What makes bad food seemingly addictive?

[Rich1143]

What is that makes fast food and junk food seemingly addictive over time?

Since starting my cut I think I finally got over the hump. I cut out all sodas, fruit juices, and alcohol. Only drink water and occasionally a glass of milk for breakfast.

Just a few months ago though, I would wake up craving sodas, and fatty foods. I sometimes would eat/drink when I woke up too. The first week or two on my cut was actually kind of rough. I felt like I would have no energy if I did not have fatty fast foods or soda. Now I feel more energetic eating whole foods with less calories and drinking water instead of soda.

Obviously I am not the only one to experience this. I think it's why overweight people stay overweight. After 8 weeks of eating clean, I feel no desire to go back to that way.

Just wondering what is going on in the body when this is going on. Is it a blood sugar thing? Can you be addicted to sugar even though sugar is needed to live?

[Calarian]

one word, SUGAR

[Rich1143]

one word, SUGAR

How does sugar become addictive though? I mean everyone needs sugar in some form. Newb question I know. Genuinely curious though.

[Calarian]

How does sugar become addictive though? I mean everyone needs sugar in some form. Newb question I know. Genuinely curious though.

Theres different forms of sugar and there is a sugar addiction, High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Sucrose, Fructose. High-Fructose Corn Syrup is used as the sweetner in soda and can cause obesity if taken to much. Sugar can be addictive by eating to much of it to often. Theres health and unhealthy versions of it sugar found in fruits is healthy, theres quite a bit of documented research out there that sugar can be addictive as drugs.

[Serpentarius]

You are DESIGNED to want high calorie stuff. Everything you see around you doesnt exist, we are only alive to survive and reproduce, this means eating as much food as possible to survive so you dont die, we crave high calorie food and have adapted to certain foods (not recent history in centuries).
The feel good stuff is all in your head, dopamine, serotonin, etc...we are animals with very primitive needs and desires (to reproduce and eat).

As far as the other side, overweight stay that way because they dont force permanent changes, they are a product of their design, to eat to survive. Since there is no need for bodybuilding, being lean, we are FORCING starvation to get to those actual levels, its not actually normal to do.

FWIW the same rush you get when eating tons of food is no different from a drug addict, its still a high from neurotransmitters being released, or when you bust allllll kinds of nuts. All kinds. Obviously they vary to different degrees.

[Rich1143]

You are DESIGNED to want high calorie stuff. Everything you see around you doesnt exist, we are only alive to survive and reproduce, this means eating as much food as possible to survive so you dont die, we crave high calorie food and have adapted to certain foods (not recent history in centuries).
The feel good stuff is all in your head, dopamine, serotonin, etc...we are animals with very primitive needs and desires (to reproduce and eat).

As far as the other side, overweight stay that way because they dont force permanent changes, they are a product of their design, to eat to survive. Since there is no need for bodybuilding, being lean, we are FORCING starvation to get to those actual levels, its not actually normal to do.

FWIW the same rush you get when eating tons of food is no different from a drug addict, its still a high from neurotransmitters being released, or when you bust allllll kinds of nuts. All kinds. Obviously they vary to different degrees.

Bustin' all kinds of nuts in them sugarwalls.

[Haayyeess]

Sugar isn't necessary needed to live, unlike proteins and fats, but you wouldn't look to healthy without a little. Our bodies resort to carbohydrates as the primary source of energy. A sugar is a carb. Sugars, like the small simple sugars you have described don't contain many polysaccharides, or big complex chains of carbohydrates as found in low-glycemic, or slow burning carbs. Instead they are made up of simple sugars known as monosaccharides, or di-saccharides. Examples being glucose, and dextrose. Our bodies like these because they can be easily broken down and used for energy, almost instantly, thus why they can provide that 'rush' through quickly getting into the blood stream. Suggestively this is why the body may opt for them. On a further note, these sugars can be beneficial to a Bodybuilder because they can quickly restore muscle glycogen stores after a workout. One reason to avoid sugars would be because they make the kidneys work harder trying to preserve water filtered out of the blood. More water is needed to keep filtrate concentrated, and therefore after a threshold has been reached, the active re-absorption of the filtered sugars is passed on to be secreted along with plenty of water, which could have been recycled. #Sciencefactsoftheday haha.

