ARE YOU AN OVEREATER?

Obesity figures are rising. Are we getting greedier? Or is the food we choose to eat to blame? Recent trials at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida showed that junk food (food that has a high sugar, fat & calorie content, with very little nutritional value) may be as addictive as cigarettes or heroin! Unfortunately these foods stimulate the brain to release dopamine - a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure - so we keep eating them because they taste nice & make us feel happy. But that happiness is short lived when clothes feel tighter, energy levels slump or you get run down or ill.
Chocolate & creamy foods have thickening emulsifiers added to produce that 'melt in the mouth' comforting feeling, making you want to eat more & more! Possibly worse though, is high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) which dominates the sweetness market as it's really cheap. It's  found in pastries, cereals, baked goods, soups, soft drinks & canned fruits. It impedes the body's ability to use the hormone 'leptin' that controls satiety (know when you are full) so you just go on eating & eating! Also, unlike normal sugar, the liver will actually convert HFCS into fat & cholesterol - not good!
So how do you stop this overeating? The answer is go back to basics for the majority of your eating - think fresh, cook from scratch & have the occasional treat. Our grandparents didn't have this problem because they didn't have junk food readily available - think about it - it's not rocket science!

Happy healthy eating,

Bev