• Question: Why do we get addicted to certain foods???

    Asked by Hoops to Laura on 26 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Laura Wales

      Laura Wales answered on 26 Jun 2015:

      Most people get cravings at some point. Even when we know a certain food is not that healthy, part of our brain makes us want it more. Some people don’t have this problem (lucky so-and-sos). Some people think it’s lack of willpower but it’s more complicated than that.

      (1) The brain uses something called the “reward system”. The brain knows when we eat we are doing something right (ie. a child being given sweets for being good). Feel-good chemicals are released (ie. dopamine) and there is a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction.

      (2) The body wants more of that feel-good dopamine! Building a tolerance can mean you need more of your guilty pleasure to maintain that feel-good factor.

      (3) Eating of unhealthy foods can lead to weight gain, which in turn can make a person feel down. If they feel down, they want to feel good again so they eat.

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