Unchaining Yourself from an Unhealthy Food Addiction

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Unchaining Yourself from an Unhealthy Food Addiction

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The cry of “I have no willpower!” often emerges from the consumers who jokingly

surrender to their lack of will when it comes to eating something clearly

unhealthy. However, scientific nutritional research has identified that

something much more serious ­ much more dangerous ­ is often at work here. For

many people, what they perceive as a harmless lack of willpower is actually an

addiction an addiction to chemicals that the brain secretes in response to

stimulation by certain foods, such as chocolate or cheese.

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Distribution Date and Time: Wed Apr 27 22:48:25 EDT 2005

Written By: Protica Research

Copyright: 2005

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Unchaining Yourself from an Unhealthy Food Addiction

Copyright © 2005 Protica Research

http://www.protica.com/

The cry of “I have no willpower!” often emerges from the

consumers who jokingly surrender to their lack of will when it

comes to eating something clearly unhealthy. However, scientific

nutritional research has identified that something much more

serious ­ much more dangerous ­ is often at work here. For many

people, what they perceive as a harmless lack of willpower is

actually an addiction an addiction to chemicals that the brain

secretes in response to stimulation by certain foods, such as

chocolate or cheese.

As dangerous as this addiction is, however, recent studies

suggest that it is actually much more frightening than it first

seems. According to one notable study, the human brain can

release dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter linked with

feelings enjoyment, when a person merely sees or smells certain

foods[ii]. As such, people who may be sensibly avoiding foods

that release serotonin and other chemicals (such as chocolate)

may still be susceptible to a sight and smell-based addiction to

unhealthy food.

Understanding this complex problem begins with understanding the

word addiction. Defining a clear-cut definition of addiction is

in itself a challenge and a rather hotly debated pursuit at the

moment. Still, there is enough unity among credible social and

biological scientists to say that a person who is powerless to

stop an action is addicted[iii]. When applying this rather grave

concept to eating, it becomes starkly clear that choosing an

extra slice of pizza or bar of chocolate may be the expression of

a very serious addiction to unhealthy food.

Remarkably, unlike how addictions to things like alcohol, drugs,

and sexual activity viewed biological and psychological

illnesses, addiction to eating is often ignored or, at the very

least, diminished to be something that is based on willpower. The

insulting advice of “just don’t eat it if you don’t want to get

fat!” that some obese people actually hear from their doctors,

relatives, or colleagues is one of the most common manifestations

of this often well-meaning, but potentially harmful, ignorance.

The bottom line fact ­ and one that more medical professionals

are accepting based on scientific evidence ­ is that obesity and

related eating disorders are often the results of an addiction

they are a serious health condition that must be approached

methodologically like other diseases[iv].

Understanding that food addiction is indeed a problem ­ a severe

disease, in fact ­ is a fundamental key in addressing this unique

health challenge. At the same time, the notion of “willpower”

should be removed, in most cases, from the eating disorder

vocabulary, and replaced with the word “addiction”. This will

make that extra piece of pizza or that third slice of chocolate

cake be seen for what they often are: the means to satisfy a

bonafide addiction.

Once the “eating disorder as an addiction” paradigm is in place,

then and only then can both unhealthy eaters and those supporting

them take steps to solve the problem. While there are no

overnight solutions, there are paths that eaters can take that

head in the right direction: freedom from eating addiction. The

first step on this path is to eat a complete and balanced source

of nutrition.

Taking this first step, like so much else associated with the

addiction to unhealthy food, is easier said than done. Eating

sensibly is unusually difficult in a time-starved culture and

even more difficult when there are arrays of self-described

nutritious dietary sources to choose from. Whether it is energy

bars or fad diets, finding a simple, convenient, and practical

source of balanced nutrition is hard to find.

However, some exceptional products are garnering serious positive

attention from scientific community. These products deliver

complete protein in a vitamin enriched formula. Furthermore ­ and

of critical value ­ is that these products contain no

carbohydrates, no unsaturated fat, and few calories none of which

are from fat. These products are helping people unchain

themselves from food addictions, and reflect a trend towards

nutritious and ethical nutritional supplement manufacturing.

Of ultimate importance, however, is that these products return

eating choice control back to where it must always remain: with

conscious and empowered consumers, and not to some hidden and

potentially destructive addiction.

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Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm

with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a

compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage

containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on

Protica is available at http://www.protica.com

You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com