Friday, April 19, 2024

How To Stop An Eating Addiction

What Is Binge Eating Disorder

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All of us eat too much from time to time. But if you regularly overeat while feeling out of control and powerless to stop, you may be suffering from binge eating disorder. Binge eating disorder is a common eating disorder where you frequently eat large amounts of food while feeling powerless to stop and extremely distressed during or after eating. You may eat to the point of discomfort, then be plagued by feelings of guilt, shame, or depression afterwards, beat yourself up for your lack of self-control, or worry about what compulsive eating will do to your body.

Binge eating disorder typically begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, often after a major diet. During a binge, you may eat even when youre not hungry and continue eating long after youre full. You may also binge so fast you barely register what youre eating or tasting. Unlike bulimia, however, there are no regular attempts to make up for the binges through vomiting, fasting, or over-exercising.

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Eating Soil While Pregnant

The nutritional needs of pregnant women are higher than the average female. Since the pregnant womans body goes through a variety of hormonal and physical changes, it requires more nourishment. Without the extra nourishment, the babys health will be in jeopardy, as well as your own health.

Researchers believe that the healthy minerals found in soil is utilized as supplements for pregnant women. These minerals include potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, calcium, phosphorus and zinc. So, eating soil can help supplement the minerals missing in the diet. The nutritional value of soil varies from one place to another.

South African women also eat soil to ease their morning sickness during pregnancy. However, eating soil with clay can cause constipation, which is caused by an increase in progesterone, a hormone that helps relax smooth muscles in the digestive tract.

In This Post We Address The Issue Of Food Addiction

Many of us overeat from time to time, but some will go on to develop an addiction to food.The very idea of a food addiction was laughable all but a few short years ago. And many people still erroneously believe that addiction is solely about drugs and alcohol.

But things have changed.

The official term for food addiction is compulsive overeating.Many people refer to the disorder as binge eating.The condition is principally characterised by the sufferer consuming vast quantities of food while feeling powerless to stop.

Like other addictions, the person is not in control of their behaviour. This means the food addict is feels very guilty and depressed following an episode of binge eating.

Sufferers even report feeling a sense of self-disgust .But just what is food addiction? And how can you identify if you suffer from it?Well, the answer is simple. But before I give you the answer, I want to tell you about .

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Soap Eating Addiction How To Stop It

nokulungabuku over a year ago

Im Nokulunga from South African. I am 27 years of age and have been eating for soap for more then 15 years now. Ever since I can remember soap smelled good enough to eat to me and that is basically why I eat it.

It is not a habit but an addiction because I can not go a day without eating it and after every meal I need some.

I need help to stop before my kids loose me.

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Guest over 5 months ago

What Are The Causes Of Food Addiction

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Food addiction is likely the culmination of several factors that interplay in the overall cause of this disorder. A man or woman may develop an addiction as a result of biological, psychological, or social reasons. Biological causes that may influence the progression of this eating disorder might include hormonal imbalances, abnormalities in various brain structures, side effects from the use of certain medications, or having family members with this type of addiction issues.

It also might also be the result of psychological factors. Factors included in this category might include emotional or sexual abuse, being a victim or survivor of a traumatic event, having an inability to healthily cope with negative situations, chronic low-self esteem, or experiencing grief or loss.

Psychological factors such as these can influence an individual to use food as a coping mechanism to relieve the painful emotions that may have resulted. Lastly, there are social implications that may be involved with food addiction, including factors such as disturbances in family function, pressure from peers or society, social isolation, child abuse, lack of social support, and stressful life events.

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Unable To Quit Despite Physical Problems

Which foods you choose to eat can significantly affect your health.

In the short term, junk food can lead to weight gain, acne, bad breath, fatigue, poor dental health, and other common problems.

A lifetime of junk food consumption can lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimers, dementia, and even some types of cancer.

Someone who experiences any of these problems related to their intake of unhealthy foods but is unable to change their habits likely needs help.

A treatment plan thats designed by qualified professionals is typically recommended for overcoming eating disorders.

Summary

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Fast Food Addiction: A Major Public Health Issue

Abdul Kader Mohiuddin*

Abdul Kader Mohiuddin, Nasirullah Memorial Trust,Tejgaon, Dhaka 1215, Bangladesh.

