A Fast Way Out of the Trap of Eating Toxic, Drug-Like Foods
For some people, the detoxification process can seem just too difficult to manage. For them, the
road may seem too long, and even minor indulgences can keep them trapped in destructive eating
patterns. This is because, as we’ve already seen, the nutrient-barren and nutrient-poor foods that
make up the majority of our diets are highly addictive.
In 2010, scientists from The Scripps Research Institute published a remarkable study showing that
drug addiction and compulsive eating had the same effects on the brain—they both desensitized
brain reward circuits.^70
During this study, the researchers found that the longer rats were exposed to what was called
"palatable energy-dense food" (such as sausage, bacon, and cheesecake), the less and less
responsive the reward circuits in their brains became. Therefore, the rats had to eat a larger
amount of unhealthy food to satisfy their appetites. Even when the rats were taught to anticipate an
electric shock, they kept eating, not even trying to avoid the shocks. This compulsive behavior in the
face of negative consequences is a hallmark of addiction.
The rats also experienced withdrawal when they were no longer allowed to eat the unhealthy food.
In fact, their unhealthy food withdrawal lasted for 10 days longer than rats addicted to cocaine! These
results vividly illustrate how powerfully addictive—and powerfully toxic—unhealthy food is.
It is almost impossible to cleanse the body of any harmful, addictive substance without
experiencing some discomfort of withdrawal. Since humans tend to avoid discomfort, we continue
our toxic eating habits to avoid any unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. And instead of connecting
headaches, weakness, and even feeling nervous and shaky with detoxification, we call it hunger.^71
But the more we find fast, temporary relief from our "hunger" in a candy bar, a can of soda or a bag
of chips, the more we inhibit the healing that comes with detoxification. Uncomfortable sensations
at the beginning of this change are usually a good indication that repair is under way and toxins are
being removed. Though it may seem counterintuitive, feeling temporarily ill and out-of-sorts is
often a sign that you are getting well.
(NOTE: If you feel extremely ill, symptoms are severe, significant discomfort lasts longer than a few
weeks, or at any time you feel something more than detox and withdrawal is occurring or you are
concerned for your well-being, consult a health professional.)
Quitting an unhealthy diet is usually not easy. Many people could benefit greatly by getting some
extra help. Like alcohol addiction, food addiction for some may be best managed by an inpatient
stay within a controlled environment—an experience that can greatly speed up the process of taste
re-calibration. In a controlled environment, a person can “get clean” by avoiding all addictive foods.
(^70) Johnson PM, Kenny PJ. Dopamine D2 receptors in addiction-like reward dysfunction and compulsive eating in obese
rats. Nat Neurosci. 2010;13:635-641.
(^71) Fuhrman, J. Eat for Health: Lose Weight, Keep It Off, Live A Longer More Enjoyable Life [in press]. Excerpts available:
http://www.diseaseproof.com.