When foods are processed, the components of these foods are modified. Often fibre, water and nutrients are removed, and this changes the way they are absorbed in your body.
Eating highly processed foods can artificially stimulate a chemical called dopamine (the pleasure neurotransmitter) in your brain, which plays a role in addiction.
So while you are eating foods that lack nutrients and fibre, you experience a pleasurable feeling – which can cause you to overeat.
A food addiction starts because you feel good when you are eating these foods, you falsely associate them to taste better that other foods, and then you crave that pleasurable feeling again and again.
Foods high in sodium, sugar, or fat are likely to trigger food addiction. According to the US National Library of Medicine, sugar in fast food can cause cravings similar to the same intensity as addictive drugs.
Think of it this way – you never have an urge to binge-eat a mountain of broccoli or carrots do you? But you can however, scoff down a bag of chips or a whole block of chocolate without question...
Healthy foods that aren’t processed simply don’t have that effect on your brain.
Once you are already affected by an addiction to processed foods, your brain is triggered to crave foods that contain salt, sugar, and fats.
In fast food, these three ingredients often come highly processed in the form of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils – and the addiction spikes even higher when other flavor enhancers are added into the mix.
Trying to heal from food addiction demands a total lifestyle change – you should always start by ridding your pantries of junk and preparing three balanced meals each day.
The addiction to processed foods often goes hand in hand with being time poor and eating on the run, which is why being able to prepare healthy meals daily is often the biggest challenge.
Ordering meals through Gourmet Meals can help you eliminate processed foods, sweeteners, excessive sugars, fats and salt, other foods that cause you to overeat, and replace them with nourishing alternatives.
All of our meals are packed with fresh whole foods and vegetables to help balance your brain chemistry and stop you from overeating.
They are also all salt-reduced, fat reduced, high in fibre and protein, and 100% gluten free.
We can help you avoid the foods that contribute to weight gain and cholesterol problems, and seek out foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids that are not only proven to enhance your health – but also your happiness and wellbeing.
Check out our menu today to discover the wide range of healthy individual meals that can be delivered straight to your door and help break your addiction to processed foods.
Tags: Addiction To Processed Foods, Healthy Meals Delivered
