Posted under Food Addiction

Addicted to Food? It’s No Joke Anymore

Jokes about chocoholics and junk food addicts have been around for decades. Women laugh at parties, trying to top one another’s stories about how many chocolate kisses or chips they’ve eaten in one sitting. Men are all too aware of an invisible force dragging them to the nearest fast food chain.

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Posted under Food Addiction

Confessions of a Carbohydrate Addict

I may not be addicted to alcohol, drugs or cigarettes but, boy, am I addicted to carbohydrates. Although I’m sure no medical professional would diagnose me as having a full-fledged eating disorder, I certainly feel like I do. I’ve spent many years researching the affects that carbohydrates have on the human body and the human lifestyle and have discovered that carbohydrate addiction is a very real thing. Further, I believe that carbohydrate addiction is something that starts in childhood and is supported by the actions of the US Government (the “food pyramid”), food industry (hello, high-fructose corn syrup) and medical establishment (“let’s put you on a low-fat, high-carb diet”).

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The Psychology Behind Food Cravings

It’s no secret that dieting can be challenging and food cravings can make it even more difficult. Why do we get intense desires to eat certain foods? Although food cravings are a common experience, researchers have only recently begun studying how food cravings emerge.

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Junk Food Addiction – A Growing Threat

Are we really a nation of fatties, growing proportionately heavier each passing year? It would certainly seem so, based on evidence gathered in national nutrition and health surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, numerous researchers have studied the phenomenon of overweight, obesity and other illnesses for decades, trying to unlock the clues to our insatiable appetites. One culprit isn’t that difficult to identify: junk food. In fact, it could be said that Americans, overall, have an addiction to junk food. Even more, the addiction is growing. Continue Reading

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Food Addicts Have Withdrawal Effects Similar to Drugs and Alcohol

Is it possible that a diet that is high in calories can have the same impact on the brain as drugs and alcohol? In a recent study, it appears that rats who were weaned off a high-calorie diet showed the same effects on the brain as withdrawal from drugs and alcohol.

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When Does Over-Eating Become a Food Addiction?

By Colin Gilbert

One of the most dangerous addictions plaguing American society today involves not alcohol or drugs, but food. It’s still a fairly new concept for many Americans, but studies show that millions in the United States are indeed addicted to food. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 34 percent of adults aged 20 and over are obese. Considering that most of those who are obese wish they weren’t, it seems clear that the epidemic transcends ordinary matters of self-control.

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Food Addiction and Eating Disorders

Let’s face it: many of us have had a love-hate relationship with our food. Whether we’ve tried multiple diets in the quest to lose weight or have tried to put the pounds on, food has always been a source of much frustration and consternation. However, it’s when this love-hate relationship is taken to extremes that it evolves into a full-blown addiction – and scientists are honing in on new symptoms that can alert individuals when they’re in trouble. Continue Reading