Do you think fast food is addictive? Discuss!

[KittenMoon]

I almost never eat fast food- I quit it early in my teens mainly when I began to realize how devoid of nutrition it was. I've always carried about 20lb more than I would like to, so that was a motivation as well. Now, I only eat it when nothing else is available, which might translate to half a dozen times a year.

 

BUT every time I walk by BK/McDs/etc in the mall or smell it coming from a restaurant the cravings are incredible! Like far more attracting than normal food.

 

So I gotta wonder what's in this stuff that I can still crave it so much after so many years! Even when I tell myself it's more processed than the packaging they wrap it in.

 

What do y'all think about it? Is it a conspiracy, haha?

[alphamale]

So I gotta wonder what's in this stuff that I can still crave it so much after so many years!

Very high fat and salt content....your brain has been pre-programmed by thousands of yrs of evolution to seek these out. There is nothing wrong with a high fat and high salt diet as long as you're working in the fields or hunting all day long and burn it off.

 

Is that a fair explanation KM??

[littlekitty]

Yes is the simple answer and medical research backs this up - to a point:

 

Hamburgers and French fries could be as addictive as heroin, scientists have claimed.

 

Researchers in the United States have found evidence to suggest people can become overly dependent on the sugar and fat in fast food.

 

The controversial findings add weight to claims that over-eating is simply down to a lack of self-control.

 

It may also explain soaring rates of obesity in the western world.

 

Dr John Hoebel and colleagues at Princeton University in New Jersey based their theory on a study of rats.

 

'Cold turkey'

 

They found that rats fed a diet containing 25% sugar are thrown into a state of anxiety when the sugar is removed.

 

Their symptoms included chattering teeth and the shakes - similar to those seen in people withdrawing from nicotine or morphine, according to researchers.

 

Dr Hoebel said he believed high-fat foods stimulate opioids or 'pleasure chemicals' in the brain.

 

"The implication is that some animals - and by extension some people - can become overly dependent on sweet food," he said.

 

Then there's the level of MSG that goes into Fast Food too.

 

Did you see SuperSize Me? The guy had terrible cravings for fast food pretty quickly after making it a large portion of his diet.

[a4a]

Funny but the BK and McD smell reminds me of a crematorium.

 

If you have ever had the chance to get a wiff of that smell you will never forget it.

 

 

I will hit a Taco Bell from time to time about 4x per year maybe.

[Touche]

My favorite fast food is Long John Silver's. Love that fried fish! Craved it a lot when I was pregnant.

 

Oh and let's not forget KFC. BEST coleslaw and of course chicken. Better fried chicken than I can ever hope to make.

[blind_otter]

I find it addictive. I have an addictive personality, though, and if I'm bummed I get cravings for fries. If I feel good about my life, I eat brussel sprouts. Go fig.

[bab]

I'm a fast food junkie. I love it. I did see Supersize me but I wasn't as shocked as everybody was telling me that I'd be. Probably because I was expecting to be shocked and come on, who doesn't know that stuff is bad for you??

 

Taco Bell is my favorite, but BK is pretty good too.

[jerbear]

Reading this thread made me hungry for Chik-fil-a

[a4a]

Wondering which is worse food or soda addictions.

 

I knew a woman that would polish off a 6 pack of the large Dr. Peppers in one day...... damn..... the sugar content!

 

I cannot drink soda unless it is in a cocktail, otherwise it reminds me of slurping corn syrup.... even the diet is too sweet.

[KittenMoon]

I do love fast-food fries....

 

But after so many years, stuff like burgers, etc can reek havoc on my digestive track. Gross!

 

 

I guess I am just totally amazed by people who can eat that stuff everyday, sometimes for multiple meals!!!

[littlekitty]

I'm the soda addict... I can easily polish of 6 cans on a weekend day. Damn I'm bad...!!!

[alphamale]

I will hit a Taco Bell from time to time about 4x per year maybe.

OH yeah A4A, I love Taco Hell....I like the burrito supreme and soft taco supreme and the nachos bellgrande with plenty of hot sauce.

 

Oh and let's not forget KFC. BEST coleslaw

agreed, KFC's coleslaw is the best.

 

but BK is pretty good too

thats cause BK puts loads of mayo on almost every item they make.

 

When I was living in LA my favourite was In 'n Out Burger.

[KittenMoon]

I had to reduce my soda/carbonated water habits because it began to making my stomach icky. Stupid sensitive stomach.

[bab]

This thread is making me really really hungry. And not exactly for brussel sprouts!!

