Dr. J will see you now: On heroin and junk food
Contributor: “Dr. J”Dr. J offers his irreverent, slightly irrelevant, but possibly useful opinions on health and fitness. A Florida surgeon and fitness freak with a black belt in karate, he runs 50 miles a week and flies a Cherokee Arrow 200.
Q: Can you help me? I love heroin!
My love affair with heroin started, I imagine, in utero, since my mother liked heroin, though not nearly with the love I felt! It grew with my formula and baby food having high levels of heroin.
Being the good mother that she was, when I got home from school, there would always be a plate with some heroin for me as a reward for my day’s studies.
As I got older, and spent more time with my friends, we would often stop at the heroin shop after school. Heroin made me tired, too, so I didn’t do much in gym classes.
When I began dating, it seemed my dates often wanted me to not have so much heroin. I tried that for a while, but I didn’t like sneaking it when they weren’t around, so I found other people more like me so we could support each other and have all the heroin we wanted.
I’ve thought about having children one day, but I know heroin affects fertility in women and sperm quality in men, and I just can‘t seem to stop using it. Some of my friends have gotten diabetes, and even needed hip and knee replacements.
I know the heroin has something to do with that.
I’ve thought about changing my relationship with heroin, but I never get beyond the talking stage, and then when I use more heroin, I feel that it really isn’t that important to change who I am. Sometimes, though, like now, I wonder if maybe I can be different and really change my life, so before I change my mind, I thought I would write you and ask for your advice.
No, this is not a real letter about loving heroin, however, a recent study has drawn some very interesting and unfortunate similarities between the effects of eating foods high in salt, sugar and fat and the addictive effects of using heroin!
The Scripps Research Institute in Florida recently studied the effects and response to a diet based on human junk food in rats. Their conclusion was the brain responds to junk food the same way it does to heroin!
Rats given unlimited access to high-calorie unhealthy food became compulsive overeaters as the pleasure pathways in their brains became less and less responsive, forcing them to consume more to get the same amount of pleasure.
“Not only did we find that the animals’ brain reward circuits became less responsive at they continued to overeat and become obese,” says Paul Kenny, an associate professor of molecular therapeutics at Scripps, “but that decrease in responsiveness was similar to what our laboratory has seen previously in rats as they become addicted to cocaine or heroin.”
Tachyphylaxis is a term used in medicine to describe needing a higher and higher dosage of a drug to get the same therapeutic effect. The same happens to you with salt, sugar and fat!
“This is the most complete evidence to date that suggests obesity and drug addiction have common neurobiological underpinnings,” says study coauthor Paul Johnson.
To demonstrate how strong the drive to eat junk food was, the researchers exposed the rats to a foot shock when they ate the food. Rats that had not been constantly exposed to the junk food quickly stopped eating; the foot shock, however, did not stop the rats who were accustomed to the junk food, they continued to eat even though they knew the shock was coming.
Furthermore, after 40 days of unrestricted access to the junk foods, the rats were then deprived of it and offered a more nutritious food pellet. The animals refused to eat, even though they were starving!
“What we have are the core features of addiction, and these animals are hitting each one of these features,” Kenny says.
Breaking the addiction
Dealing with an addiction is not an easy matter, especially when the addictive substance is necessary for life, but you can modify the addiction and you can manage it.
Many people with addictions waste time, in my opinion, trying to figure out why they are addicted and what caused them to become addicted in the first place. Really, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter what the answers are; besides, you have your whole life to figure it out. Stop the addictive behavior and trust me, it will all become a lot clearer.
It is a well-supported fact that people with addictions cannot see their problem with clarity, let alone process what it’s all about. If you think you can, you are fooling yourself.
The key is to decrease your exposure to the substances that you are addicted to, in this case, salt, sugar and fat, and I would decrease all of them at once, as they seem to have a synergistic effect when consumed together. What will happen, if you do this, is that you will get a normal, satisfying effect from a much lower dose of these substances.
I do not support cheat days, or letting it go for the holiday season, or any other way of eating that does not decrease your addictive exposure all of the time. If you continue to intermittently reinforce the addictive behavior, it will never be controlled!
If a person does not, or is unwilling to make a significant change in their self-destructive behaviors, yet claims to want to be different, it’s like they are living the same movie reel over and over, and expecting the end to be different.
Change the reel, change your life!
Related posts from the CalorieLab Calorie Counter News archives:
- Lab Notes: World No Tobacco Day 2010 Focuses on Gender; Do Statins Cause Painful Tendon Ruptures?
- Is Junk Food Actually Addictive?
- Getting High on Snake Bites: Substance Abuse Journal Profiles Snake Venom Addicts
- Lab Notes: Ban on Junk Food in Schools Proves Effective
- University of Maryland Researchers Identify Binge Drinking Genes
Julie!
I appreciate what you are saying. Different addictions each have their own unfortunate ways of being destructive in our lives. If we can, we must face them with courage and perseverance to have any hope of overcoming them, but with any addiction, it can be done!