[sammynage]

How does sugar become addictive though? I mean everyone needs sugar in some form. Newb question I know. Genuinely curious though.

Actually, I don't think sugar is needed. If you don't eat carbs, your body uses ketones as their source of energy.

You need fats and proteins.

Interesting that you've heard of essential fats, and essential amino acids and proteins.

I've never heard of essential sugar.

[28122014]

I agree with Serpentarius, and it matches my personal experience as well. Most of the junk that we overeat is just a way to feel good, it is designed to neurologically impact us in the same way any other addiction would, these foods just use technology to amplify our basic instincts.

[WelshJoe]

I think part of it as well is knowing you shouldn't eat it.
I can resist anything except temptation.

[meconfused]

what everyone else said is accurate.


i heard this broscience once ( may or may not be true) that most people have bacteria/parasites in them that live off of sugar, and they somehow make you crave it via hormones and ****

[JustAddBlu]

Whatever they're doing, it's working.

[WelshJoe]

what everyone else said is accurate.


i heard this broscience once ( may or may not be true) that most people have bacteria/parasites in them that live off of sugar, and they somehow make you crave it via hormones and ****

Your diet does affect your gut flora tbf, but not sure if it has any hormonal affect.
Tends to affect your bowels though.
That's why your faeces will smell more with high protein diets and you'll also fart more.
You'll end up with a higher proportion of Bacteroides species (a type of anaerobic bacteria) in your gut and they're smellier.

Since you posed this I did some reading and came across this.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3554020/
Makes interesting reading if you're into that sort of thing.
From what i'm gathering from it (basically) the food you eat effects the bacteria in your gut (your normal flora)
These bacteria depending on what you ate are in different levels.
Different levels of different types of bacteria can produce different levels of chemicals which can have a multitude of effects.
This includes your chances of getting metabolic syndrome (type II diabetes), Mood, the way you absorb nutrients, cancer, stroke risk even Irritable bowel syndrome.
They go on to say that they could even affect your food choice but I can't find the bit where they actually go on to try and prove it.

http://nutritionreview.org/2014/08/a...choose-to-eat/ Here's an easier to read analysis of a similar study. Won't go into as much detail though.
http://nutritionreview.org/2014/08/a...choose-to-eat/

[chewbrahca91]

Some may say it's because in this health conscious society, it's "taboo" to want the take-out food.
Some may say it's the sugar, additives ... whatever.
I just say it's addictive cause it's tasty.
OJ is considered 'healthy' and 'clean'. I was addicted to it once but with a bottle containing about ~500 calories, lugging back 2 of them a day made up a good portion of my calorie intake (which I had no idea about back then)

[MrBungle11]

I've never heard of essential sugar.

Its just a matter of time before something comes out with "All the Essential Sugars that your body requires!!"

Theres different forms of sugar and there is a sugar addiction, High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Sucrose, Fructose. High-Fructose Corn Syrup is used as the sweetner in soda and can cause obesity if taken to much. Sugar can be addictive by eating to much of it to often. Theres health and unhealthy versions of it sugar found in fruits is healthy, theres quite a bit of documented research out there that sugar can be addictive as drugs.

It was only recently that I became aware that, here in Australia, we don't have many products with HF Corn Syrup in it...although with a lot more American products available here now I think that'll rise. eg all the variants of Coke, Dr Pepper etc

[Forty0zFreedom]

I think its what everyone already mentioned. I also think junk food is associated with happy times (celebrations, holidays, vacations, etc) so there's an emotional high there as well.

[CATCH17]

IMO the lack of Micronutrients in processed foods keeps you hungry.


If you go on a diet of meat, veggies, fruits, some potatos you wont really get these cravings.

[Rich1143]

Take any severely overweight person who eats a diet of fast food/soda daily and switch them a whole food diet with water and nothing processed. I think they will have some sort of withdrawals. I think it is more than just mental.

[Rich1143]

This is kind of interesting too. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...Healthy+Living

[laguna80]

Basically, what everyone else is said. You answered your question just by asking it. The reason it's addictive is because it actually IS addictive, the same way that ******* is addictive. It stimulates the reward centers of your brain and your brain LOVES that. Now, there are a whole slew of other physiological reasons why we want bad food, but that's the basis of it. Simply put, bad food is just plain addictive.

