Unchaining Yourself from an Unhealthy Food Addiction
Protica Research

The cry of I have no willpower! often emerges from the consumers who jokingly surrender to their lack of will when it comes to eating something clearly unhealthy. However, scientific nutritional research has identified that something much more serious much more dangerous is often at work here. For many people, what they perceive as a harmless lack of willpower is actually an addiction an addiction to chemicals that the brain secretes in response to stimulation by certain foods, such as chocolate or cheese[i].

As dangerous as this addiction is, however, recent studies suggest that it is actually much more frightening than it first seems. According to one notable study, the human brain can release dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter linked with feelings enjoyment, when a person merely sees or smells certain foods[ii]. As such, people who may be sensibly avoiding foods that release serotonin and other chemicals (such as chocolate) may still be susceptible to a sight and smell-based addiction to unhealthy food.

Understanding this complex problem begins with understanding the word addiction. Defining a clear-cut definition of addiction is in itself a challenge and a rather hotly debated pursuit at the moment. Still, there is enough unity among credible social and biological scientists to say that a person who is powerless to stop an action is addicted[iii]. When applying this rather grave concept to eating, it becomes starkly clear that choosing an extra slice of pizza or bar of chocolate may be the expression of a very serious addiction to unhealthy food.

Remarkably, unlike how addictions to things like alcohol, drugs, and sexual activity viewed biological and psychological illnesses, addiction to eating is often ignored or, at the very least, diminished to be something that is based on willpower. The insulting advice of just dont eat it if you dont want to get fat! that some obese people actually hear from their doctors, relatives, or colleagues is one of the most common manifestations of this often well-meaning, but potentially harmful, ignorance.

The bottom line fact and one that more medical professionals are accepting based on scientific evidence is that obesity and related eating disorders are often the results of an addiction they are a serious health condition that must be approached methodologically like other diseases[iv].

Understanding that food addiction is indeed a problem a severe disease, in fact is a fundamental key in addressing this unique health challenge. At the same time, the notion of willpower should be removed, in most cases, from the eating disorder vocabulary, and replaced with the word addiction. This will make that extra piece of pizza or that third slice of chocolate cake be seen for what they often are: the means to satisfy a bonafide addiction.

Once the eating disorder as an addiction paradigm is in place, then and only then can both unhealthy eaters and those supporting them take steps to solve the problem. While there are no overnight solutions, there are paths that eaters can take that head in the right direction: freedom from eating addiction. The first step on this path is to eat a complete and balanced source of nutrition.

Taking this first step, like so much else associated with the addiction to unhealthy food, is easier said than done. Eating sensibly is unusually difficult in a time-starved culture and even more difficult when there are arrays of self-described nutritious dietary sources to choose from. Whether it is energy bars or fad diets, finding a simple, convenient, and practical source of balanced nutrition is hard to find.

However, some exceptional products are garnering serious positive attention from scientific community. These products deliver complete protein in a vitamin enriched formula. Furthermore and of critical value is that these products contain no carbohydrates, no unsaturated fat, and few calories none of which are from fat. These products are helping people unchain themselves from food addictions, and reflect a trend towards nutritious and ethical nutritional supplement manufacturing.

Of ultimate importance, however, is that these products return eating choice control back to where it must always remain: with conscious and empowered consumers, and not to some hidden and potentially destructive addiction.

About Protica

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at www.protica.com

You can also learn about Profect at www.profect.com

References

[i] Source: Thats Why We Call it Junk Food. MSNBC. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3606198/

[ii] Source: Food on the Brain. Forbes.com. http://www.forbes.com/home_europe/free_forbes/2005/0110/063.html

[iii] Source: Addiction. eHealth Connection. http://www.ehealthconnection.com/regions/ehealth/health_information/ 00036220.asp

[iv] Source: Obesity as a Disease. MPR News. http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/03/29_bensonl_desease/

Copyright 2004 – Protica Research – http://www.protica.com

About the Author

About Protica

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. You can learn more about Protica at www.protica.com — Information on Profect is available at www.profect.com

Copyright 2004 – Protica Research

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Most of us know that sex can be a lot of work, that doesn’t deter anyone of course, but it can be work! Any type of physical activity is harder when you are out of shape, that’s just a fact. Sex is one of those physical activities. Weight loss and sexuality do play off each other, the more in shape you are, the more physically able you will be to have sex.

