Sugar, salt, and fat make a food more desirable, at least when it comes to the average person's taste buds. Individually, they are dangerous. Together, they are a potent cocktail that stimulates the brain's reward system and releases dopamine, a chemical that motivates us to eat more. In other words, addiction.
The food industry has done its homework. These companies know we each have a bliss point, the spot that triggers the maximum amount of addiction in our brains. They've spent significant time and effort to learn how to hit the bliss target. Although food that accomplishes this satisfied us in the short-term, it also triggers mindless eating. While these companies benefit financially from this, our health certainly does not.
There is some research that you might find interesting. Researchers increased the fat, sugar, and salt intake of a number of rats. They noted that the rats' pleasure centers were triggered as a result. What's more, it was surmised, based on a variety of factors, that the rats suffered from withdrawal symptoms upon conclusion of the study. While there are always critics of animal studies when extrapolating to humans, it is certainly something to think about.
When we continuously choose to eat these unhealthy ingredients, it changes our brains and we can become conditioned to overeat. The combination of choosing nutritiously-poor foods and overeating them is a recipe for disaster, more specifically, obesity. What's more, the sugar and salt often act as preservatives, creating a convenient product with a long shelf life, so they're readily available for overindulgence.
The food companies, with the help of their advertising agencies, are more than happy to help condition us as well. I'm sure you've heard the term "comfort food" before. It's emotional eating. Have Grandma's apple pie and you'll feel better. Advertisers are paid millions of dollars if they can successfully tie subconscious emotions to products. Doing this with food and alcohol appears to be pretty easy to do. You never see a fast food commercial with an obese person scarfing down a value meal and every beer is cracked open at a standing-room only party with wall to wall models.
Unfortunately, these foods are very unhealthy and make us fat. It is probably not the intention of food companies, but it happens nonetheless. Their focus is on profit and customer retention. They do this by unleashing the potent combo of salt, sugar, and fat. It's easy to succumb to so I suggest avoiding these products at the grocery story. Additionally, pack a snack bag when on the road or around town, so you keep yourself from indulging in the nearest unhealthy drive through, solely because it's there and you're hungry. Sweet fruits can work extremely well in ending sugar craves and healthy fats in nuts and seeds can help make you feel full. I highly recommend giving it a chance.
The food industry has done its homework. These companies know we each have a bliss point, the spot that triggers the maximum amount of addiction in our brains. They've spent significant time and effort to learn how to hit the bliss target. Although food that accomplishes this satisfied us in the short-term, it also triggers mindless eating. While these companies benefit financially from this, our health certainly does not.
There is some research that you might find interesting. Researchers increased the fat, sugar, and salt intake of a number of rats. They noted that the rats' pleasure centers were triggered as a result. What's more, it was surmised, based on a variety of factors, that the rats suffered from withdrawal symptoms upon conclusion of the study. While there are always critics of animal studies when extrapolating to humans, it is certainly something to think about.
When we continuously choose to eat these unhealthy ingredients, it changes our brains and we can become conditioned to overeat. The combination of choosing nutritiously-poor foods and overeating them is a recipe for disaster, more specifically, obesity. What's more, the sugar and salt often act as preservatives, creating a convenient product with a long shelf life, so they're readily available for overindulgence.
The food companies, with the help of their advertising agencies, are more than happy to help condition us as well. I'm sure you've heard the term "comfort food" before. It's emotional eating. Have Grandma's apple pie and you'll feel better. Advertisers are paid millions of dollars if they can successfully tie subconscious emotions to products. Doing this with food and alcohol appears to be pretty easy to do. You never see a fast food commercial with an obese person scarfing down a value meal and every beer is cracked open at a standing-room only party with wall to wall models.
Unfortunately, these foods are very unhealthy and make us fat. It is probably not the intention of food companies, but it happens nonetheless. Their focus is on profit and customer retention. They do this by unleashing the potent combo of salt, sugar, and fat. It's easy to succumb to so I suggest avoiding these products at the grocery story. Additionally, pack a snack bag when on the road or around town, so you keep yourself from indulging in the nearest unhealthy drive through, solely because it's there and you're hungry. Sweet fruits can work extremely well in ending sugar craves and healthy fats in nuts and seeds can help make you feel full. I highly recommend giving it a chance.
