A food diary to help you monitor what you eat and do. Go to my food diary
Are certain foods addictive? Ever been on a diet and then you just treat yourself. 'One won't hurt' you think to yourself. Before you know it your diet is 'ruined' and so you might as well have a blowout and then start again tomorrow. Perhaps you have looked and tried the 'Holy Grail' of diets. You know the one - the one that lets you have your treats and still lose weight. Have you ever wondered why you don't get these same compelling thoughts about carrots or courgettes? Have you ever wondered why you just can't manage without those treats? More than likely, you just get these thoughts about high carb, high sugar, high fat or salty foods. Do you get grumpy or shaky when you can't have these foods? When you have them, Do they make you feel better? Ever just tried giving up refined carbs for good? Try it. It's really hard. Why is it so hard? We know that addiction to other substances like tobacco, alcohol and drugs can cause massive physical and psychological harm. Is our compulsion to eat and drink certain kinds of food causing us similar damage? Do we find ourselves wanting to stop eating and drinking these foods but can't and instead resort to consuming more and more of it over time even though we will feel bad about it later and know it's doing us and our families more harm than good? Can certain foods be addictive? Is there scientific evidence for sugar addiction? In 2012 an EU research project began to explore the link, if any, between overeating and addiction. It's mission is to achieve a consensus on how overeating should be classified clinically and thereby inform treatment and public policy. In a recent BBC Radio 4 programme 'Constant Cravings: Does Food Addiction exist?' (30 April 2012) Sally Marlow, a researcher in alcohol addiction at London's Institute of Psychiatry explored the scientific evidence and opinion surrounding the issue and the opinions vary. What we do know is that researchers around the World are now asking whether our food choices are governed by biological and neurological mechanisms. With the invention of MRI scanners and the discovery of hormones that affect hunger and satiety, many experts now believe that the global obesity epidemic cannot be down to lack of self control on a global scale. We need to look at overeating from a different angle. Andrea Garber is an Associate professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at the University of California. In her lecture (below) she unveils the latest research that gives us an insight on whether our obesity is really our own fault.
Should I be counting calories to lose weight? What are fake foods? Does food addiction really exist? Does sugar cause western diseases? Exercise and sports drinks Nutrition Videos Page Gut bacteria curbs obesity
Eat and Do, Cambridge CB2 1LA Contact Us
Email Newsletters - Sign up food news, food plans and updates
For Email Newsletters you can trust