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We now see the overuse of food as an addictive process as well.
How many times has the phrase "you just need more will power" been used to describe your overeating or inability to stick to a healthy diet? We now know that willpower has little to do with overeating.
New research supports the notion that for some people, food can be just as addictive as cocaine.
Addictive overeating can be more accurately attributed to reduced levels of serotonin in the brain due to a stressful lifestyle; not to willpower.
What Science Tells Us About Brain Chemistry Scientists Dr.
Richard and Judith Wurtman at MIT have been studying the interaction of carbohydrates and serotonin for over 30 years.
Their research shows that the consumption of carbohydrate foods triggers the release of serotonin, an important chemical signal, or neurotransmitter, in the brain.
The serotonin, in turn, was shown to suppress the desire for carbohydrates.
Some people, particularly those with night time carbohydrate cravings, may unconsciously be using carbohydrates as a sedative, capitalizing on serotonin's sleep-inducing property.
Serotonin is also responsible for elevating mood, suppressing appetite and decreasing sensitivity to pain.
Why You Overeat Simple carbohydrates, because of their strong effect on brain chemistry, tend to be the overeaters "food of choice.
" In response to low serotonin levels, eating simple carbohydrates dramatically raises your blood sugar.
Insulin is released both lowering blood sugar levels as well as allowing tryptophan, an amino acid, to reach your brain more easily.
The tryptophan is then used to increase serotonin levels in an attempt to stabilize your brain chemistry.
The sleepiness after a large carbohydrate meal is partly due to an increase in serotonin.
So where does carbohydrate addiction come in to play? Are You Addicted? Food addiction occurs when overeating becomes a chronic condition associated with psychological, social and environmental factors.
Food addiction is often progressive and in some cases can be fatal.
To determine if you might have an addiction to food, ask yourself the following questions: 1.
Do you have difficulty controlling the use of food? A real-life example might be having trouble sticking to a healthy eating program.
2.
Do you have a preoccupation with food? A real-life example might be thinking about your next meal before you finish the current one.
3.
Do you use food despite adverse consequence? A real-life example might be do you continue to eat and gain weight despite the fact it negatively affects your high blood pressure and joint pain? 4.
Does food create distortions in your thinking? A real-life example might be if you become anxious at the thought of missing a meal or eliminating a certain food.
How to Curb Carbohydrate Addiction The key to curbing carbohydrate addiction is balancing both your blood sugar and brain chemistry.
The following suggestions can help you beat the addiction.
1.
Increase Physical Activity Increasing physical activity raises serotonin levels without the use of food and stabilizes blood sugar.
Make sure to do 3 to 4 hours of walking and weight training per week to keep your body and brain strong and balanced.
2.
Eat Healthier Meals Eating balanced meals with more fruits and vegetables keeps blood sugar stable while reducing harmful chemicals and additives that affect your brain.
Complex carbohydrates will help increase serotonin without any drastic blood sugar swings.
Eating more whole foods and reducing processed foods increases fiber and lowers sodium.
3.
Lower Stress Levels Physical activity helps lower stress but it's also important to balance your activity with relaxation time.
Make the time to get a massage, listen to good music or take a hot bath.
Read materials that can help you adopt a positive attitude.
Attitude also helps balance brain chemistry and reduces stress.
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