Addictive Foods
Oct0
A new study organized by the Scripps Research institute reports that the junk food habit can develop an addiction similar to what heroin or cocaine junkie experiences. We understand nobody wants to be called an addict. The word addict brings to mind images of drugs, alcohol, uncontrollable and unmanageable needs and interventions. Unbelievably, food can also be addictive!
Alcoholic and drug abusers often have horrible dietary habits, a similar pattern found in individuals with food addiction. The absorption of food proteins produces substances with opiate or narcotic properties. Experts believe that high-fat foods increase the level of opioids or "pleasure chemicals" in the brain.
Too much of everything is not good for the body. Plain old snacking is different from devouring. You crave for super sweet or extra salty food to satisfy your craving. Believe it or not, these foods are nosh-worthy delights and the most addictive foods.
Sugary and sweet foods taste great but they will give you dreadful ending. The sweet, creamy texture of ice cream tops the list of the most addictive foods. Your jar of bite-size chocolate chip cookies can never be enough. However, despite the fact that we know these sugary foods are addictive, we keep on eating them. Dark chocolate M&M's are completely delicious... but deadly!
Your favorite snack also belongs to the most addictive foods. Everybody loves French fries, whether dipped in ketchup, ranch dressing, or spicy mustard. Freshly popped and dousing with hot, melted butter will definitely make the cut and awaken the ante. Great-tasting pizza may be nutritious because it includes meat, cheese and vegetables, but it becomes addictive when eaten too much. Similarly, you cannot stop yourself munching on those extra-crunchy potato chips when you open the bag.
People ask for guacamole and chips and nothing can stop them! Restaurants serve these mashed, fresh ripe avocados by the basket. Even non-avocado fans believe guacamole gives a different degree of succulence and flavor as spread, dipping, or simply scooped up the serving. Scientists also claim that hamburgers are as addictive as heroin.
Black tea and coffee are also included in the list of most addictive foods. They both contain caffeine, which causes us to become quick and sleepless; however, they also trigger irritability, heartburn or ulcers. When you stop drinking more than 2 cups per day, you are expected to go through repulsive withdrawal symptoms, including headache, irritability, and fatigue.
Devouring on these most addictive foods can also lead to obesity. The lack of control to overeat adds weight to the body. The exposure to pleasurable tasty foods also changes gene expression, which suggests an individual is addicted to food.
There are foods – and then there are addictions. There’s plain ol’ snacking and then there’s devouring. We all have weaknesses and days when something super sweet or superbly salty is all that will satisfy us. Here, our list of most nosh-worthy delights. And yes, we realize we haven't included everything so feel free to share your faves -- pizza binges, diet soda splurges, and other irresistible treats and indulgences.
- Dark Chocolate
M&M's. That’s right, we
said DARK. Ever since M&M’s surfaced in this flavor, we’ve
been in heaven. They’re teeny tiny – therefore
easily downed by the handful -- and completely delicious -- a
deadly combination. With these little suckers
the trick is to avoid eating the entire bag (and we’re talking the
8 oz size here).
- Guacamole. Fresh
ripe avocados take on an entirely new level of tastiness when
mashed up with garlic, cilantro and tomatoes.
Even non-avocado fans love this chunky stuff – spread it on bread,
dip veggies in it, or just enjoy it straight up by the
spoonful. And we’re not sure why the chips and
guac combo is so unstoppable, but there’s a reason restaurants
serve them by the basket!
- Popcorn. Sure,
microwave popcorn is addictive but that movie theater stuff is what
sends us over the edge. It must be freshly
popped to make the cut. Dousing it with hot, melted butter just ups
the ante. Give us an XXL tub slathered with oozy butter (or
butter-like) topping and we’re in heaven.
- Rolos. We try to
be good and always make the mistake of thinking that popping a
single one may do the trick of satisfying a sweet
tooth. Not a chance. The caramel center is so
perfectly chewy and delish that 5-10 seems to be the minimum
requirement. We often place a dish of these on
our coffee table when guests are coming over (because the little
gold nuggets look so pretty) and they magically disappear -- within
minutes.
- French Fries. An
ill-tasting fry is hard to find, right? They’re also fun to
eat. Everyone has their favorite method –
traditionalists do straight ketchup, adventurers mix it up with
ranch dressing or spicy mustard. For us, those
time-tested buggers from McDonald’s still top our list. Full
disclosure here: We kind of miss the Super Size. (For
make-it-at-home goodness, devour a bag of Trader Joe's frozen
sweet potato fries.)
- PopChips. Maybe
they call them PopChips
-- not because they’re really and truly popped -- but because
you can’t stop popping them in your mouth.
Light, crispy and woops…all gone! Better than
full-fat greasy potato chips in our book – healthier and every bit
as tasty. We recommend the original flavor. (An
honorary mention to Kettle Sea Salt & Freshly Ground Pepper
chips.)
- Chocolate Chip
Cookies. Anything “bite size” is
dangerous and one store-bought cookie is never ever
enough. While we love homemade, we go ga-ga for
Health Valley Mini Chocolate Chip
Cookies. They’re all natural and made with
organic ingredients, so we don’t feel somewhat less guilty after
polishing off one of those bags in less than thirty minutes.
- Ice Cream. The sweet and dreamy creamy texture makes most flavors irresistible, but Haagen-Dazs classics, Chocolate and Vanilla, take the crown. The chocolate is rich, rich and the vanilla tastes like true vanilla. (The strawberry, coffee, and dulce de leche are also insane!).