We are starting to know: ultra-processed products sold in supermarkets are not our health’s friend. Too fatty, too salty, too sweet and/or too rich in food additives, they even promote cognitive decline, the occurrence of certain cancers (ovarian cancer, for example) and harm our cardiovascular system. So many reasons to absolutely avoid them!
But that’s probably easier said than done. Because according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal (and carried out jointly by American, Brazilian and Spanish researchers), ultra-processed foods are in reality… addictive.
In other words: we could develop an addiction to industrial cakes, industrial chips, industrial spreads or even industrial hamburgers just as we are addicted to alcohol, tobacco or cannabis!
Loss of control, irrepressible urges to eat, withdrawal symptoms…
A strong (and controversial…) hypothesis that scientists still support with strong arguments: “The behaviors observed when a person comes into contact with ultra-processed foods tick the boxes of the criteria used to diagnose an addiction to a psychoactive substance. We observe a loss of control over consumption, cravings [c’est-à-dire : des envies irrépressibles]withdrawal symptoms and even continued consumption despite a negative impact on health (obesity, chronic diseases, etc.)“.
Furthermore, scientists point out the existence of a “binge eating disorder”, an eating disorder (TCA) which could be translated as “binge eating disorder” and which is characterized by an uncontrollable “need to eat”. Between 0.7% and 4% of the general population suffer from a “binge eating disorder”. This may make us see our tub of ice cream and our bottle of soda differently…
Source : British Medical Journal (BMJ)
