Food addictions, cravings and food intolerances
Of course we are not addicted to food in the same way as cocaine addict is addicted to their drug, however there are some very big similarities. You may think this doesn’t apply to you but it probably does.
Statistically it is thought that a large amount of people eat compulsively. Food cravings develop and for some people these cravings can be for them as strong as an addiction to alcohol for an alcoholic, or a nicotine addiction. Otherwise everyone would eat sensibly all the time.
The body can fight back against deprivation of nutrients by escalating food cravings until they are strong enough to overwhelm the will, and for some these cravings don’t go away after they have stopped dieting and regained their weight. Most often than not because they still are not getting the nutrients they need.
The body will not switch off until it gets the nutrients it needs (I am not talking of calories), this is a built in safety mechanism. Some nutrients are vital to the body and sadly lacking in most people’s diet. When the body finally gets the nutrients it needs it will begin to tone down cravings, addictions and intolerances.
Some foods literally act like ‘drug foods’ as they create a false high in the brain, they change the brain chemistry – a feel good factor for a short time (like a drug such nicotine or alcohol). Some people overeat, consuming loads of refined processed foods giving them a temporary high, leaving them malnourished, as these foods will use up valuable resources, depleting the body’s reserves. These are what are called ‘empty calories’. They will leave you wanting more. They will eventually drain your energy and alter your brain chemistry.
Which foods do you love? Which foods do you think you would be unable to live without? Experience shows these foods could be the very foods you have a problem with. You may be using these foods unknowingly like a drug. Over the years I have seen it time after time.
A lot of people tell me they are not addicted to any particular food, but soon find out when they try eliminate certain foods, how dependent they really are. It often comes as a surprise to them, but do not worry we have had extensive experience in this area, making it easier for you to overcome these obstacles.
Of course the food industry is well aware that people crave certain foods like wheat, sugar, salt, and food grade chemicals like preservatives, sweeteners, colorings etc. The industry has made full use of this fact and everywhere you look there are products full of the ‘drug like’ ingredients! It’s good for business and luckily for the industry these food ingredients are very cheap.