Having struggled with cigarette addiction, and seen heroin and other addictions way too closely, I still don’t buy that sugar comes anywhere close. I’m not saying that similar reward centers aren’t set off, but it’s not likely much different than gambling addictions, sex addictions, strange risk-taking, etc.
Carla!
I was not familiar with her, but I am now, thank you!
are you familiar with Jackie Warner?
shes been saying this for a while and people used to roll their eyes and laugh at her—–I bet they arent laughing any longer!
Diane!
I think the highest success rates are with those who just stop an addictive behavior. I’m usually not a supporter of a gradual withdrawal unless medically necessary.
Roy!
Of course many people, like Jody for example, can eat most anything if she wanted, but too many people do not have the ability to say when, as demonstrated by our obesity demographics continued growth.
Jody!
Thank you for coming back with that comment!
Great post.. like “insanity”….”The definition of insanity is doing the same thing year after year and expecting a different result.”
OR
Change the reel, change your life!
Very interesting stuff! I do not go crazy thru the holidays or anything lie that. I follow my yearly plan but I do have my treats here & there.. I just don’t eat a whole bag at one sitting cause I want to splurge. I have a cookie or two & move on! :-)
I’m not sure our society is set up, or will set itself up for a nation without “cheat days” — or even cheat moments. I just don’t see this as realistic. The percentage of the population that is willing to live this, has the means to accommodate it, and the discipline to fulfill it, is probably on the decline — guessing. I would love an America without junk food, but “Tachyphylaxis” has become our national creed.
DR. J, I skimmed this because I need to get some sleep before getting up again for the day. Me & my crazy workout hours! I will be back for commenting. Looks like a great read but I need to be more awake to read it! :-)
Dr. J – There’s a lot of truth in this post. I often hesitate to ask people if they feel they are addicted to food, but in my heart, I know they are. Because I was addicted to chocolate, chips, and junk. And when I finally turned the corner and started changing my ways, the first thing I did was eliminate all chocolate and chips from my diet. All of it.
It was hard. The first couple of days all I could think about was chocolate, but after a few days the cravings lessened, and those lessened cravings turned into a sense of control. Eventually I could add back in some of those “junky” foods when I wanted them, but I never again got to the point where I felt like my day wasn’t complete without a pound of chocolate or two!
Some people say, “ease into changes,” but I’m with you on this one. Just turn away and move forward. (I think I might have to write a post about this one day if you don’t mind!)
Hi John!
Thank you for your well thought out comment, devil or no! After all, only a fierce adversary can bring out the best in an opponent.
I don’t know if you had a chance to read the other comments, but I think some of what you discuss is addressed there.
In my opinion, excess salt, processed sugar, and trans, or excessive saturated fats are not part of a good diet! In addition, I do not think any fast food is healthy. Portion control is key! It’s not a matter of stopping when we are full. It’s a function of eating smaller portions, and getting used to that normal amount. Feeling hungry is not a bad thing, and in time the body adapts. My bottom line is this. If what you are doing passes the “is it working test,” fine, if it doesn’t, make helpful changes.
Hi Dr J!
One more thing… Any ideas on how to promote stopping when one feels full? If one could retrain ourselves to do that – wouldn’t that be the easy fix?
Maybe I am being naive.
Hi Dr. J,
I’m with you to the point of understanding why we might crave foods in quantities that are not good for us.
I checked out the abstract of the study and it appears to be a scientific study and you accurately reported the findings.
I would like to make a notation that salt, sugar and fat are all part of a good diet and excesses consumed in a day are probably what should be avoided.
That being said if a person had a healthy diet and decided to eat out at McDonalds with a cheeseburger, fries and a coke but did not substantively alter his dietary guidelines – would that be bad?
My answer would be no because in this case, the “junk food” fit nicely into a healthy diet.
However as I am playing the devils advocate (yes it might be a slippery slope), I can see if the addictive linkage is correct, one might want to take more and more of these junk food diversions.
So my final guess is a person’s answer will depend on if he/she is the addictive kind that cannot have a little of a (good/bad) thing and still do ok.
Thanks Dr. J for yet another thought provoking post… I like your examples and persuasive arguments!
Eleanor!
Thank you for adding your professional expertise on the subject of addiction!
Beth!
Thank you! I think the same applies to an addict, who over time, has built up a tolerance to their drug, and therefore uses a higher dosage, then detoxes, only to go back to using at the most recent high dosage. often with devastating effect.
Oh duh. I meant addictive *substances* — not services.
Kathleen DesMaisons wrote about the problems with sugar-sensitive people and beta-endorphin priming in her book Potatoes Not Prozac.
She claims that, just as with other addictive services, giving up the “drug” causes the the brain to open up more beta-endorphin receptors. So when you “cheat” you wind up getting a bigger rush than you might otherwise. She believes this is what makes it hard for some to get back on track after lapses.