Received Date:December 30, 2019 January 23, 2020

Fast food/Junk food is designed to be tasty, comforting and convenient. Unfortunately, whilst these foods contain lots of calories, they oftenhave far lower levels of fiber, water and minerals as compared to natural foods. Packaged food and snacks are also created specifically so that we getenough texture and taste from each bite to tantalize our taste buds but not enough to make us feel full. Its evident that fast food feels good to eat andtempts us in many different situations. Fast food first popularized in the 1970s in the United States, which has today the largest fast food industryin the world. As taste, time considerations, convenience, and cost are major factors that contribute to an adolescents or young adults food choices,fast food restaurants serve as popular sites for their meals eaten outside the home. Current approaches suggest that fast food restaurants should berequired to clarify nutrition information such as energy and fat content on their menu boards and on product packaging. This is important to help theconsumer to make better food choices before purchasing. An adequate, nutritious, and balanced diet is essential to maintain health for ones lifetime.To achieve this healthy diet, fast food consumption should be limited.

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Getting Help For Binge Eating Disorder

If you think you may have binge eating disorder, see a GP as soon as you can.

They’ll ask you about your eating habits and how you’re feeling, and check your weight and overall health.

The GP should refer you to an eating disorder specialist or team of specialists if they think you have binge eating disorder or another eating disorder.

It can be hard to admit you need help with an eating disorder, so bringing a friend or loved one with you to your appointment may help.

You can also talk in confidence to an adviser from eating disorders charity Beat by calling its adult helpline on 0808 801 0677 or youth helpline on 0808 801 0711.

Identify Your Triggers With A Food And Mood Diary

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One of the best ways to identify the patterns behind your binge eating is to keep track with a food and mood diary. Every time you overeat or feel compelled to reach for your version of comfort food Kryptonite, take a moment to figure out what triggered the urge. If you backtrack, youll usually find an upsetting event that kicked off the binge.

Write it all down in your food and mood diary: what you ate , what happened to upset you, how you felt before you ate, what you felt as you were eating, and how you felt afterward. Over time, youll see a pattern emerge.

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Emotional Eating Does Not Always Have A Negative Association

Believe it or not, emotional eating can also occur when feeling happy.

For instance, eating is tied to your emotions when we use food as a reward for achieving a promotion at work or receiving a good grade at school.

It also occurs in social situations such as weddings or when going out to eat with friends, where social pressures can cause you to emotionally eat.

Last, emotional eating takes place when feeling bored. How many times have you reached for a chocolate bar just because it is there? And how many times have you grabbed a bag of potato chips or some popcorn while watching a movie?

Perhaps you made that reach because you simply had nothing else to do. Maybe eating chips while watching your favourite movie or tv show just feels great. Whichever is the case, you simply eat for reasons other than hunger, and the trigger behind these bouts of eating is related to your emotions.

Replace Sugary Beverages With Water

Drinking sugary beverages like soda and juice could lead to weight gain and increase the risk of certain diseases like diabetes .

Studies have shown that consuming sweetened drinks with meals may be linked to overeating as well.

A review of 17 studies found that adults who drank sugar-sweetened beverages with meals consumed 7.8% more food than adults who consumed water with meals (

22 ).

Fortunately, taking certain actions can help. For example, try taking on a new activity thats enjoyable. It may help prevent boredom and distract from the urge to nibble.

Also, spending some time thinking about what triggers overeating can help determine the type of help to seek. If depression and anxiety are contributors, getting proper treatment from a mental health professional might assist with reducing overeating.

Every person is different, so its important to find the right treatment plan for your needs.

Summary Think about the feelings during episodes of overeating and seek help to address the issues behind the behavior. Depression and boredom are two common reasons. A mental health professional can provide guidance.

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How To Beat It

Theres no quick fix or magic pill to make you stop wanting sugar or foods that you crave. Ultimately, you crave what you regularly feed yourself. So the only way to reduce your cravings is to take a break. If you regularly have something sweet to eat after dinner, its very natural for you to always feel like eating something sweet after dinner. Youre in a bad habit, thats all. Research has shown that fasting particular foods doesnt increase the cravings like it does with true drug addiction, it actually reduces them.

Changing your habits and behaviour is hard work. So you need to get prepared. Here are are few tips to help you beat the sugar high and get in control of your eating.

Strategy : Increase Your Fiber Intake

Overcoming Food Addiction : How to Stop Binge Eating

Eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed foods can help you feel satiated compared to eating refined grains, sugars, and processed foods. This latter group of food typically provides a rapid burst of energy followed by a “crash” that can lead to cravings.

Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables also offer plenty of dietary fiber. Fiber moves slowly through the digestive tract, keeping you satiated for a longer period of time.

Nutritious, high-fiber foods include:

  • Whole grain bread
  • Whole wheat pasta

Fiber-rich foods also help lower cholesterol and blood sugar while reducing the risks of diabetes and heart disease.

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The Science Of Food Addiction

Food addiction arises because eating lots of food makes us feel better.

But why does food make us feel better? And why does this cause addiction?

