Golden Years Bliss presents: foods that trigger overeating!
We eat to keep our bodies alive, to breathe, to do all the things we want, to be able to work or simply lie on the couch, and, of course, to celebrate one another. Eating isn’t only a mandatory task for survival, but it has turned into a social event or a coping mechanism.
We always hear that we have to eat healthy foods that nourish our bodies because they’ll keep us healthy, strong, and happy, and avoid getting diseases. However, we live in a world where there are lots of variations for chips, sweet, and tasty beverages, and all of them make us crave more. How can we keep up with our healthy diets?
Experts say that we have to make conscious decisions regarding how we treat our bodies. I assume the risk of sounding like a broken record, but balance is key. If you want to be healthy, there are a couple of things you say pass way often. So, without further ado, let’s talk about all these foods that trigger overeating!
1. Sweets
We start off our list of foods that trigger overeating with one of my guilty pleasures: sweets. These delicious treats are made with a ton of sugar, flour, and lots of ingredients that aren’t good for your body or brain. If you deprive yourself of the things you crave, such as cupcakes, chocolate, or candy, you might notice that when you finally decide to have one, you’ll have the whole package. And that’s how the items you crave turn into foods that trigger overeating.
Experts studied the effect of sugar on the human brain and discovered that it acts like a drug. It releases dopamine and euphoric endorphins into your brain, so you’ll feel happy, and when the effects are off, you’ll crave them again.
This can quickly turn into a vicious cycle of overeating, and it can lead to bigger issues such as heart disease, cavities, depression, weight gain, bad skin, and the risk of diabetes and cancer. Be careful how much sweets you eat, and try to limit your portion sizes.
Or you can always try to make your favorite treats at home using healthier ingredients, such as cacao nibs and coconut flour (I tried these two ingredients a couple of weeks ago and the taste was exquisite).
Keep reading to discover other foods that trigger overeating!
2. Chips
Can you eat just one chip from the bag? If you can’t, I don’t blame you, because I don’t have that superpower either. According to studies, just like sweets, chips are also part of the foods that trigger overeating. If you open a bag, you might as well eat the whole thing, right?
While this crunchy and salty snack tastes good, it doesn’t give you any nutritional value because it’s made with artificial flavors and ingredients that won’t serve your body any good. Unfortunately, chips can raise your blood pressure, increase your chances of heart disease, cause weight gain and depression, increase your risk of stroke, and increase your chances of developing cancer. Pretty alarming, right?
If you want to indulge in good crunchy snacks, you can prep your chips at home. Cut some thin slices of potatoes and pop them in the oven or air fryer for a couple of minutes, then add your favorite spices and enjoy. You can also try to make chips out of carrots, beetroot, kale, and any other veggies or greens you might like. Sprinkle them with nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor, and avoid consuming foods that trigger overeating!
3. Soda
Even though this is part of the beverage category, we had to include soda on our list of foods that trigger overeating because it’s very bad for your body. Drinking too much soda can make you feel gassy, your teeth will be sensitive, your skin will look bad, your body will be dehydrated, and you might be tempted to pair the drink with other greasy foods such as burgers, fries, or pizza.
If you think that sugar-free drinks are safe, think again, because they won’t do you any service either. They contain artificial sweeteners that will make you more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Experts recommend you make your own fruity beverages at home. You can juice your favorite fruits; maybe pair them with veggies for an extra green boost; it will taste a lot better, and you’ll feel incredible too!
4. Greasy foods
We continue with these foods that trigger overeating, and this time we have to talk about greasy meals. They might be delicious and keep you satisfied for hours, but they contain a lot of calories, salt, and fat and aren’t loaded with those amazing nutrients your body needs.
While a burger and a French fries meal taste good and are comfort foods for many people, including myself, it’s not the best option you can get. Depending on the portion size, the type of beverage, and the dips you consume during this meal, it can have as many calories as a full day of eating. Just think about it: a meal has the same amount of calories as three healthy meals and one or two snacks. And you won’t get the proteins, fiber, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to function properly.
If you consume other meals besides this one, you can be certain that you’ll overeat. Unfortunately, consuming greasy foods too often can lead to severe bloating, diarrhea, stomach pain, acne, weight gain, an increased risk of having a stroke or heart disease, making you more susceptible to diabetes, and can also affect your brain performance. If you want to indulge in these foods that cause overeating, you’d better not do it more often than once a week!
Do you know any other foods that trigger overeating? Let us know in the comments!
5. Artificial sugars
This might come as a shock to many people, so buckle up and get ready to discover something you might not like. Even though artificial sugars aren’t technically meals, we still had to include them in our list of foods that trigger overeating, and that’s because they do.
According to experts, when you consume something that contains artificial sugars, they can change your microbiome, which leads to decreased satiety. Moreover, they can alter your glucose homeostasis and further lead to increased calorie consumption and, therefore, weight gain.
What can you do?
If you want to avoid these foods that trigger overeating, make sure you fuel your body with all the right nutrients it needs, such as omega-3 fatty acids, lean proteins, lots of greens, and plenty of fruits and veggies. If you consume nutritious meals throughout the day, you’ll notice that you won’t crave sugary and greasy snacks as often.
And if you do feel like eating some chips or something sweet, listen to your body. Don’t be extremely strict on yourself, but don’t overdo it either. If you don’t have portion control, you can split a treat with someone, or you can try to make the food you crave at home using healthier ingredients.
Did you like reading this article about foods that trigger overeating? Did you find it helpful? Let us know in the comments below! If you’d like to read something else from Golden Years Bliss, here’s another wonderful post for you to check out: Is It Healthy to Have a Glass of Red Wine After Dinner? (7 Experts Opinions)
