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The Psychology of Grain Addiction by Guest Blogger Allison Gamble

The Psychology of Grain Addiction by Allison Gamble

The psychology of addiction encompasses a variety of variables including genetic predisposition, lifestyle and environmental factors. While most people think of addiction in terms of alcohol and drugs, new research demonstrates a disturbing new trend in food addiction: an addiction to grain. With refined and prepackaged foods a common staple in many American households, it doesn’t take a psychology degree to see that there must be a reason why grain is embedded in almost every aspect of cooking and baking. However, research is beginning to draw a correlation between addictive properties that exist in grain foods and growing obesity levels worldwide.

Recent studies have been able to show more direct links between the composition of food and the links to addiction and obesity. In 2004, Arizona State University did research on obesity and nutrient consumption, to determine whether it was an addiction or not. The study showed that consumers purchase and consume more food than necessary and the majority of the foods have high fat and sodium content.

Following this research, University of Wisconsin did a similar experiment on rats with opiates in early 2011 to determine if the opioid affected the prefrontal cortex. Research done in the past showed the effect of opiates in the hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens, but did not conclusively address the prefrontal cortex, where impulse control and cognition is located. Just as drugs and alcohol have a direct effect on these brain areas of activity, the study shows that food creates neurological and biological pathways that foster physical and psychological addiction.

Research has confirmed what has been long suspected: food makes us feel good. Food triggers the body to release neurological chemicals like tryptophan and serotonin. Tryptophan is basically an opioid chemical with very similar interactions with the parts of the brain affected by opiate addiction. Tryptophan is a naturally occurring tranquilizer with a direct relationship to serotonin levels in our brain, similar to pharmaceutical drugs like Valium. With the new science emerging about carbohydrate addiction and food’s interaction with our brain, the question becomes: how can we overcome the addictive urges for comfort food in the interest of maintaining a healthy lifestyle? When we are driven by addictive food cravings, just like with drugs or caffeine, we are more likely to overindulge. This is likely an indicator of why diets tend to unsuccessful with a majority of the population. It would be similar to asking a cocaine addict to scale back their use. The addiction’s interactions with your brain chemicals would not allow this, which is why drug rehabilitation usually operates on a “cold turkey” basis, or with a medical detox protocol.

Of food addiction, grain addiction is a particular area of concern because grains make up a large percentage of our public food choices. This is especially true in restaurant and fast food settings where grain is often added as a filler ingredient or to bulk up meat product. Corn, one of the most prevalent forms of grain used, is also found in many different forms; whether it’s converted into corn syrup, corn oil, or cornmeal, corn and grain addiction have significant negative effects on glucose levels. They are also a primary trigger of the release of neurological chemicals that foster addictive eating patterns. Because grain is cost-effective and the majority of the human population now craves it, research on food addiction is important in determining how we continue to integrate grain into our food choices in the future.

Though food addiction can be a powerful and debilitating illness, like alcohol and drug addiction, grain addiction can be overcome. With obesity and weight-related health concerns on the rise worldwide, it is important to have a plan on how to deal with the urge to eat refined grain products. For people with compromised metabolisms, it is especially important to undertake the drastic steps needed to remove the drug (in this case, grain) from the home.

1. Remove temptation – start by going through the house and pantry, removing the tempting and unhealthy grain-based foods. Even regular pasta can continue to fuel a grain addiction. Replace these food triggers with food that is nutrient-dense or high in protein. Choose sweet potatoes over dried pasta or unsweetened tea instead of soda pop. This can a difficult step, but changing your environment is essential for success.

2. Eat more of the right things – dieting is often ineffective because it leaves us feeling hungry. Choosing foods that you can indulge by eating a lot of can help when you are feeling the need for a “comfort food binge.” Having a bag of baby carrots instead of a bag of Nacho Doritos is going to have a significantly different impact on your blood sugar levels and waistline. Don’t deprive yourself. Choose foods that are dense and are easy to snack on.

3. Eat foods high in fat – But isn’t fat what makes us fat? Not necessarily. Research on insulin levels and blood sugar has demonstrated the introduction of fats help us to feel satiated for longer, and “good” fats are actually essential for good mental health. Having a handful of almonds or a cup of cottage cheese can help curb excessive appetites and decrease insulin spikes.

4. Create a support system – Choosing to eat differently to combat grain addiction is very difficult and just as a drug addict can’t kick drugs alone, kicking food addiction requires the same support system. Whether it’s a sit-down with your family and close friends, or reaching out to support groups such as Overeaters Anonymous, finding people who support the healthy changes you are trying to make in your life can be key in continuing success.

