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Do you ever really feel such as you’re hooked on sure meals? Like regardless of how onerous you attempt to keep away from them, you simply can’t appear to withstand their name?
It’s not truly your fault.
The truth is that the majority main meals firms are actively working to make their meals as irresistible and addictive as attainable. And that’s not a conspiracy concept, it’s reality. They’ve been doing it for years, and so they’re REALLY good at it.
In reality, they don’t even attempt to cover it. There’s a purpose Lay’s potato chips confidently touts the slogan “Betcha can’t eat only one.” They’ve truly examined it.
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However the factor that makes it even scarier is that we are sometimes keen individuals in our personal demise. As a result of we love our consolation meals.
As a result of truthfully, I feel MOST individuals have completely no concept simply how unhealthy processed meals is for his or her well being—that it’s actually killing us and making us sick.
We’ve been CONDITIONED to consider that sure meals are “regular” and “wholesome” when the truth is they’re something however. We’ve been brainwashed by a multi-billion greenback meals trade that advantages from our ignorance and our dependancy to their merchandise.
What’s meals dependancy?
However for the sake of readability, let’s again up just a bit bit and begin by defining simply what we imply after we say “meals dependancy.”
Meals dependancy is a time period used to explain a situation the place an individual turns into depending on sure forms of meals, and feels compelled to eat them, usually in massive portions, although they know that these meals are dangerous and contributing to their general poor well being. This dependancy is usually the results of modifications that happen within the mind when an individual consumes sure forms of extremely processed meals.
In reality, research have proven that sure meals can truly set off the identical reward facilities in our mind as medication and alcohol, and that these modifications within the mind can result in cravings and a compulsion to eat these meals, even after we know we shouldn’t. And that’s as a result of after we eat these meals, our mind releases “really feel good” chemical substances like dopamine, which is also known as the “pleasure hormone.”
So in quite a lot of methods, meals dependancy shouldn’t be all that completely different from different forms of dependancy. We are actually getting a “excessive” from consuming sure meals, and our physique and mind get hooked on that top.
And so it turns into a vicious cycle. We eat these meals, our mind releases dopamine and rewards us for it, after which we wish to eat extra. And extra. And extra. Even after we know we shouldn’t. Even after we realize it’s making us sick. We simply can’t cease.
And if that sounds acquainted, then you definitely’re not alone. Meals dependancy is an actual factor, and it impacts tens of millions and tens of millions of individuals. In reality, a 2018 research of the worldwide burden of illness estimated that over 86 million individuals in the US alone are presently dwelling with some type of meals dependancy.
That’s a LOT of individuals.
And it’s additionally a very massive downside, as a result of it implies that there are SO many people on the market scuffling with this difficulty each single day. And it’s not simply the battle of attempting to shed some pounds, and even the bodily toll that these extremely processed, toxin-filled meals are having on our our bodies. It’s the disgrace and the guilt and the self-loathing that so usually comes with dependancy, it doesn’t matter what that dependancy could be.
As a result of the reality is, it’s SO straightforward to take a look at somebody who’s 100 kilos chubby and say, “properly, they only must cease consuming a lot and begin exercising.” But when that individual is coping with meals dependancy, then it’s not that easy. You may’t simply inform an alcoholic to cease consuming, proper? However that’s so usually what we do with people who find themselves scuffling with meals dependancy. We inform them it’s their fault, that they’re weak, that they only must train some self-control.
Nevertheless it’s not that easy.
As a result of it’s an ADDICTION. And our mind is actually being rewired to CRAVE these meals. It’s not only a matter of willpower or lack thereof. It’s an actual, diagnosable situation.
So, when you assume you could be scuffling with meals dependancy, or if this difficulty resonates with you in any manner, then the very very first thing you might want to do is be KIND to your self. Acknowledge that it is a actual difficulty, and that it’s not one thing which you can simply “recover from” with just a little bit extra self-control. It is advisable to get to the foundation of the issue and begin addressing it in an actual manner.
