WHY We Crave Comfort Foods (And the FIX!)

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted July 16, 2023

We’ve ALL been there.

It could be a looming deadline, a fight with a loved one, or a family emergency. But whatever the cause, your stress level is through the roof.

If you’re like most folks, that’s when the CRAVINGS hit, and you reach for some “comfort food.”

Typically, that’s an ultra-processed sugary or starchy snack. But despite your best intentions, one is NEVER enough. Soon you’re hunting for your next sugar or starch fix.

The cravings always seem to win no matter how hard you fight them.

But scientists say we now have a good idea WHY, thanks to some new research.

They’ve pinpointed a trigger for the stress eating. And that means we have a better chance of beating the cravings.

Typically, when we eat junk foods, the reward centers in our brain light up like a Christmas tree and release the feel-good hormone, dopamine.

But a new study published in the journal Neuron found that when stress (especially chronic stress) is COMBINED with high-calorie, energy-dense foods, it can trigger changes in the brain.

These changes override our natural satiety response or feeling of fullness. As a result, the pleasure we feel from eating is gone.

So your brain keeps searching for that feeling. And it leads to non-stop cravings and munching.

You eat a doughnut, but it doesn’t make you feel full or happy, so you reach for a candy bar. That doesn’t do the trick either, so now you want a soda. Sound familiar?

To break the cravings cycle, you need some tools to RELIEVE the stress and support your body when it hits.

It’s easier said than done, of course. But making these three moves can do the trick.

• Exercise: The last thing you may feel like doing when there’s a lot on your plate is exercising. But don’t skip it. Exercise naturally reduces stress hormones. Choose something simple like walking, and your comfort-food cravings will likely take a hike too.
• Reduce Stress: This sounds obvious. But you might need a reminder when you’re in the thick of it. It’s important to take steps to reduce your stress levels. You likely know what works best for you. It may be talking to a trusted friend, meeting with a church leader, seeing a therapist, or even playing with puppies. Whatever gets the job done… go for it. Reduce the stress, and you reduce the cravings.
• Feed Your Brain: Your brain needs to be fed well to function efficiently and help you feel in control. Start with a daily dose of the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA in a fish oil supplement. Then consider taking curcumin and bacopa. They both support brain health and reduce brain inflammation levels that climb when stressed.

You’ll never be able to entirely eliminate stress. But what you CAN  do is control its impact on your life… including kicking those comfort food cravings.

P.S. Experts have uncovered an easy 20-minute secret that can END your stress for good. And it won’t cost you a dime. I like to call it “vitamin O.” CLICK HERE to reveal the secret.

Source:

“Critical role of lateral habenula circuits in the control of stress-induced palatable food consumption,” Neuron, Published: June 08, 2023, doi. org/10.1016/j.neuron.2023.05.010

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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