Food Addictions and Why They are so Hard to Overcome

An addiction to one or more unhealthy foods can be just as damaging to your health as a drug addiction. Food addictions often lead to obesity, one of the leading causes of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Furthermore, an addiction to the wrong types of foods will sap a person's energy and lower his or her resistance to sickness.

What is a Food Addiction?

The Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity notes that the signs of a food addiction include:

• The need to eat more of a particular food in order to feel relaxed and happy
• Deterioration of healthy relationships with family members and friends
• Inability to control how much of a particular food one purchases or eats
• Withdrawal symptoms when a person stops eating the food that he or she is addicted to

Why Getting Rid of a Food Addiction is Difficult

One of the main reasons why getting rid of a food addiction is very difficult is the fact that white sugar stimulates the same area of the brain that is stimulated by the use of drugs such as marijuana, heroin and cocaine. This is why addictions to sugary foods and beverages are common while addiction to vegetables is unheard of.

Research also clearly shows that people develop a tolerance to a certain level of sugar in their diet. This means that an addict has to eat more and more sugary foods on a daily basis in order to make it through the day.

Any type of food has an effect on the body. Foods can either make someone feel relaxed or give him or her a boost of energy. Those who have unhealthy lifestyle habits often become addicted to certain foods that either give a needed energy boost or help them relax and de-stress.

How to Deal with a Food Addiction

The first step in dealing with a food addiction is to acknowledge that it exists. A person who finds that he or she is addicted to a particular type of food should then speak with a doctor or get help from an addiction treatment center. Medical professionals can help an individual outline a safe yet effective detox and addiction treatment plan that will eliminate the problem for good.