Much has been said about food addiction and weight loss, but are there any clear solutions to both that will make obesity less of a problem?
As we now know, there are certain opioids our bodies release every time we digest sugar or fat that we consume. We also know that the effects of these endogenous opioids are the same as those of narcotics such as morphine and heroin. Thus, just as the way to cure drug addiction is for the drug addict to stop consuming narcotics, the way to cure food addiction is for the food addict to stop eating addictive food. Now, the question is, what foods are considered addictive and what substances make them so?
The list of addictive foods is long, but most items can be summarized into sets consisting of the most common food types. Meat or animal flesh is one. Animal muscles contain the uric acid, trioxypurine, which is found to be more addictive than caffeine.
Chocolates, sweets and fatty foods are also addictive because they release serotonin into the brain, a hormone that influences mood, appetite and even social behavior. Sugar itself can be addictive as suggested by a study on rats which were found to display withdrawal symptoms such as chattering of the teeth and shaking when they were no longer given sugar.
And then there’s cheese which has traces of morphine, at least, that which is made from cow’s milk. Another addictive substance in cheese is casein which is a protein that releases during digestion casomorphins, a substance know to have opiate effects. Of course, when it comes to food addiction, coffee and other caffeinated drinks have been on the list for the longest time. And caffeine addicts have actually displayed withdrawal symptoms when they stopped drinking their beverage of choice.
Probably the newest addition yet to the list are industrial or processed foods such as candy, junk food and even hotdog and bacon which are found to stimulate pleasure centers in the brain the way narcotics do.
If one may research on the information given above, it can be easily learned that addictive foods are almost always acidic. This is how an alkaline diet can help.
An alkaline diet consists of non-acidic and, therefore, non-addictive foods such as citrus vegetables, legumes, nuts, tubers, citrus and other fruits with low sugar content. When a person who is addicted to certain foods decides to shift to healthier eating habits, an alkaline diet can provide all the best food options. With an alkaline diet, the individual can be diverted from acidic food and this could be the start of the end of his addiction.
Sure, it will take some time. Any addiction is not easy to curb, and addiction to food is no exception. Although many people still do not believe that food can actually be addicting, science itself has proven the existence of addictive properties in certain foods. And for those who are determined to junk their bad food habits, alkaline diets can be the way to healthier, non-addictive eating.





