No shit, we've known this for literal decades. You can get addicted to pretty much anything.
this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2023
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Science of Cooking
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There’s a big difference between something being psychologically addictive, and something being chemically addictive.
Like, yea, you can technically get addicted to anything. But there’s a massive difference between getting addicted to, say, working out, and getting addicted to nicotine.
So food being chemically addictive is not something that’s been known for decades, in fact it’s been a common topic of debate.
Idk. My wife must workout or she is irritated all day. Working out can be like a drug.
That’s still a different type of addiction from something like cigarettes.
Well, that explains me.
This is an excellent article.
The hormonal model of obesity fits into this paper very well. Basically the hormonal model says the addiction is not to food, it's to carbohydrates and sugar. Carbohydrates and sugar increase blood sugar levels, which increase insulin levels. Which puts the body into dysfunction. It doesn't matter how much food you're eating, it matters how much insulin your body is producing. Insulin is a massive superstar hormone that affects the entire body.
So a lot of the addiction and withdrawal people are talking about is sugar withdrawal, blood sugar dropping, and the body having to adapt to a new energy source. I. E. Fat burning / ketosis.
I could eat pad-thai everyday.
Am I the only person that gets a food high?
There's a line in the article that says food doesn't give a "high" like drugs do.
But I get literal highs off of food sometimes. Particularly beef, some fish, and other high protein meals like those. Typically, it will only happen when the meat is very well browned, a significant "crust" from the Maillard reaction, though it will occasionally happen when there's an acidic or slightly sweet side dish.
Salmon with sweet potato does it almost every time. Tuna steaks do it fairly reliably. Steaks will more often than other beef meals, but even burgers can do it.
Am I that fucking weird here?
It's a literal high. I get slightly dizzy, euphoric, giggly, and there's a distinct sense of well being and connection to the world. It isn't just being satisfied with a good meal, it's an change in mood, thinking and overall perceptions.
There is a bakery selling these cookies, I thought they're putting drugs in them. Cuz every time I ate them I felt euphoric, and my heart race of it. I was definitely getting a food high from those cookies
You are not alone. I always just figured it was like a dopamine high or something similar.
Breathatarians intensify.
I've been addicted to food for at least 30 years. I don't remember being a baby but I heard I ate food back then too. Not sure if at this point I can ever quit
Don’t get addicted to water , it will take control of you.
But ofc food is addictive, it’s substances, overeating it, that’s a whole different argument.
Well, you gotta consume it multiple times every day or your body stops functioning, and you get sick and die. If there's a better simpler more succinct description of an addiction I don't know what it is. Same goes for oxygen, water, and sleep, those motherfuckers.
Well, you gotta consume it multiple times every day or your body stops functioning, and you get sick and die.
That sounds like withdrawal symptoms to me...
You can’t quit food if you don’t quit cold turkey.
Wait until they hear about oxygen