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Its the end of a long day at work and youre coming home.
Youre not hungry but craving something that will make you feel better.
You stop by your favourite fast food joint and grab your go-to snack combo.
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Youre driving with one hand in a bag of fries and the other on your steering wheel.
By the time you come home, the bag is empty and you have no idea how it happened.
Why Is Less Nutritious Food So Addictive?
Theres a reason a bag of chips is so much tastier than a plate of carrot sticks and dip.
Manufacturers who produce processed food have one goal in mind.
They want you to buy and consume as much of their product as possible.
Processed Food Is Meant to Be Addicting
Processed food is scientifically designed to appeal to your senses.
Sugar, fat, and salt are the main ingredients in processed food.
Think about the flavors of each ingredient.
Hyper-palatable food has few nutrients and high calories.
Its easy to over consume them because they are quick to eat and give us instant gratification.
They are also usually cheap and very accessible.
A study looked at how the proximity of food relates to how quickly one consumes it.
However, you could store your tempting food in areas that require some effort to get to.
When you eat nutritious foods, it can affect your mood and overall mental, emotional and physical well-being.
In turn, youre more likely to make smarter food choices.
One of the first steps to attaining a more wholesome diet is having access to nutritious, whole foods.
Pay attention to the nutrition labels and ingredient lists on packaged foods.
They enter the afternoon slump and are conditioned to grab that muffin to feel better.
However, you might break that cycle by substituting the food craving with a healthy activity.
It’s common to turn to food for comfort.
Food can fill an emotional void, be a coping mechanism, and offer social support.
The next time you feel stressed, notice whether youre reaching for a cookie or a bag of chips.
Identify the trigger that caused this habit and write it down in a journal.
The best way to do this is to take one step at a time.
Dont give a shot to go cold turkey, and stop eating processed food altogether.
Drastic moves like these arent realistic or effective in the long run.
Instead, focus on one small goal.
For instance, replacing that afternoon donut with a walk once a week.
Ultimately, its completely normal to crave processed food from time to time.
Give yourself a break and enjoy the foods you want without feeling guilty about your decision.
Just remember that moderation is key.
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