Often times my article research for fitbie.com demands that I speak to a professional. Even when the piece calls for a CPT (certified personal trainer) which I am by the way – I have to speak with someone else. In fact, the last time I quipped to my editor about an article on marathon tips saying “Aren’t I expert enough on this subject after running 5 of them?” she emailed me the advice from Olympian Deena Kastor. Yeah. I keep my mouth shut now and stay in my little pond.
So when I began work on a feature article on weight-loss, I was set-up to speak with Dr. Pamela Peeke. I had never heard of the good doctor but, when I checked out her web site I quickly realized that I may be the only one. The first thing to grab my attention was the picture of her and Dr. Oz. Doesn’t everyone have that on their site? Then there was her book promotions on the now defunct The Katie (Couric) Show, ABC Nightline and countless other magazine promos in Prevention, MORE and Women’s Health. Wow. Ok.
The day of the phone interview, a call came in on my phone from Malibu, CA with a message that she was filming in L.A. and wouldn’t be able to chat until the following day, when she got off the red eye. Luckily because I too was caught up getting a bikini wax and my aesthetician had to check my phone. Awkward. In many ways.
Moving on…
When I finally was able to talk with the doctor, I had to do it with my kids in the car. You can see where this is going, right? Oh the things work-at-home-moms have to do! I berated talked to the boys repeatedly that mommy had an important call for work and they needed to watch their movie (with headphones on!) and be absolutely quiet when I was on the phone. That lasted about 3 minutes. I then had to get out of the car with my phone, note pad and pen in the RAIN and have the conversation like that. It will be a miracle if I don’t misquote her in this article! Did I mention I was in the parking lot a their doctor’s office because they had an appointment right after my call? I’m surprised my pediatrician didn’t call DCF. Anywhoo…
While researching reading the articles on Dr. Peeke’s web site, I found some very interesting information she complied for her new book called The Hunger Fix. Now, I’m not trying to sell any books for her – you all know me better then that. But, when I see something that makes so much sense (especially from a doctor on weight-loss!) I just have to share.
The Hunger Fix talks about food as an addiction. This has been much debated, hot topic among doctors and scientists when trying to get to the bottom of why Americans are so fat (to put it bluntly). Dr. Peeke happens to believe (and has the proof to back it up) that people can have food addictions and, therefore, should be treated psychologically as well as physically.
Ice cream as crack? Thank God it’s not that expensive or hard to find.
The article that caught my eye was in The New York Times titled Craving An Ice Cream Fix and these quotes in particular that resonated:
“Food addiction seems to be linked to the types of foods we’re consuming.” Dr. Kelly D. Brownell, director of Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, notes that the human body is “biologically adapted to deal with foods found in nature, not processed foods.”
“We don’t abuse lettuce, turnips and oranges,” says Dr. Brownell, co-editor of the new book “Food and Addiction.” “But when a highly processed food is eaten, the body may go haywire. Nobody abuses corn as far as I know, but when you process it into Cheetos, what happens?”
RIGHT!
Really, this is not saying anything “new” but the way it’s being said may be more relatable to people who are not quite “getting it” when it comes to healthy eating. If you’ve ever had a conversation with a teenager about why McDonald’s food has zero nutritional value, then you can understand.
It’s really just another great reason to try and eat whole foods most of the time and develop healthy cravings. The more you’re body gets used to the taste of real food (think shopping the perimeter of the grocery store) the better off you will be.
Disgusting, but powerful.
Plus, don’t you want to outsmart the big corporations who purposely concoct the perfect balance of salt, fat and sugar to hook you? Another great book written on that subject is conveniently called Salt, Sugar, Fat by Michael Moss. The testing companies like General Mills do with kids to get the “sweet point” is insane.
Lastly, and then I will step down from my soapbox, there was this article from Medical News Today stating that 37 million deaths could be prevented by reducing six risk factors. Wanna guess what those are?
The four main non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are cardiovascular disease, cancers, respiratory disease and diabetes. The six modifiable (meaning you can avoid them!) risk factors: smoking, alcohol abuse, salt intake, high blood pressure, sugar and obesity. How do you get obese? By eating a diet high in salt, sugar and fat! Could it be any clearer? I think not.
If actual death isn’t motivation enough to change your eating habits, what the hell is?
The moral of this story is – if you’re going to be addicted to something, why not have it be good for you? Now go out there and get yourself a healthy addiction like running or lettuce!
[Tweet “No One Gets Addicted to Lettuce or dies from eating whole foods! #TheHungerFix #SaltSugarFat”]
What do you think about food addiction?
Have you ever had to take an important call in ridiculous circumstances?
