Understanding Food Addiction: Causes, Triggers, and Coping Strategies

MAY 12 – MAY 17 | GUARDING YOUR BODY

Introduction:

Food addiction is a serious problem that affects millions of people worldwide. In today’s fast-paced world, people are more prone to developing addictions due to increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Food addiction is not just about overeating, but it involves a complex interplay of factors that affect an individual’s physical and emotional health. In this article, we will explore the different causes, triggers, and coping strategies for food addiction.

Food Addictions: in the brain (Neurotransmitter-Related Dopamine Addictions)

One of the reasons people develop addictions to food is due to the release of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward. When we eat certain foods, such as those high in sugar and fat, our brains release dopamine, which makes us feel good. Over time, our brains become conditioned to seek out these foods, and we develop cravings for them.

Food Addictions: in the Heart (Emotional Addictions Due to Trauma or Emotional Connections to Eating)

Emotional addictions to food can also develop due to trauma or emotional connections to eating. People may turn to food to soothe themselves during difficult times or to cope with stress and anxiety. Emotional eating can become a negative habit, leading to overeating and weight gain. In some cases, people may have experienced traumatic events, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health disorders, which can trigger food addiction.

Food Addictions: “Big Pharma, Big Food” (The Role of Food Companies in the Addicting of Consumers)

Food companies continue to engineer food additives and ingredients to create highly palatable foods that are addictive. These foods are designed to stimulate the reward centers of the brain, making it difficult for people to resist them.

These companies continue to evolve their food “product” to make is more addicting to their customers. This can be through the creation, chemical manipulation, or introductions of food additives that chemically addict their customers.

Food companies also continue to evolve the presentation of the food product to make it more appealing to their customers. This can be through the packaging, shape, or texture of the food container of the food itself. Lastly, it can be through misleading instructions on the food label itself which causes a consumer to overeat and form an addiction to the food product.

TRADITIONAL Coping Strategies TO COUNTERACT Food Addiction:

Traditional strategies that individuals can use to cope with food addiction include:

1. Seeking professional help: Consult with a qualified therapist or addiction specialist who can provide guidance on managing food addiction.
2. Developing healthy eating habits: Incorporate a variety of healthy foods into your diet, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
3. Practicing stress management techniques: Engage in relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and yoga to manage stress and anxiety.
4. Building a support network: Join a support group or seek the help of family and friends who can provide encouragement and support.

Counteracting Food Company Attempts to Addict its Customers:

NOTE: Developing food addiction becomes so much more complicated to counteract when additives, packaging, or labeling are intentionally creating the addiction in order to sell more of the food product. Unfortunately, the advanced methods used to psychologically hook customers are not known to the average consumer, so there is no viable way to keep an eye out for or spot when we have been corrupted by the food company’s surreptitious methods.

What we can do, however, is apply common sense choices in determining what types of food we put into our bodies. We can also stay away from any food that looks like it could have addicting substances in it or from any food package that looks attractive to us.

Here are some techniques and strategies that can help you avoid getting addicted to foods because of these factors:

1. Avoid processed foods: Processed foods are often loaded with additives that can contribute to food addiction. Try to eat whole foods as much as possible and cook your meals from scratch.
2. Read food labels carefully: Always check the food labels for any additives, preservatives, or artificial sweeteners that might be added to the food. Be mindful of any misleading serving sizes or calorie counts listed on the label.
3. Practice mindful eating: Mindful eating involves paying attention to the taste, texture, and smell of your food. Take your time to savor every bite, and be mindful of when you feel full.
4. Avoid triggers: If you know certain foods trigger your cravings, try to avoid them as much as possible. You can also try substituting healthier alternatives for your favorite snacks.
5. Seek support: It can be challenging to overcome food addiction alone. Consider seeking support from a therapist, support group, or online community. You can also enlist the help of a friend or family member who can offer encouragement and accountability.

By incorporating these techniques and strategies into your daily routine, you can reduce your chances of getting addicted to foods due to additives, packaging, or labeling. Remember that developing a healthy relationship with food takes time and effort, but the benefits are well worth it.

What we plan on achieving with Cravings Club and Food Addictions:

As methods of addicting customers with food additives and advanced packaging techniques, we hope to use Cravings Club to counteract any future advancements the food companies might make when creating food addictions in their customers.

We plan to offer cutting-edge techniques to remove and counteract the addictions that the food companies have created. We hope to achieve this through our “push the button” rapid programming and deprogramming techniques. In addition, we hope to have our customers make use of brainwave EEG hardware in conjunction with binaural technologies (possibly incorporated into a smartphone application or virtual reality software application) to create ultra-rapid inductions that bypass the conscious mind. The goal of our customized solutions will be to provide quick and efficient deprogramming and reprogramming of emotional connections to food, along with forging new neural pathways in the brain to eliminate and undo the damage the food companies will create in the future.

Conclusion:

Food addiction is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive approach to overcome. By understanding the causes and triggers of food addiction and developing effective methods of deprogramming our clients from the habits, associations, neural pathways, and emotional connections they have with food, we hope to undo the damage of food addictions and help our clients choose good and healthy solutions when they decide what to put in their bodies.