What is Food Addiction
Compulsive overeating is characterised by an addiction to food. An individual suffering from compulsive overeating disorder engages in frequent episodes of uncontrolled eating, or ...
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What are the chemical/scientific/etc..parts of EDs
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My nutritionist mentioned a while back that she thinks my brain doesn't respond to sugar like most peoples does. It sure does seem that way. It seems as if there is a switch in my head and when I eat excessive simple sugars I stop being able to think properly. It's as if I become some other person, sometimes dazed, but always pre-occupied. But when I am eating normal, simple food (even in large amounts) I am a different person too. Focused on others, productive, able to make complicated mental connections, etc...
I know that when I've been binging for days or weeks and try to "come off" that there are a lot of physical repercussions and I have been reading some postings on DS about withdrawl symptoms. So my questions follow along these lines: Do we (people with food addictions and obsessions) had a different chemical composition or reaction to certain foods? Can a person really have a metaphorical "switch" that counters the control function? Has anyone else experienced this and successfully conquered it? Could it be medically proven, like diabetes or hypoglycemia, although obviously with less severe physical ailments? Would this be considered a mental disorder (like eating disorders) or a physical condition (like an allergy to sugar or glutenor something)? You can see where these questions are going. I would just like to hear everyone else's thoughts on this topic. Love you guys! Posted on 12/15/08, 08:12 am |
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I notice the exact same things about myself. I don't have all of the answers you are looking for, but I would like to recommend a book. It's called the Metabolic Typing Diet by William Wolcott. It's not just another "Diet Book". Insttead it helps you to identify the different ways your body reacts to different foods, and guides you into eating the right foods for your body type. It has helped me immensly in my struggles. 
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This is a great book also: Anatomy of a Food Addiction: The Brain Chemistry of Overeating: An Effective Program to Overcome Compulsive Eating (http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Food-Addiction-Overeating-Compulsive/dp/0936077131)
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I notice someone put An Anatomy of a food addiction by Anne Katherine already. That is a great book. Another helpful one is Food Addiction:The Body Knows by Kay Sheppard. If you want to go deeper, go to your local medical school library and look up journal articles on food addiction. Journals to consider: Obesisty, Nutrition, Nursing, Diabetes, Eating Disorders...
I am a therapist who has worked with ppl w eds for over 14 yrs. I also have been anorexic, bulimic and morbidly obese from bingeing. The last the most and current. I am considering a whole new approach...for me that is. Obesity if very complicated and I don't think anymore that the black and white addiction concept is the only thing. Many of us eat to cover emotions and many of us can binge on "abstinent" food. Also sexual abuse and other abuse is in the background of some 65-85% of food addicts! Also there are problems with the leptin hormone and once the body is fat, it will always try to become fat again. The fat cells do not go away when you lose weight, they just shrivel up. It is a fascinating subject to research but not so fascinating to experience!
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I seem to be able to tolerate a little sugar, but I get in trouble if I eat sweets several times in a few days. From the chemical side of things, alcohol and sugar are metabolized in much the same way--and if we are geared to sensitive to it, then it is as addictive as any drug.The problem is it is everywhere, and staying away from it is so difficult. I have found that I do best staying away from white things(bread, rice, etc. and sugary things).
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yb i was diagnosed with medical chemical inability to process a few foods, that cause the brain to react in an addictive manner. over ten yrs ago.
Ive not come across anyone else who has been, i was told it was rare. Sugar can react in people for many reasons, insulin resistance, to disrupting the hormone balance, to people being allegic to its botanical structure. Is it just sugar that you have a problem with? how are you with other foods with a similar GI loading? Glyeaceamic Index
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the switch, is to do with Endorphin receptor,
Its not a case of being Mental, science has not bothered to catch up that much on this phenomenon. CAndice Pert wrote a book molecules of emotion if you have not already read it. I think the isolation that some of us have around this is what makes us become crazy. I dont know anyone i can sit back and talk this kind of shop with. If your daily diet is lacking in Amino acids you will also get to experience fuzz, i know it i walked it and still have to avoid many things.
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