How meals dependancy impacts our well being
However what IS the foundation of the issue? In different phrases, what is definitely taking place in our our bodies that’s inflicting us to get addicted to those meals and making it so onerous for us to cease consuming them? What’s meals dependancy DOING to us, and the way is it affecting our well being?
Properly, because it seems, it’s affecting us in quite a lot of methods. As a result of these extremely processed, sugar-filled, chemically-laden meals that we’re getting hooked on are principally poison for our our bodies. They’re actually killing us, slowly however absolutely. And it’s not simply our waistlines which are in danger.
Coronary heart illness, diabetes, most cancers, Alzheimer’s, autoimmune illness, leaky intestine syndrome, continual irritation, despair, anxiousness, hormone imbalance, and so many different well being points we face as a society right now can all be traced again to our dependancy to those extremely processed meals. So in that sense, our meals dependancy is definitely contributing to an entire host of different well being issues.
And it’s not simply the meals itself, however all of the chemical substances and components that go into these processed meals. As a result of so lots of the substances which are used—issues like excessive fructose corn syrup and white sugar and vegetable oil and synthetic flavors and colours—aren’t solely extremely addictive, but additionally extremely poisonous to our our bodies.
And so we’re primarily filling our our bodies with poison, after which questioning why we don’t really feel good, or why we’re getting sick.
After which there’s all of the SUGAR. As a result of as we’ve talked about earlier than on this podcast, sugar is in EVERYTHING. And it’s extremely addictive. In reality, some research have proven that sugar is even MORE addictive than cocaine. And that’s as a result of, similar to different addictive substances, sugar triggers the discharge of dopamine within the mind, which causes the pleasurable sensation that we then turn into hooked on.
And it is a actually massive deal, as a result of sugar is in SO lots of the meals we eat, even those we don’t essentially consider as being candy. It’s in our bread and our pasta and our salad dressing and our ketchup and our yogurt and our granola bars and our soda and our “wholesome” fruit juice. And so we’re consuming it on a regular basis, with out even realizing it. It’s inescapable.
And that’s what’s so scary about meals dependancy. It’s not simply that we’re getting hooked on a handful of meals that we will then keep away from. It’s that we’re getting hooked on SO lots of the meals that make up the Commonplace American Weight loss program. The meals which are actually in all places. The meals which are thought of “regular” and “wholesome.” The meals that we grew up consuming and that we’re now feeding to our personal children.
We’re actually passing down our dependancy to the subsequent era.
And that dependancy is having a devastating impact on our collective well being in addition to on the well being of our kids. Childhood weight problems is at an all-time excessive, and kind 2 diabetes, which was once referred to as “adult-onset diabetes” as a result of it was so uncommon in children, is now being identified in kids as younger as 8 years previous.
This can be a downside, you guys. A HUGE downside. We’ve got to begin taking it significantly.
However the issue is, it’s an ADDICTION. And recognizing that it’s an actual dependancy is step one in with the ability to do one thing about it. As a result of when you have been hooked on alcohol or medication, the very very first thing you would need to do is GET CLEAN. You would need to cease placing these substances in your physique.
And that’s additionally true of meals dependancy. You need to give up consuming the meals you’re hooked on.
It’s not straightforward. However it’s POSSIBLE.
How the meals trade is making us addicted
However earlier than we speak about HOW to try this, let’s speak just a little bit about how the meals trade is definitely making us hooked on their merchandise within the first place—as a result of it’s not just a few random accident. They’ve been doing this for years, and so they’re actually good at it.
Principally, the meals trade has a SECRET WEAPON that they use to get us hooked on their merchandise, and that secret weapon is one thing referred to as the “bliss level.”
However what precisely IS the bliss level? Properly, it’s the proper mixture of sugar, fats, salt and different flavors that make a meals style SO good that we actually can’t resist it. It’s the explanation why that bag of potato chips is so onerous to place down, or why you may eat a whole pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in a single sitting, or why you simply can’t say no to that slice of chocolate cake, even once you’re so full you’re feeling such as you may explode. It’s the explanation why sure meals are so extremely addictive.
And the meals trade is aware of this.
