Bread, sugar and cheese…yes please!
Why are some foods so hard to resist? Is it just me??
Definitely not! Being half french, cheese, bread and sugar were a huge part of me growing up! Cheese was served at most evening meals before dessert. Baguettes were at the table every morning and let’s not go past a wonderful french crêpe sprinkled with sugar!
I now know these yummy foods simply don’t work for my body any more, but why is it so hard to give up?
Simply because certain ingredients within them interact within our brains to create chemicals that can cause the same addictive qualities of other drugs like heroin, cocaine and morphine!
In this blog, I’ll dive into some of them so you are aware of the hold on you these ingredients might have. I’ll also give you some strategies to combat those cravings.
The Addictive Quality of Casein: Let's start with cheese. One of the primary reasons cheese is hard to resist is its high content of casein, a protein found in milk. Casein has been shown to produce casomorphins during digestion, which are basically molecules that have morphine like properties. Yes morphine! These can bind to receptors in the brain, leading to feelings of pleasure and reward. No wonder we seek out cheese!
The Sweet Trap of Sugar: Ah, sugar—the ultimate temptation. It's no secret that sugary treats can be hard to resist, and there's a scientific explanation for this. When we consume sugar, it triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, in our brain. This release creates a sense of euphoria, which makes us crave more sugar. Additionally, sugar can affect the levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that influences mood. These combined effects contribute to the addictive quality of sugar and the subsequent difficulty in resisting its allure. Did you know studies have shown that sugar can be as addictive if not more than cocaine!!?
The Seduction of Gluten: Bread, a staple in many cultures, owes much of its appeal to gluten, a protein found in wheat and related grains. Gluten provides the elasticity and structure that gives bread its characteristic texture. Interestingly, gluten also contains a protein that can be broken down during digestion into peptides that can affect the brain. These peptides have been shown to bind to certain receptors in the brain, leading to a release of endorphins. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that produce feelings of pleasure and can create a sense of addiction, making it harder to resist the temptation of bread.
Strategies to support you in avoiding the pull of these foods:
If these foods don’t work for you, or you’d like to give them up for a time, or even permanently, check out these strategies to help you along the way:
Plan your meals - the more you plan, the more you’ll avoid those last minute temptations.
Read the labels - there is so much hidden sugar, gluten and even casein in processed food.
Eat mindfully - when you are reaching out for that yummy food, stop and ask yourself why are you craving this? Is it a release from an emotion you are having? Stress? Can you do or eat something else that will satisfy the underlying reason for the craving?
Give yourself 15minutes - If you are still reaching out, go and do something else for 15mins. Distract yourself and see whether you are still craving it.
Drink up - many times when you crave something you are actually thirsty.
Crowd it out - Eat other food or drink another drink that might be a good swap out. Fruit tea instead of dessert?
As always, I’m here to help. If you have any questions. You can email me directly here.
Put the mask on yourself first, learn how to change your cravings and reprogram your brain and thrive again!