Junk Food Withdrawal Response is Like Quitting Drugs
By Sandy Schroeder
Are you addicted to fries, chips and donuts? Would you say your craving is an addiction? That may sound like a reach, but new research says ditching junk food generates withdrawal symptoms similar to ones people encounter when they stop drugs.
Researchers Assess Junk Food Withdrawal
University of Michigan scientists wanted to know what happened when individuals stopped eating highly processed foods such as french fries, pizza or pastries. They asked 231 adults, ages 19 to 68, to describe their withdrawal symptoms during the past year. The journal, Appetite, published the results.
How It Feels to Stop Eating Junk Food
Feelings of irritability, sadness, tiredness and craving were most intense two to five days after participants stopped eating junk food. After the initial impact, negative side effects tapered off in a pattern similar to drug withdrawal.
Why It’s So Hard to Put Down Those Chips
Overall, Michigan researchers said the intensity of withdrawal symptoms may explain why it is so hard to give up junk food, and so easy to start up again.
Having done quite a bit of independent research in this field, I found the taste for too much salt, sugar, or fats does change when you stop. After a period of not eating junk food, that bag of fries or big sugary donut really may seem too salty or sweet.
Looking Further at the Lure of Fatty Foods
University of California Irvine professor Daniele Piomelli looked at this attraction some time ago with rat research on foods such as french fries and chips. He wanted to know why it’s impossible to eat just one chip. He found natural marijuana-like chemicals in the body, called endocannabinoids, that are produced by cells in the upper gut. They spark a compulsive intake of fatty foods, which explains why we might devour a whole bag of chips. Piomelli says cells need fats to function properly, but an overload can lead to diabetes, cancer and obesity.
Healthy Steps
Wherever you are with your daily diet and the temptations of junk food, it is crucial to health to define it for yourself and follow the research. See your doctor to review weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose numbers. Talk about diets that emphasize fresh fruits and vegetables instead of processed foods, and create your own plans to eat healthy and stay active.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Downers Grove, Ill.