Dangers Hidden in Plain Sight

Toxic Holiday Rituals, Part 1 identifies smoking and drinking alcohol as self-destructive behaviors. Regulations on the sale of tobacco and alcohol attempt to control the problem but prove less effective than public education and restricted advertising. 

However, society is slow to hear the warnings of scientists about the addictive effects of most commercially processed foods. The manufacturers of processed foods understand the addictive power of food modifications and additives to increase consumption and sales. Unfortunately, most consumers are either unaware of the problem or refuse to hear it, already addicted themselves.

Processed foods with high concentrations of sugar and other refined sweeteners, refined carbohydrates, fat, salt, and caffeine are addictive substances. Reference

Except for assurances of “purity,” the addictive additives of refined sugars, flours, fat, salt, and other "natural" substances are unregulated. Describing these substances as pure or natural is misleading since the extraction of these isolated substances from whole food is precisely what makes them addictive and harmful to human health.

Addictive Foods for Sale

The characteristics of refined food addiction are very similar to tobacco and alcohol addiction.

The observational and empirical data strengthen the hypothesis that certain refined food consumption behaviors meet the criteria for substance use disorders, not unlike tobacco and alcohol. Reference

Food manufacturers and scientists have long known about the addictive effects of processed foods.

The idea that specific kind of foods may have an addiction potential and that some forms of overeating may represent an addicted behavior has been discussed for decades. Reference

Thus, some medical scientists propose a new diagnostic category to describe this condition and make it eligible for medical treatment.

The Yale Food Addiction Scale has been developed for the measurement of addiction-like eating behavior based on the diagnostic criteria for substance dependence. Reference

Refined Sugar: Dietary Cocaine

Addicted laboratory animals prefer sucrose (table sugar) over cocaine or food. Rats addicted to cocaine switch to refined sugar because the brain’s reward chemical, dopamine, releases most quickly with sucrose.

The time to reach peak [dopamine concentration] was delayed during cocaine-responding compared to sucrose. . . . Peak [dopamine concentration] was higher relative to responding for sucrose than food, regardless of reinforcer order. Reference

Most people consuming refined foods and sweet treats cannot stop suddenly. Furthermore, due to their addictions, few people want to stop. This self-destructive eating behavior is an established part of modern-day society. Supermarket convenience foods and fast food outlets are major components of our modern food distribution system.

About 75% of all foods and beverages contain added sugar in a large array of forms. Consumption of soft drinks has increased fivefold since 1950. Meta-analyses suggest that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is related to the risk of diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Reference

The manufacturers of processed foods have conditioned generations of consumers to buy their products.

Consumption of calorie-sweetened beverages has continued to increase and plays a role in the epidemic of obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and fatty liver disease. Reference

Breaking addictions to processed foods and refined sugars requires slow, consistent dietary improvements. The first step is to recognize these addictions and be determined to break them.

Next:  Part 3

Back to  Part 1

About Horton Tatarian

I’m a biochemist who examines scientific findings on health and disease. My degree in biochemistry is from U.C. Berkeley. UCLA School of Medicine granted an M.D. degree in 1974. Since then, independent research prepared me to advise clients on natural ways of self-care.

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