This week Sally Estlin and I explore the issue of Junk Food and fast food. Did you know that they are up there with addictive substances like drugs and sugar? They keep you coming back for more! They create cravings and you can increase your tolerance so you keep needing more and more! Junk food also encourages bingeing behaviours. Wow – it might make you think twice before indulging in these often cheap and readily accessible alternatives. Love to hear your thoughts.
Happy meals set patterns for life
The cheap and seductive offer of the ubiquitous “Happy Meal” in childhood shape your food preferences for life. This is because the comfort foods we enjoy in childhood provide bastions of pleasure and reassurance. We return to these pleasures when we seek reassurance as adults. Consequently, the seemingly innocuous package of sweetened hamburger bun, meat pattie, and soft drink, sets many little clients up for higher risk of a range of degenerative conditions in adulthood including:
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular disease
- Metabolic syndrome
- Type 2 Diabetes
The Australian Dietary Guidelines [1] suggest:
- Five servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit
- Whole grains rather than refined carbohydrates (white bread, pasta, white rice)
- one serving lean meat
- Water instead of sugary drinks (cordial, soft drinks, sports drinks)
- Reduce high-fat foods
- Limit take away foods
There are many similarities between Sugar, Junk Food and Illicit Drugs [2]
- Flood the brain with dopamine
- Create cravings which are different to hunger
- Rewards feelings diminish as tolerance builds
- Leading to bingeing patterns
- Anti-addiction drugs are helpful for weight loss
- Abstaining can lead to withdrawal symptoms
- Undermine health
My top tips to avoid Junk food addiction
- Realise that regular Junk Food consumption will addict you and sugar makes you fat
- Resist the cravings for Junk Food when you abstain from consumption
- Replace Junk food with balanced whole food meals
If you would like to take the next step with Harry Armytage, complete the listening scorecard here
To find out more about what Sally Estlin does, head here
Recommended reading:
- Lustig, R. Fat Chance, the hidden truth about sugar obesity and disease. Fourth Estate
- Schlosser, E. Fast Food Nation, Penguin
- Gillespie, D. Sweet Poison. Penguin Viking