As addictive as cocaine
PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Do you crave sugar and fatty food? The explanation may go beyond a lack of willpower, writes clinical nutritionist Sona Parmar Mukherjee
"I have to have a bar of chocolate at 4pm".
This is a comment from a patient of mine. It’s easy to say that such a person doesn’t have willpower, but as intensive medical research in the US has shown, fatty processed foods and high fructose sugar treats can actually be as addictive as cocaine and cigarettes.
Scientists in the US looked into the results from 28 independent studies on food addiction, and found that when obese and compulsive eaters were shown images of junk food, they were drawn to them much the same way that cocaine addicts were when shown a bag of the white powder. In both groups, the decision-making area of the brain would release a rush of dopamine as they looked at the images (dopamine is a brain chemical that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centres.)
INTERESTING STUDY
Another interesting study found that when rats were given access to foods such as processed bacon, cheesecakes and creamy cake frosting for an hour a day, they began binge-eating on them – even much the same as an increasing intake of cocaine. Quite something.
Once upon a time, people knew that cigarettes were killing people, but it was only after a considerable amount of time that they learned about nicotine and the intentional manipulation of it by manufacturers. A number of commentators in the US believe that it’s only a matter of time before food companies are faced with a drawn-out consumer safety battle much like the anti-smoking movement that started against the tobacco industry.
Whether that happens remains to be seen, but already in many Western countries, junk food advertising is being limited so that children aren’t exposed to it. Hopefully this is the shape of things to come everywhere.
ASK SONA:
How do I beat the cravings?
Make fruit a viable alternative: Make it exciting by adding some plain yoghurt.
Understand why you eat junk food and reduce the source of the uncomfortable emotions that drive you to binge. You’ll be much less likely to crave junk food.
Choose non-food treats: Instead of rewarding yourself with a piece of chocolate cake, why not treat yourself to a new book or pair of shoes?
Instead of crisps munch on crisp veggies.