In reality, they’ve been finding out the bliss level for years, and so they spend BILLIONS of {dollars} yearly to determine make their merchandise as addictive as attainable. They rent meals scientists and flavorists to create simply the appropriate mixture of flavors and textures that can maintain us coming again for extra.
They even use one thing referred to as “mouthfeel know-how” to determine make a meals really feel excellent in our mouth, in order that we get that good sensation of crunch or creaminess or no matter it could be, that can make us wish to maintain consuming.
It’s loopy! And it’s SO sneaky.
Nevertheless it doesn’t cease there. As a result of the meals trade additionally is aware of that with the intention to maintain us hooked on their merchandise, they should make them as handy and accessible as attainable. And that’s why you’ll discover extremely processed, addictive meals actually EVERYWHERE you go—from the grocery retailer to the fuel station to the nook espresso store to the merchandising machine in your workplace constructing.
They’re in all places.
After which there’s the advertising. As a result of the meals trade spends billions of {dollars} yearly to market their merchandise to us. And never simply in commercials and on billboards, however within the grocery retailer itself. They know all of the tips to get us to purchase extra. They know that we’re extra seemingly to purchase one thing if it’s at eye stage than if it’s on the underside shelf. They know that we’re extra seemingly to purchase one thing if it’s brightly coloured or has a cheerful face on the field. They know that we’re extra seemingly to purchase one thing if we will attempt it first.
It’s all a giant recreation, and we’re the pawns.
So what can we do about it?
So what can we do about it? How can we break away from this dependancy and begin taking management of our personal well being? How can we struggle again towards a multi-billion greenback trade that’s actually been working for many years to maintain us hooked on their merchandise?
Properly, the very first thing we now have to do is acknowledge that it IS an dependancy. We’ve got to acknowledge that we’re not simply coping with a scarcity of willpower or self-control. We’ve got to be sort to ourselves and perceive that it is a actual, diagnosable situation that requires an actual resolution.
After which we now have to select. We’ve got to determine that our well being is extra vital than that subsequent hit of dopamine. We’ve got to determine that we’re price it. That our youngsters and our grandkids are price it.
After which we now have to take motion.
As a result of as I mentioned earlier than, step one in overcoming any dependancy is to STOP placing that substance in your physique. You need to GET CLEAN.
You need to give up consuming the meals you’re hooked on.
And I do know that’s an entire lot simpler mentioned than accomplished. I do know as a result of I’ve been there.
I’ve been the lady who used to eat a full bag of Doritos in a single sitting with out even fascinated with it. The lady who would exit of her approach to drive to the shop simply so I might purchase that ice cream. The lady who would actually cover the empty containers within the backside of the trash can so my husband wouldn’t see how a lot I’d eaten. The lady who was so hooked on sugar and processed meals that I couldn’t even go a single day with out it.
And I’ve additionally been the lady who needed to undergo the withdrawals. Who needed to undergo by way of the complications and the irritability and the extreme cravings that come from detoxing your physique from all that rubbish. The lady who needed to discover ways to address stress and disappointment and all the opposite feelings that I used to numb with meals.
It wasn’t straightforward. It was in all probability one of many hardest issues I’ve ever accomplished.
Nevertheless it was SO price it.
As a result of I used to be in a position to break away from that dependancy. I used to be in a position to get clear and keep clear. And now, greater than 10 years later, I can truthfully say that I’m now not hooked on meals. I can take it or go away it. I can go for days and days with out consuming something processed, with out consuming something that’s not good for my physique, all as a result of I understand how a lot better I really feel after I make the appropriate selections.
And that’s what I need for you too. I need that freedom from dependancy. I need you to have the ability to make the appropriate selections on your well being, not simply every so often, however on a regular basis. I need you to have the ability to take pleasure in your life with out always having to consider meals. I need you to have the ability to break away from the maintain that the meals trade has over you and your well being.
So let’s speak about how to try this—virtually, begin taking these steps in the direction of overcoming your meals dependancy and breaking free from the maintain that the meals trade has over you.
