Are Some Foods Addictive?

My Take:

Many years ago, in my preventive cardiology practice, a patient asked me if it was possible to be addicted to sugar. They then described a pattern that was, in fact, classic for addiction:

I had to agree with the patient’s self-analysis that they were likely facing a sugar addiction. We didn’t know as much then about how addictive a common food ingredient could be, but we’ve learned a lot since then, and now, in this new report, it is ultra-processed food that is the culprit. Experts have found that at least 14% of adults around the globe are addicted to ultra-processed food, and 12% of children are addicted.

Some examples of ultra-processed foods:

• Soft drinks and sodas

• Ice cream

• Frozen meals with artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives

• Hot dogs and preserved deli meats like salami, pepperoni, and ham

• Packaged cookies

The article goes on to describe the mechanisms of these food addictions, which “evoke similar levels of extracellular dopamine in the brain … to those seen with addictive substances such as nicotine and alcohol.”

My Take:

I have always loved sorghum, so I was delighted to see this article on its benefits for heart health! Sorghum is a whole grain, like quinoa, that is also gluten-free and a good source of fiber. It tends to taste slightly sweeter than wheat and has a full-bodied texture. Many of you may also be familiar with sorghum syrup, or sweet sorghum, which is made from the green juice of the sorghum plant. It has a number of micronutrients in just 1 tablespoon, including calcium, iron, protein, potassium, magnesium, and others; it can be used as a more nutritive sweetener than sugar—and it is natural!

Just keep in mind that the syrup does not have the fiber benefits of the whole grain itself. It is also a syrup, so you don’t want to use too much—1 tablespoon should be enough. (You know my mantra: “Everything in moderation!”)

Affiliate links here:

Sorghum, the grain; and sweet sorghum, the syrup (from Muddy Pond, in Tennessee—one of the best, old-fashioned makers of sweet sorghum!).

My Take:

This is more great news! Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found that adults who decreased their daily caloric intake by 12% per day over a 2-year duration—equal to 240 calories per day on a 2,000-calorie daily diet (although most people are eating much more than that)—activated biological pathways associated with healthy aging.

Reducing calories “had a positive effect on the genes responsible for energy generation and metabolism, and reduced the activity of inflammatory genes, leading to lower inflammation.”

What this means for you: Think now, or keep track of, what you usually eat each day. Are there any empty calories that you could easily cut out? A bag of chips, maybe, or a sugared drink? Not only would that improve whole-body health, it will also prevent unhealthy processes and inflammatory states that cause a number of age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.

Scientists built the largest-ever map of the human brain.

Here’s what they found …

Become a paying subscriber of Premium to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

A subscription gets you:

• • Exclusive, bonus content in EVERY issue!
• • FREE Premium Health Guides and Heart-Health Tip Sheets, as soon as they are released!
• • Access to "Cooking with a Cardiologist," including restaurant guides, heart-healthy recipes, meal plans, cookbook recommendations, videos, and more!
• • Special subscriber discounts on future products (e-books, workbooks, courses, webinars, live events, calendars, merchandise, etc.)
• • Eligible for special Premium subscriber giveaways!
• • Lifestyle tips and strategies with actionable advice for promoting heart health and cardiovascular well-being