There is growing recognition that people can develop an addiction to food, as tens of millions of people around the world are trying to lose weight without getting there. In spite of their goodwill and efforts, they simply can not get rid of their attachment to certain foods that lead to proven physical dependence. These include sugar, refined wheat flour, all "junk food". But as surprising as it may seem, cheese could also be addictive.
Cheese in the same basket as tobacco, alcohol and drugs
According to an American study published in the journal Plos One, highly processed foods would, when consumed, have effects on the addiction circuit similar to those of known addictive substances such as drugs, alcohol and alcohol. tobacco.
Researchers have shown that the mere fact that a food is processed can predict addictive behaviors.
In addition, the foods most likely to be addictive to consumers were processed, high-fat and high glycemic index foods.
On the other hand, although it was not counted among processed foods, cheese as a high-fat diet was classified alongside soda, bacon and cheeseburgers as being related to the phenomenon. addiction.
Some of the men who participated in the study even went so far as to say that foods like cheese were more problematic to them than, they say, women!
How does food addiction work?
Processed food and semi-processed foods such as cheese or meat act in our brain by influencing the reward circuit, in which dopamine, a brain neurotransmitter, plays a major role.
Many studies, like the one just mentioned, show that the most problematic foods are those containing refined sugar and wheat and a high fat content.
When a person is dependent on food, it is not enough to have the will to get rid of it, because such an addiction could be similar to that induced by drugs.
This study knows by a donor a lively debate in the scientific community, indeed, some scientists believe that saying that cheese creates as much dependence as dangerous drugs such as cocaine is a false exaggeration as reported by our colleagues Science Future
The symptoms of food addiction
These are symptoms that people who are addicted to food most commonly feel.
If you recognize yourself in the proposals below, you probably have a problem with the food!
1. You often feel the urge to eat certain foods, even when you have just finished a meal.
2. You often eat a lot more than you expected.
3. You may eat certain foods that you like to the point of feeling close to exploding.
4. You often feel guilty after eating certain foods, but you still end up eating them again after a while.
5. You make all kinds of excuses to convince yourself that you can eat something you really want.
6. You often keep your consumption of certain foods secret.
7. You continue to consume certain foods, although you know for a fact that they are harmful to your health.
8. Despite your best efforts, you are unable to stop eating certain foods.
A serious problem
Addiction to food is a serious problem and can not be solved by mere motivation and good will. A food addict is simply unable to abstain from eating the foods that cause him problems, and which unfortunately are equally problematic to his health or even deadly. She then needs help from a specialist to find the causes of this addiction and finally find a solution.
