Category Archives: Food

Can Food Be Addictive?

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When we hear the word addiction, what comes to mind, is a picture of someone hooked on heroin or cocaine. We rarely think of food as addictive. Well am here to tell you categorically that food is just as addictive as heroin. If you are serious about finding out the root cause of overweight and obesity, this is where to start.

According to a study published in “Nature Neuroscience”, the effects of high-fat, high-calorie fast food on animals, were very similar to those of cocaine or heroin.

From the research, the effects of fast food on the rat’s brain, were very similar to what happens to a cocaine addict. After a while, the rats exhibits typical behaviors of an addict, to the point that they had to be fed more and more food for them to feel okay.

The lab rats were divided into three groups. One group was fed healthy food. The other group received a restricted amount of junk food while the last group was allowed to eat high-fat, high-calorie foods, as much as they want, with the result that they became obese.

The most remarkable discovery was that the brain of the obese rats altered physically. The obese rats totally lost the capacity to control their appetites.

They continued eating even when they were filled. Even introducing an obstacle in the form of an electric shock did not deter them from eating. To worsen the matter, when their diets were changed to healthy wholesome foods, they stopped eating and starved for an entire two weeks!

In a different study conducted at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine New York City. It was discovered that rats fed with food high in saturated fats and packed with sugar and calories ( a re-creation of most common fast-food menu ) lowered the rats ability to respond to leptin. Leptin is a hormone that controls appetite. As the rats gained more weight, the amount of leptin in their bodies also kept rising, essentially signaling their brain that they were starving. Therefore the rats continued to overeat and gain more weight.

Highly palatable foods made with high fat, high calorie, sugar… typical make-up for a fast food menu… are absolutely addicting. On the other hand, healthy wholesome food is not addictive. Can you imagine being addicted to vegetable? Vegetable is not addictive, but cookies, chips, or soda can be just as addictive as cocaine. The rats that were addicted in the experiment, continued to eat, despite being given electric shock!

This is exactly why overweight has become an epidemic. We are fighting an addiction without really knowing it. Eating refined carbohydrates like cookies, cakes, candy, pasta, white bread, raises serotonin and endorphins in the brain, creating a happy feel-good, peaceful state. Thus we crave these carbs when we are anxious or stressed.

Eating foods high in sugar and salt, makes us want to eat more foods of the same nature. Fast foods and food manufacturers have mastered the art of making foods that are palatable and thus addictive.

Alcohol, cigarette, heroine are biologically addictive substances, and that is why addicts continue using them despite being fully aware of the terrible consequences on their health and social status. They can’t help themselves; their physiology has being wired to crave these substances. That’s exactly what happens to a food addict. And unknowingly, that is exactly what is happening to most of us.

This is why obese patients continue to overeat despite full knowledge of the adverse health consequences. They often face physical discomfort and social stigma, including discrimination in their office, yet they keep overeating. It is simply because certain kinds of food are highly addictive, even more addictive than drugs. Many obese patients simply can’t help themselves. They are food addicts.

In a different study conducted at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine New York City. It was discovered that rats fed with food high in saturated fats and packed with sugar and calories ( a recreation of most common fast-food menu ) lowered the rats ability to respond to leptin. Leptin is a hormone that controls appetite. As the rats gained more weight, the amount of leptin in their bodies also kept rising, essentially signaling their brain that they were starving. Therefore the rats continued to overeat and gain more weight.

EDI Food Safety – Do You Know the Limits?

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Food safety standards are critical to the success of the food service and food manufacturing industries. EDI food safety is one area that is very important in the manufacture of food products, and cannot be taken for granted. EDI stands for estimated daily intake, and that refers to the amount of packaging (usually plastic) that is consumed by people on a daily basis. While most people do not realize that they consume any packaging in their meals, there are many elements that can cause plastic to leak into food products if the packaging is not made correctly, creating a breach in safety and well being for the general public.

EDI food safety states that the consumption limits for this particular situation are at 1.5 micrograms per day. That is not a lot, by any means, and the goal is to keep that number low. This is a very big deal, and is regulated by the FDA for compliance. Online training in this particular area can teach about the dangers of over consumption, the limits and why they are set that way, how plastics can get into foods, recycled products, and more. You will learn everything that you need to know, making you more proficient in your food manufacturing or service career in any capacity.

EDI food safety training is offered online, but there are also formal classes available for those who choose them. If you are in a hurry and want to complete your courses on your own time, online classes are definitely the way to go. You need this training to be certain that you are capable of getting your job done. Over time, you can get continuing education in this area and other food service safety issues so that you can maintain your compliance and stay on top of your career, no matter what you might need.

Taking food safety classes is critical to any career in food service or manufacturing. EDI food safety is only one course that you will have to take, but it is one that you need to take so that you can maintain compliance in food packaging and help to make sure that people are safe and not consuming too much plastic in their food products. The course might even help to inspire you to create a movement to change the way this is monitored and the way food is packaged to lower or eliminate the risk of consumption in the future. At the very least, it will help you become more educated about food safety.

Merits of Having Healthy Food

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In the modern era of having everything at the touch of a fingertip, a diet plan has become a trend to reduce weight. Having a healthy diet food is important to have proper and controlled diet. Basically it’s necessary to stick to a particular diet chart when on a diet. Diet chart is a plan to meet up with proper nutritional requirements. Healthy diet food is the key to having a prosperous lifestyle and staying away from diseases. It is difficult to achieve a healthy lifestyle if we do not consume healthy food.

Healthy diet may be followed for reducing weight or gaining proper weight. Also in case of certain health problems such as hypertension and diabetes, doctors recommend a diet plan. Diet food is mostly comprised of:

  • Fresh fruits/Dry fruits- They have a great supply of energy, vitamins and minerals. Also provide refreshment to the body.
  • Vegetables- Essential for providing proteins and carbohydrates, Vegetables are the main constituent of any dietary meal.
  • Dairy products- For supplying the energy and providing certain nutrients.
  • Grain products- Rich sources of proteins and nutrients.

We may as well define the healthy foods into three categories:

  • Healthy protein diet food- This category includes the protein rich food. Fish, poultry products, dairy products; dry fruits etc are the main components of this category.
  • Healthy carbohydrates food- It comprises of sources abundant in carbohydrates. Mainly rice, sweet potatoes, beans are the main sources of it.
  • Healthy fat diet food- Though having much fatty food can cause obesity, having fats in a limited manner can be healthy. Oil supplements, seeds, peanuts, butter, ghee are a rich source of fats. Fats if consumed in a controlled manner can be classified as a part of healthy weight loss food.

A balanced healthy diet food must contain food from all the above three sources in a harmonious way. It helps in maintaining a proper and smooth lifestyle if we stick to healthy food. Many people follow a particular diet for a small period of time and then leave it. It’s important to note that healthy diet foods must be consumed continuously to maintain a fit body.

Most people think healthy diet food is quite bad in taste and there is no variety available to eat from. Weight loss food is quite savoury and has lots of items as well. Oily and junk food is not a part of healthy food. These food items are likely to cause many diseases and hazardous illnesses. For having a healthy diet one needs to avoid them. People who enjoy unhealthy diet food are likely to suffer from dangerous diseases such as cancer, hyper-tension, heart diseases and diabetes.

One must consume the correct amount of calories as calculated according to the diet plan. Each food item carries particular calories. It’s necessary to consult a nutritional expert regarding the amount of calories a particular food item provides. Consuming healthy food is one way to stay away from illnesses and staying fit. It is the key element for staying fit!!!