Is chocolate your weakness? Do you suddenly taste the silky, smooth creamy chocolate in your mouth while you’re on a Zoom call that refuses to end? You would be happy to know that you’re not the only one who goes through this. There are millions of Americans who suffer from some type of food addiction, and your uncontrollable cravings can be associated with this type of addiction. If you want to know more about whether you’re addicted to your chocolate or not, keep on reading.
Is Chocolate Addiction Real or a Myth?
This has been an ongoing controversial topic for several years. Researchers are still increasingly inconsistent with their findings. As a result, it’s important for you to consider food addiction as any other type of addiction. You would be surprised to find that there is an estimated 20% of people are battling some type of food addiction. If you’re someone who struggles to come to terms with their addictive food behavior, you’re not alone. The numbers increase amongst people that suffer from obesity.
So, if you’re most likely having trouble with handling your chocolate consumption, you may be struggling with a case of chocolate addiction. But you shouldn’t start panicking yet. There are some foods that can cause you to feel as if you’re experiencing symptoms of addiction.
Addictive Foods to Avoid
A study that was conducted on more than 500 people at the University of Michigan found that 90% of the subjects had addictive-like behavior when it came to food. Nearly 10% of them were diagnosed with severe food addiction. The study found that your favorite processed foods ranked high in the foods that can cause food addiction. The following are some of these foods that you should start being cautious of.
- Pizza
- Chocolate
- Cookies
- Chips
- French fries
- Ice-cream
The reason why these foods can be addictive is that they have a high amount of fats and sugars that are not good for you. Sugary foods are known to affect brain functioning. As a result, you’re unable to make the right choices, including putting your chocolate down and opting for a healthier snack.
The Most Addictive Ingredients
The thing is your favorite chocolate bar is made up of a lot of different ingredients. These ingredients are generally related to certain addictive components. These are the main ingredients that are used to make your chocolate.
- Cocoa mass
- Cocoa butter
- Vanilla
- Milk
- Sugar
- Other ingredients
The amounts of these ingredients vary according to the type of chocolate that you consume. This is why you may find that you crave other types of chocolate more than others. Additionally, other chocolates that you may eat are packed with various additives that research suggests could be the root cause of your addiction.
But not all of these ingredients are bad for you. In fact, cocoa is loaded with antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients. This is why some people like to enjoy having it raw.
The Bottom Line
Before you eat your chocolate you should read the packaging to see what ingredients are in there. Sometimes you might find that your ingredients aren’t the issue, but the real culprits are the additives that are highly concentrated in your chocolate. This is why opting for different types of chocolates is better. If you don’t like dark chocolate, perhaps now is the time to consider trying it out.
If you’re concerned that you’re far gone in your fight against processed foods, you should think about seeking professional help. The best way to start is through informing yourself. If you’d like to find out more about addiction, you should visit this website https://impactrecoverycenter.net/.