Another aspect of being overweight and sexuality is that you may not be as desirable to your partner if you are overweight. Not only does being overweight affect how your partner views you, it also affects how you fee about yourself.

If you don’t like the way your body looks, you will be less likely to want to engage in sexual activity. That can put a huge strain on a relationship. The good news is that when you lose some weight, even a little bit, you can feel better about yourself. You will have more physical stamina as well as a better psychological attitude. All of that will make it easier and more likely for you to want to have sex.

Don’t take this the wrong way, but sex often starts outside of the bedroom. What I mean by that is that your partner will look at you and find you attractive throughout the day. When you are able to wear sexier more stylish clothes all day everyday, your partner will find you attractive and that will lead to a more active sex life too.

It’s not just all about your partner either. When you can wear sexier more stylish clothes you feel better about yourself and you feel sexier and more desirable. That will make you want to have sex with your partner more often.

Sex isn’t just a physical activity, it’s very emotional too. Anything that effects your self esteem in a good way, or in a bad way, will help determine whether or not you feel like engaging in intimate relations.

If you want to lose weight, for whatever reason, than there are some easy and simple steps you can take starting right now. Simple things like trying to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables.

Walk a little more everyday. Even if it’s just parking further away from your office building or taking your dog for a walk, or a longer walk. Just stat somewhere and give it time.

If you do, you will start to lose weight and once you get started it will be easier to continue. The biggest challenge is often just sticking with it for the first few weeks, until you start to see some small changes,once that happens it’s usually easier to stay with it.

Weight loss and sexuality are very closely related. Having a healthy body can make sexual activity easier and more comfortable but being in good shape can also make you more interested from a psychological point of view. The more attractive and sexier you feel, the more you will want to be intimate with your partner.

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Weight Loss And Sex Drive – Become A Emotional High

What is the correlation between weight loss and sex drive, or is there even a correlation? We all know that sex is a very physical activity and it’s simply easier to do when you are at the proper body weight and in good condition.

It’s also common to think that losing weight will make you more attractive to your partner, which may or may not be the case.

What many people don’t realize is that weight loss can make them more interested in sex too. Beyond the physical aspect of sex there is a very strong and deep emotional and psychological component as well.

If losing weight and getting in better shape makes you feel better about yourself, it’s very likely that that will take away many of the inhibitions that you may have had and make you want to have sex more often.

It’s simple, when you feel sexy, attractive and desirable, you act more sexy attractive and desirable. You may find that you simply want to be intimate with your partner more often. This is an element that many people fail to realize when it comes to weight loss.

They often think that the only benefit is either to their partner or to themselves but only on a physical level. In reality it can simply make you desire sex more often.

Talk about a strong motivation to get in better shape: being more desirable to your partner and having a higher sex drive yourself (not to mention lessening your risk for heart attack, stroke and diabetes).

If you want to go for it and find out just how you can bring sexy back, but aren’t sure where to start, the first place you should start is at your doctors office. Make an appointment and find out what, if any, restrictions you may have for exercising.

Even if you have health issues, there is almost always a way to work around it and still get some physical (non sexual) activity into your daily life.

One of the most common, and easily avoidable,mistakes that many people make is to set unrealistic goals for themselves. They want it to happen quickly and they think that they will work really hard. The fact is that many people simply will find it hard to make major and drastic lifestyle changes right off the bat. For many, it’s better to set smaller, more achievable goals and when those have been conquered, add more.

So instead of vowing to run a marathon in a few weeks why not just park your car a little further from the entrance to the grocery store? Or, how about taking the steps more often? These are simple, small changes that anyone can make and it’s much more likely that you can stick with it. The more small goals you stick with, the more you can move on to set larger goals.

Now that you know about the relationship between weight loss and sex drive, it’s time to get started. You can make a huge difference on all aspects of your life one small step at a time.

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