Addictive Foods and their Harmful Consequences

Most of us are fond of at least one product that has the effect of a stimulant and that eventually becomes an addiction.

These products include exercise stimulant drinks (they come in cans and look like cola), fizzy aerated drinks, tobacco, betel nut, betel leaf, strong coffee, strong tea, ma huang (an ephedrine-like compound consumed in China), and alcohol.

?Before I tell you why we shouldn’t consume these products, I’d like to deal with the question of why we do consume them in the first place.

?There’s no one who doesn’t know that products like these, consumed in excess, can severely harm our bodies.

Yet, we still find them hard to resist.

The need to eat stimulant food is a simple human weakness that has existed for ages: humans (and many animals) have always indulged in foods that give a sort of emotional high.

In clinical terms, this means rapid heart beat, a little sweating, dilation or constriction of the pupils of the eye, a warm flush on the face, and a sense of greater sensitivity, concentration and perception.

?These sensations of ‘high’ die down within a few hours, and we are left feeling listless and low. This leads to a craving for that food again, to experience the high one more time. And there we are going round and round in a vicious circle.

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The physiology of addictions is as follows:

?When you eat an addictive food, it stimulates the hormone like substances found at the end of your nerves, which triggers an avalanche of similar stimulatory substances and you experience a high. As the substances near the nerves are depleted, you get into the low phase, which leads you to crave that food again. This yo-yo phase of nerve stimulation and depletion leads to a pattern of addiction.

?Consuming addictive foods is one of the oldest unhealthy food practices and, despite a revolution in health consciousness; it shows no signs of dying out.

Below are some side effects of certain addictive foods.

???Alcohol Addiction: Erosion of stomach and intestinal lining, liver damage, nutritional deficiency.

???Tobacco: Erosion of gum and tongue can lead to cancer of the buccal mucosa.

???Betel nut: Leads to the discoloration of teeth, erosion of the lining of the mouth, and cancer of the mouth and upper tract. It also leads to heart problems among people who already have a weak heart.

???Ma huang: It contains ephedrine and leads to heart problems.

???Aerated drinks: High doses of caffeine.

???Caffeine and xanthine: Found in tea, coffee. These become harmful only in very high doses; don’t consume more than five cups a day.

???Mixed drug reactions: People who consume medications for the heart, hypertension and asthma have to be very careful about the interactions of the drugs with stimulant foods, as mixing the two can be fatal.

After years of experience, all doctors know how difficult it is to break the food addictions of their patients and can only advise a good compromise. however, this is where health coaches have the opportunity to shine with helping you "deconstruct" your food cravings/addictions.

In with the good… and the bad will leave when there’s no more room for it!

When you begin to add in healthier foods to your diet, up your water intake, and make sure you are nourishing the other aspects of your life which we call in the health coaching world "Primary foods". The concept of primary and secondary foods (what you actually eat) is something I learned during my training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

Primary food goes beyond the plate, nurturing us on a deeper level. The four main primary foods are: relationships, physical activity, spirituality, and career.

Forbidding yourself from foods can cause cravings to get worse, but always giving into them can cause miscommunication with your body’s needs.

To break the cycle, you must balance your primary foods and deconstruct what you are craving; subsequently finding healthier alternatives that will satisfy you.

Remember, your body does not make mistakes. It is always about balance!

ACTION STEP: If you’re curious about how health coaching can revolutionize your life, let’s connect! Schedule a ‘Your Health is Your Wealth’ consultation with me today. Not for you? No problem! Pass this offer on to someone you care about and let’s spread the health together!

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https://bit.ly/callwithkryshonda

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I received my training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I learned about more than one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods. Drawing on this knowledge, I will help you create a completely personalized “roadmap to health” that suits your unique body, lifestyle, preferences, and goals.

Learn more about my training and my unique approach to health coaching.

DISCLAIMER:

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Kryshonda Torres is not a physician and the relationship between Kryshonda and her clients is not of a prescriber and patient, but as Health Coach and client.?

It is fully the client's choice whether or not to take advantage of the information Kryshonda presents.

OT&E Inc. and Kryshonda Torres cannot guarantee any specific outcome and your individual results may vary.

Before beginning or adding any named supplement to your health routine or regime, please consult with your Naturopathic or Functional Medicine Doctor.