cane. High fructose corn syrup is a synthetic cheap sugar that is ubiquitous, and our bodies simply can't handle it. Read labels...it's in salad dressings, condiments, soft drinks, sweets, and too many other things to list.

So, yes, food addiction is real, and sugar addiction in particular has a chemical basis that contributes to the condition.