Junk Food and Heroin

I just read a shocking study that really struck a cord with me.  According to Scripps Research Institute, rats who were given a diet consisting of a wide range of junk food demonstrated eerily similar behaviors to rats addicted to heroin.

It didn't take long for the rats' pleasure centers of their brains to became less responsive which in turn made them eat more and more.  Another disturbing result was that when the rats ate foods that were high in fat they received an electric shock to the foot.  They knew the shock was coming, but they continued to eat.  Their drive for the food was stronger than their desire to avoid the shock!

I couldn't help but compare myself to the rats.  I've never been addicted to heroin, or any other harmful substance for that matter, but I don't think my love of junk food is as strong as a heroin addiction, however with that being said, I can certainly see some similarities.  Take for instance Easter, at our family party, there was chocolate, cookies, homemade breads, and chips with dips.  I noticed some people could take a small amount, then walk away from the food and be completely satisfied.  I, on the other hand, had to constantly tell myself not to get more.  When it came to the peanut butter eggs, I lost my inner battle.  I knew that eating more than one would make me feel terrible.  I knew that I would have an unpleasant result on the scale, but I ate them anyway.  My desire for food out-weighed my logic.  Even when I'm eating really well and feeling great, whenever I smell pizza, or cookies, it's like the desire to eat them takes over my better judgement.  It's disturbing.

I am actually happy that I read this article.  The thought of being addicted to anything frightens me.  I hate the thought of any substance taking control of me.  So after reading it, even though there is still a bowl of Easter candy on my kitchen counter, I didn't have one piece.  That's kind of big for me.  I just repeatedly told myself that I was stronger than the rats, and that I was NOT going to let food take over my life and my judgement.  I feel like it has been an awakening of sorts.  Hopefully it will continue to help as I continue on my journey.