Having a comprehensive plan to deal with food and especially grain addiction can help overcome diet-related health problems and stave off diseases like Diabetes Type 2, hypertension and heart disease. Though the research suggests there is a chemical component to food addiction, just as any addiction can be overcome, food and grain addiction can be resolved. It takes a commitment to changing lifestyle and eating habits, as well as being educated about how food addiction can short circuit our ability to make good decisions about food. Getting a support system in place and utilizing a multifaceted approach to dealing with food and grain addiction can change lives, shrink waistlines, and transform the landscape of American health.

Allison Gamble has been a curious student of psychology since high school. She brings her understanding of the mind to work in the weird world of internet marketing.

Photo by Peter Pearson.

All advice and opinions in the above article are those of the author and not this blog per se.

Dan Decker JamCore Exclusive Interview

Introducing one of the most promising upcoming Physique in the world of bodybuilding. Bodybuilding New Sensation Dan Decker is in the JamCore House. STAY TUNED FOR MORE INSANITY FOOTAGE from the man himself coming soon

Secres on the Best Way To Build Muscle Revaled

A lot of people aim to build their muscles but only a few are really able to achieve it. There are a lot of ways for you to build muscles but before you even go to the gym to lift weights, it is important that you know about the best way to build muscles. The thing here is that building muscles is not an overnight and it requires discipline and commitment from your part for a particular muscle building method to work.
There is no magic involved when it comes to building muscles. In order for you to stay and look good, it is important that you include in your regimen eating low calorie foods. The most common problem among a lot of people is that they tend to think that eating a lot of protein is very important when it comes to building their muscles. This is not true at all! When you want to build your muscles, it is crucial that you eat protein in moderation. Taking supplements is also discouraged as it may contain steroids and other harmful components that may pose risk to your health.
So it is important to eat less but make sure that you eat quality foodstuffs. Aside from eating less, it is important that you also train more. Make sure that you do weight training in order to build your muscle mass. By training more, you dissolve all of the fat from your body thus your lean muscles will become more visible in the process. Once you start building lean muscles, you can easily dissolve all of the fats from your body as an increase in muscle mass also means increase in your body's metabolism.
Regarding your exercise regimen, it is important that you perform a lot of interval training. Aside from the usual weight training, it is also very important that you do strength training. The thing here is that you need to make sure that you move all the muscles in your body instead of isolating them. You will be able to see the results faster this way. So I hope you have learned a lot from this little article on build muscle. Rest-assured, there will be more to come!

Ward Marvin

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Beet and Apple Salad and Beet and Walnut Salad recipes

Beets are a misunderstood root vegetable. Most people have only tasted the lackluster canned version. Garden fresh beets are a revelation when properly prepared. Farmer's markets are open this time of year and some farmers offer heirloom varieties of vegetables. Two varieties to look for are Bull's Blood and Golden & Chiogga beets.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Beet and Apple Salad and Beet and Walnut Salad recipes - National Healthy Recipes | Examiner.com

How to make southern style beef soup

Soups are a year round comfort food that fit into all healthy diets. A warming dish in cold weather and a light bite in warm weather, soup plays well with others. Try with a dinner salad in summer or roasted vegetables in winter. This healthy recipe for southern style beef soup is easily customizable for any dieting style. Remember to control portions.

Continue reading on Examiner.com How to make southern style beef soup - National Healthy Recipes | Examiner.com

How to make cheese biscuits

Cheese biscuits sound decadent and oh, so delicious and they are. So, how do they fit into a healthy diet? Simply put, moderation. With a regular and low carb option, this recipe is customizable to your dieting style. Just remember to watch your portions.

Continue reading at Examiner.com Healthy Recipes.

How to make Texas Style Chili

This authentic Texas style chili is easy to maKe and tastes like you're sitting in a Texas cowboy's ranch kitchen. Fairly low carbohydrate and low calorie, it can fit into most dieting styles. Serving with red beans is optional.

Continue reading on Examiner.com How to make Texas Style Chili - National Healthy Recipes | Examiner.com

Duck and Andouille Sausage Gumbo

Gumbo is the unoffficial "official" food of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. Although most families and restaurants have their own version, this classic is tasty and easy to make. Low carb and healthy, this gumbo is a keeper. Serve it up and please your hungry eaters.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Duck and andouille sausage gumbo - National Healthy Recipes |

How to make tomato chutney

Chutney originated in south Asia and continues to be popular throughout the world. With varied ingredients, chutney can be sweet, savory or a combination of flavors. Both a condiment and a side dish, chutney elevates most dishes. This tomato chutney goes particularly well over toasted sourdough or chicken cutlets.


