When we consume hyperpalatable foods (animal products and highly processed foods rich in sugar, salt, and fat) then our body releases of a suite of “feel-good” hormones like dopamine that act the same as opiates in the brain.
“Frequently overeating highly palatable foods saturates the brain with so much dopamine that it eventually adapts by desensitizing itself, reducing the number of cellular receptors that recognize and respond to the neurochemical. Consequently, the brains of overeaters demand a lot more sugar and fat to reach the same threshold of pleasure as they once experienced with smaller amounts of the foods. These people may, in fact, continue to overeat as a way of recapturing or even maintaining a sense of well-being.” – Salon
So, the more of these foods you consume and the more frequently you consume them, the harder it is to break away from them. Discipline a la “portion control” is nearly impossible.
Because it is a vicious cycle that only worsens with consistent exposures to these foods, it is best to avoid them entirely. How can you avoid this “pleasure trap”? By eating whole plant foods.
As you transition away from the holidays – which are inherently overflowing with opportunity for overconsumption and excessive exposure to rich, tempting foods – and as you prepare for a healthy, inspired 2016, consider how to nourish your body, prioritize wholesome options, and emphasize finding or revisiting your favorite healthful recipes and meal plans…
Resources:
- ResearchGate’s The Addiction Potential of Hyperpalatable Foods
- Beating Sugar Addiction
- 10 Days. 5 Ways. 1 Healthiest Year Ever
- The pleasure trap: Douglas J. Lisle, Ph.D. at TEDxFremont
- Breaking The Food Seduction – by Neal Barnard, M.D.
- Michael Moss via The New York Times’ You Really Can’t Eat Just One, and Here’s the Reason
- NPR’s How The Food Industry Manipulates Taste Buds With ‘Salt Sugar Fat’
- A Day In The (Vegan) Life