“Many people with addictions waste time, in my opinion, trying to figure out why they are addicted and what caused them to become addicted in the first place. Really, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter what the answers are; besides, you have your whole life to figure it out. Stop the addictive behavior and trust me, it will all become a lot clearer.”
Truer words were never spoken! (Or written, as the case may be!) I think we tend to over-analyze food addiction. Everybody in the world has emotional baggage to deal with. And it’s much easier to figure this stuff out after you’ve gotten rid of the brain fog caused by poor nutrition.
Andrea!
I see nothing wrong with what you are saying. Enjoying real food, and everything that goes along with that is great! It’s the distorted food supply that has become mainstream eating, that has sent society down the slippery slope of addiction.
Sagan!
I feel eating addictions are a very real problem, and any help that can be offered to those afflicted with this issue can only better their health!
Kathleen!
I think any food, or food combination with high levels of fat, sugar and salt, whether obtained at a food establishment, or made at home has addictive potential, and therefore is junk food!
Sahar!
All of us have areas where the addictive potential is very real. It is very helpful to learn your weak areas, and be vigilant!
Bob!
I guess no one has started a heroin acceptance movement, or at least, not yet :-)
Brandon!
Thank you! Weakness or not, I really believe everyone has this potential, just in different areas. I think it’s a human condition, and we would be better off if this reality was acknowledged and worked with, rather than ignoring the problem.
Setting a good example for others, in my opinion, is one of the best things we can offer.
POD!
It’s a touchy area, but if we don’t touch it, how can we ever hope to deal with something that is hurting all of us from so many directions?
Vered!
It’s not only as addictive as drugs, but it has an additional problematic dimension, it’s legal!
I do agree that the key is to cut out processed, high fat, high sugar, high salt foods as much as possible. Most of our food should be whole, natural foods. I also don’t think that “cheat” days are necessarily a good idea as it’s easy to fall into a dangerous binge/restriction cycle.
However, I do think that it’s possible to have some “less than perfect foods” once in a while and that knowing that I can have them when I want them keeps me going. Personally, I don’t see a place for fast food or highly processed foods in my diet. However, I do like to enjoy a “treat” once in a while, foods that are too high in calories to enjoy on a regular basis but that are okay to enjoy once in a while (in my opinion). For example, I like to make some fruit desserts with real sugar and a bit of real butter. And I love to top it with just a bit of real ice cream. I also like to “treat” myself to some really good cheese quite often…
I knew junk food was addictive, but I didn’t realize it can be as addictive as drugs.
I agree with you when you wrote “stop the addictive behavior” though it took me years to figure that out. I always think of that AA slogan, ‘act as if.’
I enjoyed Brandon’s comment too. ;-)
Nothing like stirring the pot.
Dr J, good read sir.
Unfortunately, as our society continues to accept obesity as an ok lifestyle (i.e. accommodating people with obesity problems) this problem will not go away. What continues to frustrate me in America is the excuses people make. I might touch a few nerves here, but I look at addictions as a form of weakness, and that goes for any addict, be it an alcoholic, a workaholic, a food addict, or even a workout addict. There has to be a balance in everything. And eating/working out has to be a lifestyle change. You can’t allow yourself “cheat days” or a day off cause you “earned” it. No. You have to approach it as a lifestyle change, or like you said, you will never kick the habit.
What do you suggest we as a workout community can do to combat this addiction in people?
I suspect that you’re just a bit ahead of the mainstream media curve on the concept of sugar/salt/fat addiction. Kessler has certainly implied that in many cases we’re talking a form of habituation that is consciously manipulated by the dealer/manufacturer. What I find most intriguing are the implications for the fat acceptance crowd, who will not greet your hypothesis warmly. If you’re right, of course, they would be expected to respond with denial and hostility–the classic reaction of the addict to intervention. “I’m fine…I can handle it…if you don’t like my lifestyle, the problem is yours, not mine…” and so forth.
This study is so interesting. That junk food can be as addictive as illegal drugs is truly frightening. I guess it is like everything else – what makes some people addicted to things, while other people can enjoy a little and be fine?
Great article! My question is – what is junk food? Just potato chips and candy bars? Or anything with animal fat and sugar in it? Are slim-fast shakes junk food? If white flour is enriched, is it still junk food? I think until we have a clear list of junk foods, by brand name, we will not have a clear understanding of what foods to avoid for a more healthful diet.
Kathleen
I think it’s important that the link between drugs and sugar/salt/fat is made, however tongue-in-cheek… you’re right that it’s a very real addiction that pretty much ALL of us need help with!
“I do not support cheat days, or letting it go for the holiday season, or any other way of eating that does not decrease your addictive exposure all of the time. If you continue to intermittently reinforce the addictive behavior, it will never be controlled!” I agree. And when I DO happen to “cheat”, I feel horrible, and it just makes it that much harder to resist later on. Makes a lot more sense to kick the habit completely.