Step 1: Educate your self
The very first thing you might want to do is begin educating your self. It is advisable to perceive simply how unhealthy these extremely processed, sugar-filled, chemically-laden meals are on your well being. It is advisable to perceive how they’re affecting your physique and your mind, and why they’re so extremely addictive. It is advisable to perceive what’s at stake—not simply your waistline, however your general well being and well-being. It is advisable to perceive that it is a actual, diagnosable situation that requires an actual resolution.
And truthfully, when you’re listening to this podcast, then you definitely’re already doing an excellent job of that. So stick with it. Maintain listening. Continue learning. And when you want extra info, then I’d encourage you to go watch our free coaching, Wholesome, Completely satisfied & Free in 2024, which is all about understanding the science behind what’s making us fats and sick, in addition to one of the simplest ways to really get wholesome and shed some pounds in a manner that’s sustainable long run.
So educate your self. Arm your self with data. As a result of data actually is energy.
Step 2: Get accountable
The second factor you might want to do is get accountable. It is advisable to discover somebody or one thing that will help you keep on monitor—somebody who can assist you and encourage you, but additionally somebody who can name you out once you’re headed for hassle.
And this might be quite a lot of various things. It might be a buddy or a member of the family who’s keen to do that with you. It might be a coach or a coach or a health care provider. It might be an internet assist group—the truth is, we now have a brilliant lively Fb group for this podcast that you’re welcome to hitch. Simply seek for Thinlicious or Well being Insurgent on Fb and request to hitch, after which you may get entry to an entire bunch of different like-minded people who find themselves working to enhance their well being and shed some pounds.
Or it might even be a system—one thing like our Skinny Tailored System. As a result of the beauty of having a system that works is that it offers you a roadmap to observe, and that roadmap makes it simpler to remain accountable. It’s one thing that you understand has labored for different individuals, and so when you simply do the work, it is going to give you the results you want too.
No matter what or who you select to maintain your self accountable, simply make it possible for they’re somebody or one thing that’s optimistic and supportive. We don’t want any extra negativity in our lives, particularly after we’re attempting to beat dependancy.
Step 3: Make a plan
Now that you simply’ve educated your self and located your accountability associate or system, it’s time to make a plan. A stable, actionable plan that can make it easier to break away out of your meals dependancy and take management of your well being.
This plan ought to embody issues like setting targets for your self—each short-term and long-term ones. It ought to embody making small modifications to begin off with, so that you don’t really feel too overwhelmed. It must also embody discovering more healthy alternate options to your set off meals, and studying take care of cravings in a wholesome manner. And most significantly, it ought to embody setting your self up for fulfillment by making a supportive setting—each bodily and mentally.
Bear in mind, this plan doesn’t should be good or set in stone. It will possibly evolve as you do and as you be taught what works greatest for you. The hot button is to have a plan in place, in order that once you’re confronted with temptations or challenges, you understand precisely what to do.
Step 4: Take motion
Data and planning are nice, however they imply nothing when you don’t take motion. This step is all about truly implementing your plan and making these modifications in your life.
It’s not at all times going to be straightforward. There can be days once you slip up and provides in to your cravings or previous habits. However that’s okay. Take it someday at a time and maintain shifting ahead. Each small step counts, and over time, they may add as much as massive modifications.
And keep in mind, you don’t have to do that alone. Lean in your assist system and attain out for assist once you want it. And most significantly, be sort and affected person with your self all through this course of.
Step 5: Have fun your progress
Lastly, don’t neglect to have fun your progress! Regardless of how small or massive, each step in the direction of overcoming your meals dependancy is price acknowledging and celebrating.
Take a while to replicate on how far you’ve come and the optimistic modifications you’ve made in your life. Reward your self on your onerous work and dedication. And use this as motivation to maintain going and proceed making progress in the direction of a more healthy, happier you.
Bear in mind, breaking free from meals dependancy shouldn’t be a simple journey, however it’s one which’s price taking. So keep educated, accountable, and have a plan in place. Then take motion and have fun your progress alongside the best way. You’ve received this! Now let’s go on the market and take again management of our well being from the sneaky meals trade!
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