The average American probably doesn't realize that some foods, particularly those laden with sodium, sugar, and fat, can be addictive. To most, it's just a tasty treat. Unfortunately, this combo can impact the chemicals in your brain, stimulating its reward center, causing us to want more.
We each have what's called a bliss point, which is our ideal level or combination of sugar, salt, and fat that gets our brain juices flowing. Food manufacturers are well aware of this bliss point and spend a great deal of time uncovering and targeting the average person's ideal level. It leads to short-term satisfaction and unconscious eating. The only thing healthy about this are the profits that food manufacturers earn from hitting the bliss point.
There is some research that you might find interesting. Researchers increased the fat, sugar, and salt intake of a number of rats. They noted that the rats' pleasure centers were triggered as a result. What's more, it was surmised, based on a variety of factors, that the rats suffered from withdrawal symptoms upon conclusion of the study. While there are always critics of animal studies when extrapolating to humans, it is certainly something to think about.
It is easy to train our brains to eat too much. This happens when we overindulge in foods filled with sugar, sodium, and fat. Not only are they unhealthy on their own, but the fact that they can be addictive makes them that much worse. Furthermore, sugar and sodium can preserve food, resulting in a convenient product ready at a moment's notice to overeat. It's no wonder that obesity is an epidemic in the U.S. with rates skyrocketing.
Advertisers, and the food companies that pay them, are experts at conditioning us. They attempt to cause you to label their product a comfort or feel-good food. They do this with alcohol as well. Have you ever seen a beer commercial where there wasn't an amazing party going on, packed with beautiful people? Overweight people don't go to parties? This is by design. They want to make an unconscious connection with you and they do it well.
I do not think it is the intent of food manufacturers to negatively impact our health, but it is a troublesome consequence. They want to increase profitability and they've found that by pumping our food filled with sweet chemicals, sugar, salt, and fat, they make tons of money. I recommend keeping such foods out of the house completely. Also, think ahead when you're traveling or running errands. Have snacks like fruits, nuts, and seeds, or even cut up veggies on hand so you don't make that quick pit stop at an unhealthy fast food joint. I highly recommend indulging in high-water content fruit, which are refreshing and typically sweet. It can solve a sugar craving in its tracks. Trust me, it works.
We each have what's called a bliss point, which is our ideal level or combination of sugar, salt, and fat that gets our brain juices flowing. Food manufacturers are well aware of this bliss point and spend a great deal of time uncovering and targeting the average person's ideal level. It leads to short-term satisfaction and unconscious eating. The only thing healthy about this are the profits that food manufacturers earn from hitting the bliss point.
There is some research that you might find interesting. Researchers increased the fat, sugar, and salt intake of a number of rats. They noted that the rats' pleasure centers were triggered as a result. What's more, it was surmised, based on a variety of factors, that the rats suffered from withdrawal symptoms upon conclusion of the study. While there are always critics of animal studies when extrapolating to humans, it is certainly something to think about.
It is easy to train our brains to eat too much. This happens when we overindulge in foods filled with sugar, sodium, and fat. Not only are they unhealthy on their own, but the fact that they can be addictive makes them that much worse. Furthermore, sugar and sodium can preserve food, resulting in a convenient product ready at a moment's notice to overeat. It's no wonder that obesity is an epidemic in the U.S. with rates skyrocketing.
Advertisers, and the food companies that pay them, are experts at conditioning us. They attempt to cause you to label their product a comfort or feel-good food. They do this with alcohol as well. Have you ever seen a beer commercial where there wasn't an amazing party going on, packed with beautiful people? Overweight people don't go to parties? This is by design. They want to make an unconscious connection with you and they do it well.
I do not think it is the intent of food manufacturers to negatively impact our health, but it is a troublesome consequence. They want to increase profitability and they've found that by pumping our food filled with sweet chemicals, sugar, salt, and fat, they make tons of money. I recommend keeping such foods out of the house completely. Also, think ahead when you're traveling or running errands. Have snacks like fruits, nuts, and seeds, or even cut up veggies on hand so you don't make that quick pit stop at an unhealthy fast food joint. I highly recommend indulging in high-water content fruit, which are refreshing and typically sweet. It can solve a sugar craving in its tracks. Trust me, it works.
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