“A food addiction
is a behavioral
addiction that is
characterized by
the compulsive
over-consumption
of certain foods. It
is usually framed
as an emotional
issue, but it is in fact
largely a biochemical
problem.”
- Binge eating, or eating
uncontrollably even when not
physically hungry
- Eating much more rapidly than
normal
Stop Food Addiction with Mindful
Eating
Mindful eating involves paying full
attention to the experience of eating
and drinking, both inside and outside
the body.
Many people who struggle with
food react mindlessly to their
unrecognized or unexamined triggers,
thoughts, and feelings.
In other words, they re-act-repeating
When food addicts experience
pleasure from feel-good chemicals,
such as dopamine that are released
after eating certain foods, they
quickly feel the need to eat again.
Scientists believe this is the link
between food addiction and obesity.
Signs and symptoms of Food
Addiction
A person with symptoms of
compulsive overeating has what can
be characterized as an addiction to
food. She uses food and eating as
a way to hide from or manage her
emotions, to fill a void she feels
inside, or to cope with daily stresses
and problems in her life.
The following are some behavioral
and emotional signs and symptoms
of food addiction:
- Inability to stop eating or control
what is eaten
- Awareness that eating patterns are
abnormal
- Eating alone due to shame and
embarrassment
- Feelings of guilt due to overeating
past actions again and again-feeling
powerless to change.
Mindfulness increases your awareness
of these patterns without judgment
and creates space between your
triggers and your actions.
Mindful eating can diminish and
even stop problems with food
addiction. This works in several ways,
specifically, by helping you disrupt
the link between your urges and
eating behaviors.
Kepha Nyanumba is a Nutritionist
at AAR Healthcare Limited. You can
commune with him on this or related
matters via mail at: Kephanyanumba@
gmail.com, or visit his Blog:
Kephanyanumba.blogspot.com.