Tag: Food addiction

Food manufacturers spend millions of dollars on research to pinpoint the perfect ratios of sugar, fat, and salt that make processed foods almost impossible to resist. The science behind junk food reveals how these highly engineered products exploit our brain's ancient survival instincts, triggering powerful cravings and disrupting our body's natural satiety signals.

According to a food scientist quoted in The New York Times, Cheetos are one of the 'most marvelously constructed foods on the planet'. This is because the addictive nature of Flamin Hot Cheetos is no accident, but a carefully engineered combination of chemical and psychological triggers designed to make you crave more.

According to research published in the journal *Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews*, studies on animals demonstrate that intermittent access to sugar can lead to behaviors and neurochemical changes that resemble the effects of substances of abuse. These findings have prompted an important question: Is sugar addictive like nicotine?

According to a study involving hundreds of people, highly processed and high-fat foods, including cheese, are more likely to trigger addictive-like eating behaviors than less-processed options. If you find yourself consistently asking, "what is my body missing if I crave cheese?" there are several potential explanations beyond simple hunger.

According to one study, regular spicy food consumption is linked to a reduced risk of total mortality, but does this apply to processed treats? Many people wonder, 'Are spicy snacks bad for you?' due to concerns about ingredients and overconsumption.

Scientific studies confirm that eating triggers the release of dopamine, a powerful neurotransmitter, in the brain. This chemical, often called the "feel-good" chemical, plays a central role in the brain's reward system, reinforcing the behavior of eating.

Research using positron emission tomography has shown that consuming both palatable and non-palatable food consistently triggers the release of endogenous opioids in the brain. This demonstrates a clear scientific basis for how and why food affects opioid receptors, influencing appetite, reward, and potentially leading to compulsive eating patterns.

According to a 2016 study, pregnant women frequently crave spicy foods like curry, but the desire for heat extends far beyond pregnancy. If you find yourself wondering, "Why do I crave curry so much?", you are experiencing a phenomenon rooted in brain chemistry, emotional triggers, and your body's physiological responses.

Over two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, an issue Chef AJ addresses head-on through her whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) methodology. Having overcome her own struggles with food addiction, her approach to weight loss focuses on eating abundantly while consuming fewer calories to help others achieve sustainable health.

According to a 2025 study published in the journal *Science*, the very same brain cells that tell you that you are full can also trigger a craving for sugary foods. This phenomenon, often joked about as having a "dessert stomach," has a powerful biological basis that overrides normal satiety signals.