Yes, food addiction is not just a
fancy term to define one’s craving for certain types of sugary, salty and tasty
food. It is a reality that works just like any other drug addiction; be it
cocaine or tobacco. However, it is comparatively lesser in degree of being
addictive and hence easier to get rid of.
Food addiction can be very
harmful for your health and well-being. However, as we gradually reach our
declining years eating controlled and eating healthy becomes essential for
healthy and happy living. Food addiction can prove to be a very problematic an
issue in this regard for seniors and caregivers alike.
We all know this; and yet we
often feel drawn towards unhealthy, high fat, and sweet and salty but tasty
food items. In Spite of knowing that a healthy diet contains fruits,
vegetables, whole grains and healthy amount of protein, ever and again we feel
like relishing that cream pie, pastry or the chocolate bar! And to some people
the drive becomes simply uncontrollable. That’s when it becomes a full grown
food addiction.
Now let us have a look at the science behind it.
In old times when our ancestors
were always on the lookout for food and discoveries of newer edibles then someday
they got upon the realization that sweet things, like berries, are very helpful
in giving quick energy whereas other fat packed food items released energy at a
slower pace.
This very discovery led the
present day food manufacturers to cash in from processing food with higher
levels of sugar, fat, and salt to increase the taste and the effect that
berries offered to our ancestors.
But what exactly going on in your
mind when you are taking these sweet and salty but tasty food that you crave
for so much?
The fact is simply eating such
things manipulates with the pleasure center of the mind and increases the
release of the feel good hormone called dopamine. Just the same way any drugs,
more or less, does the same. In this way you are gradually getting addicted to
the over release of the happy hormones; and whenever you are not feeling good
or just simply want to feel good you just can’t keep yourself away from taking
those food items.
Another dangerous issue with this
is that, with time, if one continues giving in to these impulses of taking
highly palatable, high fat and high sugar foods then gradually the Prefrontal
Cortex of our brain will get damaged. As a result the person will find it even
more difficult to resist those impulses.
But all these effects can very
well be reversed with some practice and determination. Now, let’s see how you
can break free from your food addiction to make healthy eating habits and to
reach higher levels of wellness.
Mindfulness
The first thing or step that you
have to take is to adopt the techniques of mindfulness. In this regard
meditation is the best practice. Simply begin with 5-10 minutes of sitting in a
quiet place and trying to calm your mind.
Focus on your breath as you breathe
in and out. Let your thoughts diffuse in the silence of your mental being. Keep
an unfaltering attention on breathing and keep doing this longer and longer as
you progress towards achieving the total silence of the mind.
Through this your mind will be
much more stronger to fight unwanted impulses like those of food addiction and
you will be able to better direct your own will into each and every sphere of
your existence such as diet control, regular exercise and others. And most
importantly there’s no age limit to start meditating and being benefitted from
it. We always encourage positive meditative practices from Comfort Keepers San Mateo and
our loved seniors can start meditating from right now.
Focused Eating
After that try to focus and give
full attention to healthy eating. Eat peacefully giving enough time to
appreciate the beauty of eating. While eating look at your food, take smell and
eat slowly and carefully feeling the taste more intensely than you normally
used to do. Doing this will allow the happy hormones to get released, even if
you are not taking those sugary and fatty foods.
Include foods rich in lean
protein, fiber and low in fat. Have plenty of fruits and vegetables. You can
try adding smoothies made out of milk and banana or other fruits to soothe away
the extra cravings for sweet. Add Avocado, sesame seeds and spinach to your
diet as they help in releasing dopamine.
Have Proper Exercise
There is no end of benefits to
have from regular physical exercises. Even in the declining years having
regular exercise helps in increasing active brain cells and circuits.
You don’t have to have any
detailed course of practices and have to set a list of rigorous exercises to be
benefitted by physical exercise. Depending on the condition of our loved senior
even a regular walk down the park is enough to bestow the innumerable benefits
of regular exercise.
Therefore, have adequate amount
and types of exercises depending upon your physical condition. Try to include
jogging, running and swimming, if you can manage. However, simply walking and a
bit of stretching exercises may go a long way in ensuring fit, healthy and
happy life. Besides, a simple workout will also help in producing happy
hormones, increasing quality of life and repairing your prefrontal cortex.
So, now you know that food
addiction is as real as any other addiction and it can be as much dangerous as
those others. It is high time you took preventive measures against the dangers
of food addiction. You have to acknowledge that to effectively deal with food
addiction it’s not only foods that you are changing but it will definitely
entail making some positive lifestyle changes and changes in your mental and
bodily existence. You may also have to bring changes among the people you
associate with or the places you visit for a time being in order to avail extra
assistance to resist the impulses of food addiction.
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