Do you have a Food Addiction that Palmyra Surgical can help?

Studies have shown that the same pleasure centers of the brain that are accessed by the use of drugs like cocaine and heroin can also be activated by food, possibly leading to a food addiction.

This happens especially with foods that are rich in sugars, fats and salt. These types of foods are called highly palatable foods. Like addictive drugs, these foods trigger pleasurable chemicals in your brain such as dopamine. Once you experience pleasure associated with increased dopamine in the brain’s reward pathway, you will feel the need to eat again. The reward signals from these highly palatable foods may override your ability to feel full and cause you to continue eating. This can lead to overeating. This is an especially problematic addiction if you are struggling with obesity.

You may have an Addiction to food If:

You end up eating more than planned once you start eating specific foods.
You keep eating certain foods even if you’re no longer hungry.
You eat to the point of feeling ill.
When certain foods are unavailable, you go out of your way to obtain them.
You experience withdrawal symptoms like anxiety or agitation when you are unable to eat certain foods.
You feel shame or guilt when eating.
You often eat alone.

Food addiction can become harmful and disruptive to your regular lifestyle. Food addiction may play an important role in obesity. If you are struggling with obesity and cannot seem to control specific cravings past the point of hunger, you may have a food addiction. Food addicts are constantly concerned about food and when they will be able to eat. Concerns for health, relationships and daily activities become less and less important.

Treating a Food Addiction

Since obesity increases your risk of numerous serious medical conditions, you want to take every precaution in treating it. If you are obese and believe you may have a food addiction you’ll want to find nutritional assistance and possibly psychotherapy. Medication may be prescribed in some cases of food addiction but not all of them. Treating your addiction is only the first step to getting healthier. In order to lose weight you may want to consult with a weight loss surgeon or specialist. Don’t let an addiction ruin your health, or your life. Seek help from addiction or weight loss specialists, local support groups or twelve step programs today.

From the Palmyra Surgical Blog

Understanding the Glycemic Index
Carbohydrates are one of the six essential nutrients. Despite common talk about avoiding carbohydrates for weight loss, our bodies require them to thrive. Carbohydrates contain sugar. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks down that sugar and absorbs it into the cells with the help of a hormone called insulin, where it is then converted to fuel and used for energy.
Reasons to Consider Weight Loss Surgery
Getting weight loss surgery is a choice that can have a major influence on your health and quality of life for years to come. The conversation surrounding weight loss surgery may come up at the advice of a doctor, after seeing a friend who was successful in their weight loss efforts or maybe after a series of frustrating weight loss attempts.
Managing Special Occasions after Weight Loss Surgery
Every time you turn the corner there is another fast food restaurant or bakery loaded with its own temptations, and you do what you can to stand strong and stick to your post-bariatric diet plan.
Healthy Shopping Strategies for a Healthy Household
When one person in a household gets weight loss surgery, it is actually common for other members of that household to lose weight too. This is called a “halo effect.”
Making Healthy Food Substitutions after Weight Loss Surgery
Approximately six weeks following weight loss surgery you’ll start making the gradual transition back to a whole-foods diet. This is an exciting period for many people. After weeks of gaining sustenance through liquids and soft foods, being able to enjoy a regular meal is something to look forward to.