Health Matters
Understanding Food Addiction
By Kepha Nyanumba
Ever found yourself reaching for a chocolate bar after a stressful day or craving salty chips late at night? Food addiction is a universal experience, often driven by a complex interplay of biology, emotions, and environment. It is a very serious problem and one of the main reasons some people can’ t control themselves around certain foods, no matter how hard they try.
A food addiction is a behavioral addiction that is characterized by the compulsive over-consumption of certain foods. It is usually framed as an emotional issue, but it is in fact largely a biochemical problem. Nobody chooses addiction. These behaviors arise from primitive neurochemical reward centers in the brain that override normal willpower and, in the case of food addictions, overwhelm the ordinary biological signals that control hunger.
Scientists have discovered that fatty and sugary foods trigger lasting brain changes that might make it difficult to resist overeating. Furthermore, those changes resemble what happens in the brain when someone is addicted to drugs, such as alcohol.
Signs and symptoms of Food Addiction
A person with symptoms of compulsive overeating has what can be characterized as an addiction to food. From uncontrollable cravings to feelings of guilt and shame after eating, the symptoms of food addiction can significantly disrupt a person’ s life, both physically and emotionally. Understanding these symptoms is the first step toward recognizing and addressing this complex issue. The following are
Mindful eating is the practice of paying full attention to the experience of eating, without judgment, while recognizing physical hunger and satiety cues. It helps reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and foster a healthier relationship with food. some behavioral and emotional signs and symptoms of food addiction:
• Inability to stop eating or control what is eaten
• Awareness that eating patterns are abnormal
• Eating alone due to shame and embarrassment
• Feelings of guilt due to overeating
• Binge eating, or eating uncontrollably even when not physically hungry
• Eating much more rapidly than normal
The Role of Sugar in Food Addiction
Sugar is one of the most common and widely consumed substances in the modern diet. It ' s found in countless processed foods and beverages, and its sweet allure makes it hard for many people to resist. But beyond its taste, sugar has a profound effect on the brain that may contribute to addictive eating behaviors. As research into food addiction progresses, sugar has emerged as a key player in this cycle, often driving people to overeat and struggle with long-term cravings.
When sugar is consumed, it activates the brain’ s reward centers, primarily the dopamine system. Dopamine is
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