[Wateredown]

I had two pieces of cheese pizza the other day from a place I like. Well, I have been cutting for a few weeks and I can say that I wanted to vomit after. It was so gross and greasy and it's weird because I used to like it and now it just grosses me out and feels heavy in my stomach. Not quite sugar related but I thought I'd share my experience since it is related to the OP'S topic in some capacity.
-Wateredown

[Haayyeess]

It also comes down to what you're used to eating too. For example, if you always drink 1 percent milk, but go somewhere and get served the 2 percent milk, you'll know the difference and probably desire your 'preferred' 'normal' choice of one percent. The same goes with all foods, although you may not at first, you begin to desire what you frequently have and get used to. Of course, a little change is always good too.

[Casedogg43]

It's usually Cheap, Fast and people make these foods habitual for those reasons.

unless is Chocolate cake or Brownies, then its just incredibly tasty!

[NorthernMusicia]

Sugar, salt, fat - we're hard wired for these. The worst is sugar. The more refined it is, the higher the craving. It's that insulin spike that gives you the high. Have you ever felt your eyes nearly bugging out of your head after a big hunk of cheesecake... or two? Insulin. No. I never do the cheesecake either. :eye roll: A good insulin spike will push your blood sugar down quickly and then hang there. The bodies natural response to the lag (thinking the infamous chinese food making you hungry here), is to crave more food.

[noob001]

Very interesting topic.

I think it may not be just sweet foods, in my case it's carbs, salt and spice. (Grew up in a different part of the world).

I'm inclined to think there's also a big psychological aspect to it. I tend to go back to what consists of "comfort food" when I'm stressed, which is unfortunately too often. Inn fact I can remember eating a huge meal whenever I was facing a major crisis or setback in anything. It's almost as if I'm reassuring myself with food.

[Khabaal]

You are DESIGNED to want high calorie stuff. Everything you see around you doesnt exist, we are only alive to survive and reproduce, this means eating as much food as possible to survive so you dont die, we crave high calorie food and have adapted to certain foods (not recent history in centuries).
The feel good stuff is all in your head, dopamine, serotonin, etc...we are animals with very primitive needs and desires (to reproduce and eat).

As far as the other side, overweight stay that way because they dont force permanent changes, they are a product of their design, to eat to survive. Since there is no need for bodybuilding, being lean, we are FORCING starvation to get to those actual levels, its not actually normal to do.

FWIW the same rush you get when eating tons of food is no different from a drug addict, its still a high from neurotransmitters being released, or when you bust allllll kinds of nuts. All kinds. Obviously they vary to different degrees.

Just reposting so it isn't missed. In short, it's stimulating. Your body is designed to survive and procreate.

[Edman316]

Marketing, conditioning, huge servings, high sugar foods and high sodium foods work in concert to fuel food addiction.

[chibixeno]

One big thing everyone has somehow missed is: these types of food taste good!

OF course this is due to your bodies evolutionary strategy to associate high calorie food with good taste.

Once you go a few months without these types of food you won't even think about them much.

[BigNattyBiceps]

What is that makes fast food and junk food seemingly addictive over time?

Since starting my cut I think I finally got over the hump. I cut out all sodas, fruit juices, and alcohol. Only drink water and occasionally a glass of milk for breakfast.

Just a few months ago though, I would wake up craving sodas, and fatty foods. I sometimes would eat/drink when I woke up too. The first week or two on my cut was actually kind of rough. I felt like I would have no energy if I did not have fatty fast foods or soda. Now I feel more energetic eating whole foods with less calories and drinking water instead of soda.

Obviously I am not the only one to experience this. I think it's why overweight people stay overweight. After 8 weeks of eating clean, I feel no desire to go back to that way.

Just wondering what is going on in the body when this is going on. Is it a blood sugar thing? Can you be addicted to sugar even though sugar is needed to live?

You want to try and AVOID excess saturated fat(cheese), sugar, and salt, and cooked oils(no chips)....These are hyper palatable foods, and are super addictive. Replace with healthy alternatives...Worst comes to worst, spit it out if you do bite into it.

[youngmoola00]

Sugar and simple carbs boost your insulin levels and releases serotonin to the brain (otherwise known as the feel good chemical) which gives you that temporary "high". This is what makes it highly addictive and is no different than how ******* works.

Also why you see people who eat to make themselves feel better get trapped into an endless spin cycle.