I love Dr. Peeke! She really focuses on women’s weight loss issues. This is the point I have been trying to drive home for awhile. Eat whole foods! Processed foods are so terrible. I know that I am of a guilty pleasure (or two) but I really try to avoid it as much as I can. Great article Allie!
I really enjoyed talking with her. She made A LOT of sense 🙂 Thanks Kris.
Because it’s no fun to be addicted to lettuce 😉
Is it fun to have diabetes? HA HA! Of course WE can indulge (in moderation) because we ARE addicted to fitness. Lucky us!
First off, the phone call sounds eerily similar to a few I have had here with screaming kids in the background. And by the way, I too have been trying to watch my food intake, especially salt, because on my mom’s side kidney issues have a way of popping up in later life and salt usually does help with that from what I have been told.
Good for you! Most people don’t even know their health history – or care.
Glad to know I’m in good company with the ridiculous phone calls with kids!!
Oh I’ve had phone calls like that! Why is it that as soon as you get on the phone the kiddos HAVE to tell you something?
And we ALL know what we should be doing…it’s the follow through that is the hard part!
It definitely is the follow though. But, I look at people who are obese or who have serious medical issues that can be avoided and I just don’t get it. If someone told me that if I kept running, I would die. I would stop. It would suck, but I would do it.
I genuinely, GENUINELY believe and support every single thing you said here. Because, I honestly do think I am addicted to sugar. When I stopped eating it a few years ago, I did not crave it. But the moment I allowed myself to have some again, I wanted it every single day. I am working hard right now to stop it again. Because honestly it is terrible for me and makes me feel gross. LOVE this piece so much!-Ashley
Thanks Ashley. And, it’s so true that when you eat better, you feel better – period. Good luck!!
But I love salt and sugar!
I have to admit, its much easier for me to eat healthy now that the weather is getting nicer. I love fresh fruit on a nice day!
That is VERY true! In the winter, it’s all about comfort food.
In a way, I do think people become addicted to certain foods. I believe a big role may be the emotional connection we form with certain foods, using food for reasons other than hunger, to deal with emotions and stress. My worry with saying someone’s ‘addicted’ to a food is what happens when you restrict that food 100% from someone’s life. Will it help or just make them binge on it when they do regain access to it?
You bring up a really good point. Usually, it’s “everything in moderation” but you wouldn’t let an alcoholic drink “moderately” since they are clearly incapable. I guess it’s a process and that’s why Dr. Peeke thinks in terms of psychological treatment as well. Thanks Jaclyn. You always leave very thoughtful comments!
Interesting about the addictions – must be something in those Cheetos:) Although even though I joke about my “addiction” to Cheetos and chips, I know that it really isn’t an addiction – the solution is just not to have them around and I’m fine.
And, I can relate to the phone call experience. I used to lock myself in the bathroom just to have 2 minutes of quiet when I needed to make an important call. Great post (and interview – rain and all!).
It’s true that, for the most part, cleaning out the cabinets and only having healthy options is a good solution. That way, nothing can “call” you from the kitchen 🙂
So glad you can relate to those phone calls! I would never have scheduled that call for when I was with the kids but I had no choice. Argghhhh!!
Calls in not the best of circumstances…oh yes! Sad to say, it doesn’t change even when they are older. Ugh. I definitely think you can get addicted to certain foods. I notice when I am drinking/eating things with a lot of caffeine, I crave it and if I don’t have it, I get headaches. The headaches go away when I get my caffeine fix. I am trying to stay away from soda (not really food in any sense of the word anyway).
I completely addicted to caffeine. I know because when I was pregnant with the boys, I tried to go “cold turkey” and got massive headaches! My doc was like “You can have a cup a day!” So I did 🙂
Good luck staying away from soda. That is a huge step in the right direction!
No one dies from eating whole foods, which basically means I can eat a WHOLE cake. Thank you for the advice. You are all kinds of wonderful.
Go for it! Doctors orders…
Oh I think this is SO TRUE! I feel like I need to share this with my entire family! They gave me such a hard time for doing a detox in the fall but really I was just detoxing from all the crap processed foods around. People don’t understand that even things marketed as healthy can be processed and bad for you!
That would make a good post Britt! There are so many misconceptions about what is truly healthy. Once again those marketing wizzes have made it that way, and even Fruity Pebbles can tout that it’s “whole grain” or something equally as ludicrous!
Amen to all of this! I need to share this with the world 🙂 That graphic of the junk food looking the same pretty much gets me every single time! whoa! I need to get some more healthy addictions in my life…stat!
I think you have a lot of healthy addictions already…but there’s always room for more, right?