The answer is simple: foods rich in sugar, fat and salt stimulate the brains reward centre i.e. feel good hormones such as dopamine.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that allows us to feel good about ourselves.

Over time, the brain becomes more tolerant to dopamine. This means an ever greater quantity of food is needed in order to achieve this feel good factor.

Activities such as sex, exercising and eating all trigger dopamine. Each activity is essential for survival, so its essential we feel good when doing these activities.

Otherwise, we might not do them and die .

The Importance Of Deciding Not To Diet

After a binge, its only natural to feel the need to diet to compensate for overeating and to get back on track with your health. But dieting usually backfires. The deprivation and hunger that comes with strict dieting triggers food cravings and the urge to overeat.

Instead of dieting, focus on eating in moderation. Find nutritious foods that you enjoy and eat only until you feel content, not uncomfortably stuffed. Avoid banning or restricting certain foods, as this can make you crave them even more. Instead of saying I can never eat ice cream, say I will eat ice cream as an occasional treat.

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What Causes Food Addiction And What Are The Signs

People with food addiction struggle every day with a loss of control or inability to stop eating foods that are high in carbohydrates, fat, salt, sugar, or artificial sweeteners. They also suffer from painful feelings of shame and embarrassment when it comes to their food behaviors.

Food addiction is a relatively new topic. But, its a complex condition that has similarities to other types of addiction, such as drugs, alcohol, shopping, or gambling. However, help is available.Understanding the causes and signs of food addiction can help you lower your risk and change potentially problematic behaviors.

Am I Addicted To Junk Food

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To be addicted means that youâre unable to resist using or consuming something, despite the fact that itâs doing you harm â to be dependent on an activity or substance for happiness or equilibrium. Food is a primaeval driver for any living thing. Because food can change our mood for the better, it can become something to rely on when weâre stressed or anxious. And most people donât choose fruit or steamed vegetables for a quick boost. Eating large amounts of sugar and fat on a regular basis makes you crave more, which is easy to find in todayâs world of around the clock fast food.

But the sugar-laden sweets or take-away junk food most people turn to for comfort are bereft of nutritional value. The calories, sugar, salt, and trans-fat junk food does have will leave you overweight and listless, but still hungry. As the medical community never tires of repeating, there are many risks associated with obesity, such as heart disease, sore joints, diabetes, elevated blood pressure and increased probability of stroke. So this is not a trivial addiction.

Trying to derail a dependence on food alone often results in feelings of deprivation, withdrawal, and depression â itâs very difficult to realign entrenched mental and metabolic patterns at the same time. Therapy may be what you need to establish healthier eating habits over the long term. What do you have to lose if you put off taking action?

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How To Overcome Food Addiction

The effects of certain foods on the brain make it hard for some people to avoid them.

Food addiction operates similarly to other addictions, which explains why some people cant control themselves around certain foods no matter how hard they try.

Despite not wanting to, they may repeatedly find themselves eating large amounts of unhealthy foods knowing that doing so may cause harm.

This article examines food addiction and provides tips to overcome it.

Food addiction is an addiction to junk food and comparable to drug addiction.

Its a relatively new and controversial term, and high quality statistics on its prevalence are lacking .

Food addiction is similar to several other disorders, including binge eating disorder, bulimia, compulsive overeating, and other feeding and eating disorders.

SUMMARY

Food addiction is a highly controversial concept, though most studies suggest it exists. It works similarly to drug addiction.

2 ).

Processed junk foods have a powerful effect on the reward centers of the brain. These effects are caused by brain neurotransmitters like dopamine .

The most problematic foods include typical junk foods like candy, sugary soda, and high fat fried foods.

Food addiction is not caused by a lack of willpower but believed to be caused by a dopamine signal that affects the biochemistry of the brain .

SUMMARY

Food addiction is thought to involve the same neurotransmitters and areas of the brain as drug addiction.

Write Down The Reasons For Staying Sober

You can try this method of dealing with food cravings only if youre diagnosed as a food addict. Write down the pros and cons of staying sober. Include everything you might think of. For example, by abstaining from pizza, you will lose weight, improve your appearance, spend less money in your favorite pizzeria, increase your energy levels, reduce your risks of cardiovascular disease, etc.

On the other hand, avoiding pizza means no more pizza nights with your pals, no more pleasure from its taste, no more pizza-beer-football combo, the need to explain your food choices to your friends and family, etc.

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The Slippery Slope Of Food Addiction

Someone doesnt just that she wants to feel out of control with food. Instead, its often a slippery slope that leads a person into an addiction with a particular food. Below are some of the warning signs and common traits among people suffering from a food addiction:

  • Changes in mood
  • Feeling disgusted, guilty or upset after eating
  • Feeling stressed or tension that is only relieved by eating

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