Continue reading on Examiner.com How to make tomato chutney - National Healthy Recipes | Examiner.com

How to make fish chowder

Chowders are an economical and convenient dish for all dining occasions. A steaming bowl of chowder makes a meal in itself paired with a salad or Heavenly Biscuits. And chowder makes a great starter to a steak dinner whether your steak is beef or salmon.

Continue reading on Examiner.com - National Healthy Recipes

How to make Creole Gumbo

Gumbo is a uniquely southern dish and its origins are found in the Creole culture. Creoles used whatever meats they had on hand to make this stew-like dish. Seafood was always a must, as well as spice. This "mish mash" was a delicious way to use leftovers and make a dish go along way.

Continue reading on Examiner.com - National Healthy Recipes | Examiner.com.

5 Ways to Lose Stomach Fat Fast!

Possibly the most common question asked is how to lose stomach fat fast. What you first need to understand, is that it is not possible to loose fat from your stomach only, you loose it from all over. So if your body genetically stores bodyfat in your arms, and little in your stomach, your body will first remove the fat in your arms. Another thing people often get wrongs is training isn't the way to loose fat. The primary way is your diet, supplemented by cardio. Now that you know that, lets get to how you can lose stomach fat fast!

1. Eat a calorie deficit diet
Probably the most important thing you can do, is to eat less calories than your body uses! This way, your body will start taking fat away, giving you the results you want!

2. Eat foods with low glycemic value
Glycemic Index is how fast the carbohydrates contained in food are converted to glucose and enter the bloodstream. The less the Glycemic Index of a food item, the less insulin your body has to make insulin and thus is likely to convert carbohydrates into fats. Foods with low Glycemic Index will also make you feel "full" more than foods with high Glycemic index will, helping with your cravings! Low Glycemic Index is considered to be anything under 55 (anything above that wont really help you lose stomach fat fast). You can find a comprehensive list of food items with their corresponding GI values here. (Please visit the original article for the link. This is due to limitations on Article Base)


3. Cardio!
One of the most important things you need to do to lose stomach fat fast is to do cardio. Cardio is a great way to lower lower the total amount of calories you take during the day and should be done with any fat loss diet. The best way to do cardio is to use the HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) system. Basically, HIIT is when instead of doing cardio in a constant fashion (for example jogging for an hour, keeping heart rate constant), you go all out until you cant anymore, walk, and then go all out again for about 30 minutes. Here is a very good video explanation:

4. Eat Frequent Meals
Eating small, frequent meals is an important aspect of loosing weight. It has many advantages, such as:Simulating your metabolism every time you eat a meal
Allows your body to make more effective use of the nutrients you give itPrevents catabolism!

5. Drink lots of water!
Water is very important for your overall body function, but it also helps with loosing fat! Drinking lots of water will help keep your liver hydrated and as such it will burn fat more effectively. Water has also been shown to improve metabolism. Studies show that up to 30% increase in metabolism can be gained from just 17 ounces of water!

source:www.articlesbase.com

A Cowboy's "Real Chili Got No Beans In It Ma'am" Chili - Version 2

Chili is a healthy main dish any time of the year. While chili is known as a warm dish - or even very hot meal when spiced - it can be eaten any time. Some people enjoy their chili for breakfast alongside or on top of eggs. Others use chili in place of taco meat or inside of burritos.

This version - the second from a real cowboy's kitchen - uses sirloin cubes not ground beef. While more expensive, using real whole sirloin cut into cubes is authentic. Cowboys didn't have ground beef on the trail drive and ranch kitchens rarely ground their beef.

Continue reading on Examiner.com - National Healthy Recipes.

New Orleans Bistro Style Crab Mornay

The Super Bowl is this Sunday. If you're looking for a fast, easy, yet elegant dish this crab mornay is the just ticket. Even football loving men appreciate this rich and creamy dish.

While many people looking for healthy dishes still follow the eroneous low fat model of diet, this dish is healthier because it's low in carbohydrates. Read The Atkins Diet Updated - The Science Supports Low Carb As Healthy, Just make sure to use coconut flour or another low carb substitute in place of wheat flour.

Continue reading on Examiner.com - National Healthy Recipes