ATTENTION: Do you often use language associated with addiction to describe your relationships with food…

“Why Women Suffering From Emotional Eating and Binge Eating Often Get Addicted To Food…”

Carb craver, chocaholic, how many times have you heard someone describe their relationship with food…

Yes, for many women the food obsession struggle is for real.

So, is it really possible to be addicted to certain types of food?

Did you know food can trigger behaviours.

And brain responses similar to drug addiction.

Imagine you’re a full time professional chef!

And you’re struggling with binge eating or other types of eating disorder.

May be for many it would be bizarre and counter-intuitive…

How could anyone suffering from binge eating spend so much time around food?

Are obsessions with food often linked with eating disorders?

Does it highlight the complexity and effects which go beyond eating itself?

Many of us have used diets at some point in our lives…

Whether the diet is to lose weight.

Maintain weight or be healthier.

What most diets have in common is restriction.

And this type of restriction is not just behavioural.

It is not simply the restriction of not eating a biscuit or forbidden food…

The restriction starts in our brains when we tell ourselves certain foods are off limits.

And where we talk about forbidden foods which keeps popping up in conversations.

In truth, people restricting their food intake can become preoccupied with food.

The restriction and preoccupation can manifest itself in a strong desire to overeat.

Women suffering from binge eating, binging and emotional eating are often obsessed with food.

In fact, I found myself hoarding recipes, reading articles, watching cookery shows…

Always stressed out cooking for others and preparing meals they themselves would not eat.

What drives an obsession with food…

There are two reasons why those with eating disorders might be driven to obsess over food.

The first is the brain’s way of telling a starving person they need to eat.

In context from an evolutionary perspective…

This is for survival and adapting to the environment.

You see, our brain won’t let us forget we are in need of fuel.

A study conducted by American physiologist Ancel Keys after World War II…

Ancel explored effects of starvation and re-feeding.

He wanted to better understand how to help concentration camp victims.

Ancel Keys found those who were starved became obsessed with food…

They dreamed and talked about food constantly.

All other aspects of life became insignificant.

The thoughts only subsided when they regained body fat.

Three of the participants even went on to become chefs.

It illustrates how great the impact is to experience food deprivation.

And ultimately how powerful it is on their decisions and life choices.

The second reason people with eating disorders obsess over food…

Is related to the need for control.

Control is often central to the development of a disorder.

For many sufferers…

Controlling their eating is a way to feel some mastery in an otherwise emotionally chaotic world.

Many studies have shown people with eating disorders suffer from low self esteem…

And often have other mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety.

To prepare food and be strong enough not to eat it.

This reinforces their self-worth and to some extent empowers them.

Pleasure from food is gained in an almost voyeuristic manner watching others eat.

Bear in mind food obsessions is not limited just to people with eating disorders.

Anyone using a restrictive diet is more likely to experience preoccupying thoughts.

And it affects decision making and saps our brain power as well.

A study found successful dieters and those who when given free access to appealing foods…

Surprisingly did not eat much but performed badly on a simple cognitive task.

Unsuccessful dieters and those who ate lots of the food performed very well.

This suggested those who were successful at restricting their intake…

Did so at the expense of their ability to perform another task.

And when others decided to ditch the diet, they freed up their brain capacity and performed well.

So obsessing over food and trying to maintain a diet can have detrimental effects on our performance.

Learned obsessions with food goes hand in hand with our relationships with food.

This can be influenced early in life and might affect our propensity to obsess over it…

A recent long-term study found mothers who use food as a reward…

Were more likely to have children who overeat when distressed.

This is compared with children of mothers who used less controlling feeding practices.

Learning early in life that food provides a source of comfort could play a role in food obsessions later in life.

Traditional ways used for recovery from an eating disorder can be a long process…

It can take many years, be derailed by relapses and it may never completely go away.

Even for those who have recovered, food may always hold a special meaning.

Is food obsession, binge eating, food addiction eating beyond physical comfort…

Feeling out of control trying to satisfy hunger which can’t be satiated with food?

Click here if you relate to these types of behaviours or have any concerns about your eating habits…

Food Obsession

Top Tips to Stop Food Cravings by Mel Thompson

When you are feeling tired or stressed, do you notice that your mind begins conjuring up images of your favorite foods?

Do chocolates, donuts, or a slice of warm bread and butter tempt and taunt you when you are trying to keep your weight down?

If so, then you are one of many millions of people battling cravings on an almost daily basis.

According to Dr. Omar Manejwala, author of fascinating book, Craving: Why We Can’t Seem to Get Enough…

Human beings are hard-wired to crave food; he states there are powerful evolutionary, biological and social factors that create a ‘craving culture’ that overtakes our body and mind.

The good news, it is relatively easy to fight  cravings, if you take a few important steps…

 

Simply follow these tips and you will find that losing and maintaining weight…

Or simply following a healthier, sounder nutritional regime, is far easier than you ever imagined:

• Do something else when you’re feeling tired or stressed: Focus on positive steps you can take to stop your cravings.

Instead of asking yourself, “What do I need to stop doing?”

Ask, “What do I need to start doing?”

Often, stress occurs when we have too much pent-up energy, or when we are not getting enough exercise.

Regular physical activity (and specific exercises and activities like yoga and mindful meditation) significantly lower levels of stress hormone cortisol.

When our stress levels are down, it is much easier to battle the urge to binge or indulge in unhealthy foods.

• Keep a journal: When you see a nutritionist, one of the first things they ask you to do is to keep a journal; jot down absolutely everything you eat, and at what time.

You may be surprised to find that you tend to indulge cravings at specific times of the day.

This makes it much easier to avoid low sugar levels that often make you crave unhealthy foods, by bringing healthier snacks to work, school or college, so you can keep  glucose levels stable throughout the day.

• Take the time to shop: When you have cravings, you tend to desperately reach for the first food available.

It therefore helps to have a kitchen and pantry full of healthy snacks, and devoid of chips, cookies, sweets and other processed, refined foods.

Always prepare a wide range of salad ingredients and keep them in the fridge; chop and wash them beforehand, so whipping up a healthy salad takes just a few seconds.

• Avoid tempting scenarios: If you know you can’t resist buying a cupcake from your favorite pastry shop, don’t walk past it.

Make it easier on yourself so that following a healthy eating plan doesn’t seem like torture.

• Create a sense of belonging: Sometimes, human beings indulge in dangerous habits and addictions (to alcohol, substances and food alike) because we have unmet needs in our lives.

It is important to build a healthy social network, to eliminate the sense of emptiness that often leads us to binge.

Thank you Mel Thompson for sharing your valued tips and insights.

Food Cravings