Almost time for Healthy U! I booked my train tickets today 🙂
I can’t make any phone calls around my kids ever. It’s bad. That’s how Ilene found out I raise my voice at my kids. Luckily, she laughed.
I am somewhat addicted to veggies in that I will crave them if I am not getting enough. And I crave fruits like crazy all summer long. I guess it’s because I want them a certain way – fresh and from the vine. Not cold from the fridge. Also, I crave fruit when I’m thirsty! So I usually think to drink first.
I definitely crave fruits fresh from the vine! And, I also yell at my kids 🙂
Once when my son was a baby, I had to call and try to renew a professional membership. Marshall started screaming in the middle of the call, and I had to end the conversation in a very hurried, embarrassed manner. When I called back, the lady said, “Honey. It gets better.” I really needed that.
One time I also had a conference call while I was nursing Marshall and directing the carpet guys on installing/repairing carpet in our apartment. Awkward……..
I think you’re right on with the processed food. Food scientists are really, really good at their jobs, and they make sure we want processed food again and again. Real food–it’s the way to go. And it’s so delicious too!
That was so nice of that woman to say that! She must be a good mom 🙂
Kids can put us in the most awkward situations…and they know it!
Food science is a whole crazy universe and, you’re right, they are very good at their jobs.
Thanks Lauren!
I’m totally with you on this. Though I am guilty of eating some processed foods, and gasp, feed my children the same. We do try and cook our own food as much as possible though, and I’m pretty good with NOT eating junk food 🙂
Good for you Alison! It’s crazy to think ALL processed foods can be avoided. What needs to be avoided is the addiction.
I agree with you 100% on food addiction. I think one of the biggest problems is that food has become so widely available. If we were to count the number of times per day we are tempted by eating something we would be astounded. Having to say “no” to food constantly takes a toll. How would a drug addict do if he had to say no 20 times a day to cocaine ?
My motto is the 80/20 rule, because life is short short to go without ice cream or wine !
It’s so true! I should do a little experiment and see how often I’m tempted, and have to refuse. It’s exhausting.
The 80/20 rule works!! And everyone needs ice cream and (especially) wine in their lives 🙂
Love this! I can’t agree more. That is one of the biggest reasons I have an undergrad in Psych and should I ever get a Masters it would be most likely in counseling. And my focus would be obese. Everyone thinks it’s just a matter of changing the way you eat. So simple. No, it’s really more like taking a needle from a heroine addict. The food companies know this and the fill their food full of the stuff people will “want”. Why this is legal and other things aren’t are beyond me. If the government wants to regulate things so we’re not all killing ourselves THIS is where they should be regulating. Thank you for the great read!
Thanks so much Carla. I couldn’t agree more! It should be a crime to sell some of this stuff especially if we’re classifying obesity as a disease. It’s SO preventable.
I realize that was an extreme comparison. I’ve just watched family members eat themselves to their grave.
I don’t think it’s that extreme. Weight has gotten out of control in this country.
I know that it is very unrealistic for my family to ever go all whole foods…not that it is a bad thing, I just know that would not work for us. But I do think there is a lot to this and it is making me consider my diet…which I have already been doing a lot of the last few days. I have looked briefly into the whole 30 and 21 day fix and am considering trying one of them. I need to cut back on the sugar!
People look at addictions as a bad thing…but I think it is easy to get over looked when it comes to food….or it is only bad if you are over weight.
Phone calls + kids= disaster!!! Huge emergencies seem to erupt when I am on the phone and I am really not on the phone all that often!!!
It’s bad either way – there are plenty of “skinny fat” people walking around! And yes, for a family (or even a single person) to eat nothing but whole foods is impossible. We’re all just doing the best we can and runners need to fuel 🙂 but you knew that!
Such great info here! My husband, 42, had a heart attack less than 2 months ago. Healthy guy – good eater, very active, but bad genes and some bad stress (combined with high altitude and exertion) BUT since his heart attack we have been really closely monitoring salt intake a lot more and I am completely AMAZED at how sodium is in everything – including stuff we THINK is healthy!!! Scary. It gets snuck in there in EVERYTHING!!
I was shocked when I read about your husband’s heart attack on your blog a few months back. I’m so glad he’s doing well and that you all have (somewhat) recovered from the shock, etc. As for salt – yes, there’s SO much of it and in things you would never think!! I’m glad to hear you’re watching it now and that you can pass that knowledge on to all your kids! Thanks Leah.
Great tips! I think most of the people are aware that eating whole and fresh foods are best for our body, processed food is always bad. Regular exercise is always good and leading a sedentary lifestyle is always bad but we more than often succumb to the temptations of eating processed food, all the while knowing its implications.