Could you really be addicted to food?
There has been many times where I bought a box of Oreo cookies and told myself I would enjoy it over the span of a week. By the end of the day those cookies were gone. Why am I so weak right now? I remember watching an episode of Sanford and Son where Lamont found a mysterious marijuana plant growing in their yard. When Lamont wanted to turn it into the police, it was gone. Smitty had made dinner for everyone which included a nice big salad which was really part of the marijuana. I guess the marijuana plant was so addictive that they kept wanting more and more. It was too funny. Do you ever feel this way when eating junk food? I do. Sometimes I think, “there has to be some type of chemical that makes me want more”. Well according to Discover Magazine I wasn’t way off.
In the article “Is overeating an addiction?” the author reports on research that shows how drug addicts and chronically obese share a similar shortage of receptors for dopamine. Basically the brain has certain chemicals that simulates a feeling of pleasure and food serves as this purpose for chronically obese. Read the entire article here.
There is good news and bad news that comes with this article. The good news is, you can beat this addiction. The bad news is you beat it by exercise. Yup, there is no short cut here. When it all comes down to it, exercise is always going to be key. I’m sorry.
love,
the christianista
