Feeding Frenzy

Where does the chemistry go awry?
While endorphins ‘‘produce a high similar to falling in love’’, the digestion of food proteins may produce substances with opiate or narcotic properties, known as exorphins. To explain a very complex physical process simply, it can be said that in the absence of the food-derived neuroactive peptides (the exorphins), the bowels start signalling the brain about the need for the particular food. The compulsion kicks in, the hands reach out for guilty substance, and the food finds its way into the mouth, and the digestive system is happy again. But not for long.

So which are the danger foods?
Some foods are more addictive than others, depending partly on the endorphins they release. While each person will react differently to particular foods, there’s a fine line between ‘within limits’ and ‘too much’. Study your food cravings, and kick the habit before it takes over your life.

• CHOCOLATE: Chocolate confections are complex mixtures of milk, sugars, nuts, flavours, cinnamon and other spices. When consumed, they produce drug-like and allergenic effects simultaneously. ‘‘Initially, chocolates spur a high. But addiction causes rebound-hypoglecemia, the insulin in the blood shoots up and then falls again. Result: You’re left feeling low, weak and anxious,’’ says Dr Sharma. Post-chocolate symptoms also include migraine headaches, abdominal pain, joint pain, mental agitation and depression. Some chocolate eaters become quite ill and obese.

CHECK IT: Dark chocolate can be a good alternative. But limit yourself to a piece or two a day.

• TEA and COFFEE: Both tea and coffee contain caffeine, which wake us up and get the adrenaline going. Overdosing—say, more than three cups a day—though, could make us irritable, cause us to lose sleep and even trigger heartburn and ulcers. Stopping cold turkey will set off headaches, fatigue and irritability, which could take the shape of disproportionate angry outbursts, loss of pleasure and positivity or empathy anaesthesia.

CHECK IT: Decaf is a step up from regular coffee and tea. But if you seriously want to kick the habit, ‘‘a nice cup of hot water is a good idea,’’ says Dr Sharma. ‘‘Tea and coffee drinkers crave something hot to drink, so a light soup, or hot water, lightly flavoured with lemon, honey, ginger or cardamom can be good alternatives.’’

• SUGAR: Like salt (which causes its own problems, but is addictive only when combined with fried food, such as chips), a large number of processed foods contain sugar and induce dependence. The addictive action of sugars, doctors say, may be biochemically mediated, possibly by the influence of glucose on appetite-computing neurons.

CHECK IT: ‘‘Diet revisions must always include sugar constraint,’’ says Dr Sharma. ‘‘One-two teaspoons a day is all that we need.’’

• CHEESE: Like much else on this list, cheese is a feel-good food. But the serotonins it releases in the body also triggers dependence. If you’re on to five cubes or more a day, the danger signal is in the red zone. Cravings can cause depression and low self-esteem. Obesity is just a few days away.

CHECK IT: Self-control is all that works. Ration out a cube (25 gm) a day, says Dr Sharma.

• AERATED DRINKS: It’s the sugar content that makes colas and other fizzy drinks so addictive. On consumption, a drink will raise the heart rate and make you alert or attentive for a while. ‘‘But even a bottle a day will lead to addiction,’’ warns Dr Sharma. ‘‘Over time, it will trigger palpitation, nervousness, anxiety and loss of concentration. Colas also cause loss of calcium and weakens the bones.’’

CHECK IT: Test your willpower. A bottle is okay, but not more than twice a week.

• PAAN MASALA: The tobacco content, of course, is the culprit. Combined with the other ingredients, including sugar, it’s a lethal addictive. ‘‘Paan masala makes the saliva contents very acidic and erodes the teeth and gums, paving the way to mouth ulcers. It can lead to cancer as well,’’ says Dr Sharma.

CHECK IT: No easy steps here. Just kick the habit.