Junk Foods 'Highs' Mimic Drug Addiction

Have you ever recognized how closely your frequent cravings for ice cream and chips resemble an addiction to cocaine? According to recent studies, junk food might give you the same "high" as cocaine or heroin.

Researchers imply that ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, are just as addictive as nicotine, cocaine, or heroin and have hooked more than one in ten people.

Hogging for Junk Foods? Beware of Food Addiction!

Highly processed meals, with added amounts of fat and/or refined carbohydrates (e.g., sugar, white flour), were most likely to be linked with behavioral indicators of addictive-like eating. Individuals endorsing symptoms of addictive-like eating behavior may be more susceptible to the large blood sugar spike, which is consistent with the importance of dose and rate of absorption in the addictive potential of drugs of abuse (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Which foods may be addictive? The roles of processing, fat content, and glycemic load

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“The combination of refined carbohydrates and fats often found in UPFs seems to have a supra-additive effect on brain reward systems above either macronutrient alone, which may increase the addictive potential of these foods,” explains Dr. Ranga Santhosh Kumar, general physician and diabetologist at Yashoda Hospitals.

In contrast to UPFs, which contain disproportionately higher levels of both fats and carbohydrates, naturally sourced foods typically have either one of them or not both. According to Dr. Somnath Gupta, a diabetologist at the hospital, another reason why many find them addicting is that they cause the brain's dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and reward, to be released (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Social, clinical, and policy implications of ultra-processed food addiction

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Guidelines to Reduce Your Food Cravings

Although difficult, overcoming a craving for highly processed meals is possible. Here are some methods for overcoming addiction:

• Be Aware Of Your Food Triggers:

  Know your triggers and the times of day you're most likely to eat certain items. An essential first step is to become aware of your habits

• One Step at a Time:

  Do not set unattainable goals. Instead of abruptly stopping, progressively cut back on junk foods

• Healthy Alternatives:

  Healthy substitutes of whole, unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts for UPFs, and yogurt for ice cream and chips can cut down on junk food intake

• Portion Management:

  To lessen the chance of overindulgence, eat these meals in moderation and gradually cut down on the junk portions

• Seek Assistance:

  For advice and assistance, think about speaking with a nutritionist or healthcare expert

It's crucial to remember that not all doctors recognize food addiction as a diagnosis, and more study is required to properly comprehend the mechanics.

References:

1. Which foods may be addictive? The roles of processing, fat content, and glycemic load - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25692302/)
2. Social, clinical, and policy implications of ultra-processed food addiction - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10561019/)

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Source-Medindia