Why is bread so addictive?
Bread is a known diet buster. The taste, texture, and high carbohydrate content make it difficult to stop eating bread once you’ve started. In fact, many people go through a chemical process while eating bread that induces them to eat more and more.
It is not surprising that many diets advise us to stay away from bread, especially bread made with refined white flour.
Are you addicted to bread? Here are some of the signs of bread addiction:
* Strong cravings for bread products (including cakes, pies, crackers, and cookies)
* A compulsion to eat bread products instead of other foods.
* The inability to stop eating bread products when full.
* A feeling of calm and well-being after eating bread products.
* An urge to eat more bread products soon after finishing a meal
If you answered yes to those questions, you may have a bread addiction. The good news is that you are not alone; It has been estimated that up to 75% of all overweight people are addicted to bread and other carbohydrates.
Now that you’ve figured out whether or not you’re addicted to bread, let’s move on to the next question: Why is bread so addictive?
After all, isn’t it made from grains? Doesn’t bread contain fiber and healthy carbohydrates? How can a natural food cause addiction-level cravings in so many people?
Different people react to bread in different ways. Some people can happily eat a muffin or toast and go about their day without any repercussions.
Others become obsessed with bread, snacking on carbohydrate-laden snacks to quell their cravings, and then eat more bread at their next meal.
For the last group, bread is as addictive as a drug. When these people eat bread, their bodies release too much insulin, also known as the “hunger hormone.” Insulin stimulates the appetite, which facilitates excessive intake.
Over time, the person can develop insulin resistance. Insulin resistance occurs when a person’s body stops using it properly. This malfunction causes glucose, which normally feeds internal organs, to remain trapped in the bloodstream. It can lead to type 2 diabetes.
High blood glucose levels also trigger hunger, causing a person to crave carbohydrate-rich foods. Eating these foods causes the body to release more insulin and ignore it, and blood glucose levels to rise. It is an unhealthy cycle.
Add to this the psychological effect of eating bread, a popular “comfort food,” and it’s easy to see why bread is so addictive. Comfort foods are strongly associated with feelings of well-being. This is why many people eat carbohydrate-rich foods, such as bread, when they feel lonely, stressed, sad, or bored.
It goes without saying that bread is only a temporary solution and does not respond to the actual underlying needs of the person. People who self-medicate in this way are prone to overeating without finding real satisfaction in food.
It is important to note that whole wheat bread does not appear to have the same addictive properties as ultra-refined white bread. The human body digests white bread very quickly. It does not differentiate between a slice of white bread and a slice of cake.
Both are broken down into sugar, which causes blood glucose levels to rise. After this rapid digestion, blood glucose plummets rapidly, resulting in hunger and additional carbohydrate cravings.
Giving up an addiction to bread can be challenging, but the health benefits are worth it. Start small by giving yourself a two-week break from bread. You may find that your cravings go away completely after about a week.
When eating bread, eat a small amount of multigrain or rye bread instead of white bread. Also, be sure to indulge in your favorite treats every now and then to avoid feeling deprived. Then get back on your diet plan right away to avoid cravings that could throw you off.
