Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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All around the world, millions of bottles, bags, boxes and cans of food are being produced and shipped to our local grocery stores. Our own health and the health of our families rest on our shoulders with the decisions we make inside those stores. What we put in our mouth can determine our energy levels throughout the day, how we sleep, and what diseases we may be unknowingly exposing ourselves to.
Food is what brings us together or what we turn to for comfort, or for an occasional indulgence. The last thing we might think of when talking about food is addiction. But believe it or not, food can quickly become an addiction much easier than you might think.
"Our eating, it can be just so robotic and it can be part of so many other things that we're not in touch with what's going on," said Jason Conover, LCSW, of Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.
And treating food addiction can be a tough pill to swallow. "We all are gonna eat, and that's one of the dilemmas we face in treatment in this area: We're not going to eliminate food," Conover said.
Food can be used as a stimulant or a comfort, but Conover says it's really about how people behave around food, what they think about food and the habits they form with what they eat.
When considering what diet to follow or what program to join, Conover says throw out everything you know about fad diets and food restrictions and practice mindfulness.
"We just say, 'Food is food, I can eat anything, anytime.' What I find by taking away the restrictions is I get a feeling of freedom, and with mindfulness I get wisdom. I kind of think about sitting in a movie theater and just hitting the bottom of the bucket and thinking, 'Where did that just go? How did I just eat that much popcorn?' And that's the opposite of mindful," he says.
Making mindful food choices means taking the time to appreciate and enjoy your food. As Conover says, "We're really aware of the food. We're smelling it, we're tasting it, we're being present with the food which will then help us get away from all the distracted eating, mindless eating, multitask eating."
Conover says once we take the time to really make a conscious decision about what we're eating, our relationship with food and what we choose to put in our mouth begins to change.
"Your brain is healed," he says. "It's different because you're activated in a different part and (your brain) doesn't chase it."
Click to watch the video to discover more about the behaviors that can lead to a food addiction and when to seek treatment in a half-hour special edition of Your Life Your Health. This program also outlines the shocking ripple effects and benefits of eating out vs. dining in, plus five things you can be doing right now to eat healthy on a budget. Jenniffer is a Special Projects Producer who heads up the Your Life Your Health, Zero Fatalities and High 5 initiatives. For questions, feedback or possible story ideas, please email jmichaelson@ksl.com.
