Hello, it’s Jeff again…

Good afternoon and thank you for reading the Self Help Tips Blog!

Today I will discuss a serious problem for those of us living in the most overweight nation on earth:  Food Addiction.

The unexplained craving for certain foods occurs from time to time. Often it is not even hunger, just craving a specific food. There may be no real reason other than to eat the food that is causing the craving.

This can occur as a result of boredom, depression or viewing something that is suggestive of food. Perhaps you were watching TV and saw a commercial that was advertising hamburgers. Before you knew it, you had an unexplainable craving for a hamburger. In the worse case scenario, you mysteriously found yourself in your car headed for McDonald's.

Although this may sound weird, it happens more often than most would care to acknowledge. Anyone can become addicted to food.

What does it mean to be a food addict? It is often very hard to recognize this addiction. Many things can cloud the reality of the situation. Being depressed or caught in an emotional downward spiral can make recognizing problems like this very difficult.

Often it can take a considerable period of time to notice that a person has an eating problem. Generally, it is first noticed in the waistline. Once this symptom occurs it does not take a genius to recognize that there is a problem with food.

Are specific foods more addictive than others? That is extremely hard to answer. All foods can be addictive. It is like asking what is worse for an alcoholic, beer or whiskey. This is tempered by the fact that some foods can be more addictive than others.

Sugar

This is an addictive substance. Often it is thought of as not being particularly addictive, but it is. The bursts of energy produced by sugar are very addictive. Sugar addicts often feel tired and cranky if they are not getting their daily consumption of sugar laden foods. They start to feel tired and worn out, as if going through withdrawal. Heroin addicts that are in withdrawal often consume huge quantities of sugar to offset the effects.

Sugar is very hard to avoid, but you should try to avoid certain foods that contain a lot of it. Particularly avoid candy and sweets. Also be sure to avoid sodas that contain huge amounts of sugar.

Caffeine

Starbucks beware! Everyone knows that caffeine is addictive. Just stop drinking those five cups of coffee a day, and it will not take much to realize that you are addicted to caffeine. The headaches alone will tell you that you are addicted.

It is often debated if coffee is really harmful. In reasonable quantities, it should not be. However, excessive amounts of coffee can certainly be bad for you. Be careful to limit the quantity of coffee you consume and don't over do it.

Carbohydrates

Many people think that carbohydrates can also be addictive. This may be true for the same reason that sugar is addictive. Unless you are a marathon runner or compete regularly in Iron Man competitions, you should temper the consumption of carbohydrates. Try to avoid eating excessive quantities of bread and pasta.

Carbohydrates will not turn you into a junkie, but your body can become overly dependent upon them. Many people are addicted to carbohydrates and don't even realize it.

In general, food addiction is not something that people will dwell upon. It just isn't something that you consider when addictions are discussed. Yet, you may be a food addict… and like most addicts you will not even realize it. Awareness of the potential problem will allow you to control it.

Like all addictions, those with the worst habits are often the least aware of their problem. Mankind is an addictive breed. Sometimes it seems that everyone is addicted to something. If it isn't food, it is power or something else. Like all addictions, if you feel powerless to help yourself, seek assistance, be it from a friend or a doctor. You should only be ashamed of yourself if you do nothing about your problem.