A Nation Addicted to Food
“Food and drug
addictions have much in common, particularly in the way that both disrupt the
parts of the brain involved in pleasure and self-control” -Dr. Volkow
As a nation, the number of individuals
with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension numbers have reached epidemic
proportions. It is easy to blame the individual, but according to the New York
Times article, ‘The Extraordinary Science of
Addictive Junk Food,’ “it’s not just a matter of poor willpower on the part of
the consumer and a give-the-people-what-they-want attitude on the part of the
food manufacturers. [It is] a conscious effort... to get people hooked on foods
that are convenient and inexpensive.” Certainly each individual much harness
their willpower to maintain a healthy diet; but that has become increasingly
difficult when food companies have intense and misleading marketing campaigns
backed by hundreds of food scientist with the single goal of making their
unhealthy foods irresistible. Today, one in three adults is clinically obese.
The number of Americans with type 2 diabetes has also risen alarmingly to 24
million. Such high numbers of obesity and diabetes leads one the question: are
we a nation addicted to food?
Addiction to food has been debated by
nutrition and addiction researchers, according to the article, “Craving an Ice Cream Fix.” This New
York Time’s article argues that new research suggests the debate is over: Yes,
food addiction is real. Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute
on Drug Abuse said, “food and drug addictions have much in common, particularly
in the way that both disrupt the parts of the brain involved in pleasure and
self-control.” According to the article, researchers from Princeton University
and University of Florida have found that “sugar-binging rats show signs of
opiate like withdrawal when their sugar is taken away- including chattering
teeth, trembling forepaws and the shakes”.
Other food scientists have reported that rats on a fatty liquid diet
began producing endocannabinoids, a chemical not unlike what is produced when
using marijuana. Addiction to food is related to the kinds of food being
consumed. The article quoted Dr. Browne, co-editor of the new book “Food and
Addiction” as saying, “We don’t abuse lettuce, turnips and oranges, but when a
highly processed food is eaten, the body may go haywire. Nobody abuses corn...
but when you process it into Cheetos, what happens?” She argues that the
scientific study of the brain should have us question the way food companies
alter food to have consumers become hooked, “With these foods, personal will
and good judgment get overridden. People want these foods, dream about these
foods, crave them.”
Food addiction is possible to
overcome- with conscientious effort. According to Dr. Pamela Peeke, author of
“The Hunger Fix” and an assistant professor at the University of Maryland,
exercise and meditation can help individuals beat their food addiction.
According to the Times article, methadone is utilized by heroin users to
alleviate their withdrawals. Likewise, food addicts can help overcome addiction
by finding healthy and pleasurable alternatives. An example given in the
article was enjoying a fruit smoothie instead of ice cream. Kay’s Naturals is
another healthy alternative to help kick a bad food habit. Our products do not
have the additive combination of high sugar, fats, and salt, but they do have a
pleasurable crunch and flavor. Toss the Cheetos from your pantry and open up a
bag of Chili Nacho Protein Chips. They are good source of protein and fiber,
all while being low in fat, carbohydrates and sodium. Shop online to see all the healthy alternatives we
have to offer. Together, we can beat our food cravings and become a healthy
nation again.
