Hyperpalatable foods can activate our brain reward neurocircuitry, which can create a highly rewarding experience that makes it impossible to stop eating these foods, even when we feel full. Surely it has happened to you eating Doritos or another snack of the same type. Candy bars, salty chip snacks, and cookies are extremely satisfying, but they pack a ton of calories in every bite.
If you are looking to eliminate this type of food from your daily diet, we will tell you everything about them.
What is hyperpalatability?
Hyperpalatability happens when food hits the "sweet spot" in your mouth and immediately tells your brain to eat more, even when you're full. hyper means excesivo and appetizing means appetizing, pleasant to the palate. Therefore, a food of this type is one so tempting that it can nullify your ability to control how much you eat.
Up to 20% of people may have a food addiction or exhibit addictive-type eating behavior. This number is even higher among people with obesity. Food addiction implies being addicted to food in the same way that someone with a substance use disorder demonstrates addiction to a particular substance.
People who have food addictions report that they cannot control their consumption of certain foods. However, do not become addicted to any food. Some foods are much more likely to cause addiction symptoms than others.
Why are there foods that are addictive?
The processed ones are easy to desire
Although it is all too easy to eat ultra-processed foods, they are made to be unhealthy and, in some cases, addictive. For example, companies specifically design chips, crackers, cheese, and others to be addictive so that people want and buy them again and again.
Just think of the differences between an all-natural corn on the cob and cheesy chips. Although corn on the cob can be delicious and nutritious, those potatoes are more addictive because they are devoid of nutrients due to being processed and unnatural.
It's usually cheap
Going to the organic health food store does not seem like the best option for someone who is on a budget. For this reason, many people tend to buy food at low cost in bulk. This may sound easy, but your health will suffer in the long run.
They are immediately accessible
Putting your bag of chips next to you while you work might seem like an easy fix to hunger, but doing this makes them far too accessible. So it only makes sense to hide unhealthy products from yourself or stop buying them altogether.
Peer pressure leads to eating more
If your family tends not to take care of their health, it will be more difficult for you to do so. In fact, seeing other people eating unhealthily may make you want to join in.
Eating family meals and snacks can feel comforting and familiar, making it more difficult to break the habit and lose weight. In this case, the only way to improve your own health may be to convince your family to commit to healthy eating.
The most hyperpalatable foods
Researchers at the University of Michigan studied addictive eating in 518 people. They used the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) as a reference, as it is the most widely used tool to assess food addiction.
All participants received a list of 35 foods, both processed and unprocessed. They rated how likely they were to experience problems with each of the 35 foods, on a scale from 1 (not at all addictive) to 7 (extremely addictive). In this study, 7 to 10% of the participants were diagnosed with food addiction.
In addition, 92% of the participants exhibited addictive eating behavior towards some foods. They repeatedly wanted to stop eating them, but could not.
Not surprisingly, most of the foods rated addictive were processed foods. These foods generally had a high in sugar or fat, or both. Even the shawl and the flour wheat combine to maximize pleasure by relaying your brain's sensation system that simulates the addictive properties of a controlled substance.
- Pizza
- Potato chips
- Cookies
- Ice Cream
- Chips
- Cheeseburgers
- Soft drink (not light)
- Pastel
- Cheese
- Bacon
- Fried chicken
- Popcorn (buttered)
- breakfast cereals
- gummy candy
- Steak
- Muffins
- Bagels
- Pastel
- Refined and sugary cereals
- Milk chocolate and white chocolate
- energy bars
- Donuts
- refined pasta
- Granola bars
- Pretzels
- waffles
- Pancakes
- White bread
- Frozen yogurt
- Mass
- Salsa
- Gelatin
- granola
Why is fast food addictive?
Addictive-type eating behavior involves much more than a lack of willpower, since there are biochemical reasons why some people lose control over their consumption. This behavior has been repeatedly linked to processed foods, especially those high in added sugar and/or fat.
Processed foods are generally designed to be very palatable in order to taste really good. They also contain high amounts of calories and cause major blood sugar imbalances. These are known factors that can cause cravings of food.
However, the biggest contributor to addictive eating behavior is the human brain. Your brain has a reward center that secretes dopamine and other feel-good chemicals when you eat. This rewards center explains why many people like to eat. Make sure you are eating enough food to get all the energy and nutrients your body needs.
Eating processed fast food releases massive amounts of feel-good chemicals compared to unprocessed foods. This produces a much more powerful reward in the brain. The brain then seeks more rewards by triggering cravings for these super rewarding foods. This can lead to a vicious cycle called addictive eating behavior or food addiction.
Food addiction and addictive-type eating behavior can create serious problems, and certain foods are more likely to trigger them. Eating a diet that primarily comprises single ingredient whole foods it can help reduce the likelihood of developing a food addiction. They release just the right amount of feel-good chemicals without triggering the urge to overeat.
Keep in mind that many who are addicted to food They will need help to overcome it. Working with a therapist can address any underlying psychological issues contributing to food addiction, while a nutritionist can design a diet free of trigger foods without starving the body of nutrition.
What are the least addictive foods?
The least addictive foods are mostly whole, unprocessed foods.
- Cucumbers (1,53)
- Carrots (1,60)
- Beans (without sauce) (1,63)
- Apples (1,66)
- Brown rice (1,74)
- Broccoli (1,74)
- Bananas (1,77)
- Salmon (1,84)
- Corn (without butter or salt) (1.87)
- strawberries (1,88)
- Granola bar (1,93)
- Water (1,94)
- Salty biscuits (simple) (2.07)
- Saltine crackers (2.13)
- Chicken breast (2.16)
- Eggs (2,18)
- Nuts (2,47)