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0 The addiction to food, especially if it is “junk” or processed food, can cause serious health problems. Here are the most addictive foods types.
Eating is a pleasure, both for the body and for the mind. When we do not feed, a whole series of cerebral chemical reactions related to pleasure and reward systems are triggered; hence, in some occasions, certain foods or meals can lead to an addiction.
However, this does not usually happen with all of them. There are some foods that, due to their composition and their particular characteristics, make the person more susceptible to becoming addicted to them. In order to know what they are, in this article we will discover the 7 most addictive foods that exist in the market.
Does food addiction exist?
Of course. Although it is a relatively new term, food addiction can become a feeding disorder similar to bulimia or binge eating disorder. In all of them, the person ingests food compulsively and unhealthy.
This addiction to food is usually related to “junk food” and ultra-processed foods with high levels of fats. A person can be addicted to this type of food in the same way that happens with any type of addiction.
This happens because it involves the same areas of the brain, the same neurotransmitters and in all of them the symptoms of addiction are very similar.
Processed foods and “junk food” have a powerful effect on the reward centers of the brain, within which dopamine is the main and most important neurotransmitter.
This means that addiction to food is not a matter of psychological weakness or lack of will. But it is a serious addiction in which the person can lose control over their actions, all because of the chemical reactions of the brain.
As we have already said, there are some foods that are more closely related to this type of addiction. Food “junk” or “junk”, industrially processed foods or high-fat foods. Such as pizzas or hamburgers, are often the main object of this addiction.
7 examples of addictive foods
Currently, we are surrounded by a variety of foods that can become potentially addictive if we deliberately include them in our diet.
This fact is known for fast food and processed food products, which seek that consumers increasingly acquire their products, regardless of whether this can be harmful to their health.
The best way to avoid this addiction is not to consume these products and, for this, we need to be well informed. Next, we highlight 7 examples of foods or food groups that can be addictive and, as a consequence, harmful to health.
1. Processed snacks
The majority of industrial and processed snacks are the paradigmatic example of addictive foods. These snacks or snacks contain a large number of carbohydrates and are usually made with excess sugar, fat or salt, which makes them tempting and irresistible at mealtime.
Within the group of processed snacks are potato chips, which can be purchased in stores and supermarkets of any kind, which have a higher rate of addiction. However, the excessive consumption of any type of snack of this type can trigger an addiction. And physical diseases such as obesity or cholesterol, among others.
2. Fatty foods
There is a wide variety of fatty foods that are highly addictive for people. Among the most popular are pizza, roast chicken, French fries, bacon, hamburgers with cheese, kebab, cheese, and eggs.
All these foods are precisely dangerous because they have large amounts of fat, especially pizza or hamburgers from fast food restaurants, also called “junk” or “junk” food.
It has been shown that “junk” food generates in our brain an addiction similar to that of drugs.
3. Nuts
While it is true that nuts are beneficial for health and provide a large number of essential nutrients, when they are processed, adding oils and high amounts of salt, they can be harmful to health and generate an addiction.
Sunflower seeds are probably the most addictive nut because of their tasty and salty taste. Currently, all types of pipes with added flavor are commercialized, making them even more addictive.
Other types of nuts that can cause great addiction are: pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, and roasted corn.
4. Sweet foods
In addition to the fat content, the sugar of certain foods also exerts a powerful addictive role. Among the main sweet or sugary foods that cause addiction are: cakes and pastries in general, chocolate. And derivatives, cookies of all kinds, industrial bakery and energy bars.
If we think of an example of sweet and well-known addictive food, this is quintessentially chocolate. Almost any food made with this ingredient can generate addiction due to the pleasant taste of chocolate, sugar. And generally the number of artificial elements that are added during the process of refining chocolate.
5. Soft drinks and carbonated drinks with sugar
Soft drinks and carbonated drinks are some of the most addictive foods that exist. This type of drinks is made with a large amount of artificially added elements and large amounts of sugar.
6. Microwave popcorn
The popcorn deserves a distinctive section since as food it is considered neither dry fruit nor cereal. In addition, they also have a strong addictive potential. And although their consumption is traditionally limited to movies and other entertainment. The invention of microwave popcorn has meant that these are consumed in still larger quantities.
We have all experienced the addiction that these small grains of inflated corn create when we can not stop eating them. Its salty and characteristic flavor and the ease with which they are eaten are some of the reasons why they are so addictive. In addition, they are currently marketed with different flavors and different colors, which makes them even more addictive.
7. Ice cream
Ice cream has always seemed to us addictive and not only in summer. Again, sugar, chocolate, and generally creamy and cloying flavors are responsible for the addictive phenomenon.
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