[alphamale]

This thread is making me really really hungry. And not exactly for brussel sprouts!!

<<=== ME TOO!

[a4a]

OH yeah A4A, I love Taco Hell....I like the burrito supreme and soft taco supreme and the nachos bellgrande with plenty of hot sauce.

 

 

 

Taco Bell is the only FF I will eat..... fiesta taters

 

But I had a very bad experience there. Going through the drive thru arrived at the pick up window the guy behind the little glass window states " Five Miles To the Highway"

 

Me and my buddy look at each other ..... wtf?

 

He repeats "five miles to the highway"

 

again we look at each other wtf?

 

The guy now is yelling at us "FIVE MILES TO THE HIGHWAY"

 

Now we bust out laughing, but the guy will not hand us our bag o' tacos.

 

My buddy who is driving says "Yeah, five miles to the highway" to the TB worker......

 

The guy throws in about 40 packets of sauce into our bag o' tacos. Hands us the bag and shuts the window.

 

About 2 miles down the road we look at each other and figure out that the guy was asking us "Fire, mild, or hot sauce?"......... needless to say we were in tears laughing.

 

I don't eat beef so I have to tell the order taker "no dead cows" otherwise they think no beef = means no beans...... sheesh communication classes are so needed at FF establishments.

[blind_otter]

Soda is empty calories. It's the sugar you get addicted to.

 

I've been reading a book on alcoholism and addiction, and about how addicts have higher success rates over a longer period of time, if they control their sugar intake. This includes refined white flour, which fast food is all about.

 

My BF's son is totally addicted to sugar, it's almost scary. He secreted a bag of candy into my house, his dad found it and kind administered a "maintenence dose" of 10 pieces of the candy and the kid FLIPPED OUT. He threw himself on the floor, cried and screamed and begged. Reminded me of my old cocaine days.

 

I'm lucky to have the metabolism that I do, otherwise I would weigh 300 lbs.

[littlekitty]

Soda is empty calories. It's the sugar you get addicted to.

 

I've been reading a book on alcoholism and addiction, and about how addicts have higher success rates over a longer period of time, if they control their sugar intake. This includes refined white flour, which fast food is all about.

 

My BF's son is totally addicted to sugar, it's almost scary. He secreted a bag of candy into my house, his dad found it and kind administered a "maintenence dose" of 10 pieces of the candy and the kid FLIPPED OUT. He threw himself on the floor, cried and screamed and begged. Reminded me of my old cocaine days.

 

I'm lucky to have the metabolism that I do, otherwise I would weigh 300 lbs.

 

Heh me too... I really ought weigh twice what I do now!!

 

I'm very aware that I'm addicted to sugar... the few times I have tried to wean myself off I've ended up with the shakes etc. It's hard to know how much/how little to give myself so that I can function, but reduce my intake.... I'll get there one day...!!

[SmoochieFace]

Watch "Super Size Me" as the subject of fast-food addiction is discussed and why it occurs.

 

Oh... and you get to see what happens to an otherwise normal adult male when he's had one too many Double Quarter Pounders with Cheese...

[littlekitty]

About 2 miles down the road we look at each other and figure out that the guy was asking us "Fire, mild, or hot sauce?"......... needless to say we were in tears laughing.

 

I don't eat beef so I have to tell the order taker "no dead cows" otherwise they think no beef = means no beans...... sheesh communication classes are so needed at FF establishments.

 

Now that is funny and soooo damn true...!!!

[blind_otter]

Heh me too... I really ought weigh twice what I do now!!

 

I'm very aware that I'm addicted to sugar... the few times I have tried to wean myself off I've ended up with the shakes etc. It's hard to know how much/how little to give myself so that I can function, but reduce my intake.... I'll get there one day...!!

 

There's a couple of good books that outline how to go about detoxing off high levels of refined sugar. PM me if you want the author/titles. It's a good plan. I'm still trying to eat breakfast with protein every day!!

[alphamale]

About 2 miles down the road we look at each other and figure out that the guy was asking us "Fire, mild, or hot sauce?"......... needless to say we were in tears laughing..

 

Last year I was munching on a burritoe supreme and there was a white piece of plastic in it. Looked like it was from a box or bottle or something.... I should have sued for emotional turmoil

[a4a]

 

Last year I was munching on a burritoe supreme and there was a white piece of plastic in it. Looked like it was from a box or bottle or something.... I should have sued for emotional turmoil

 

 

well I had a live cockroach doing laps in my french cruller from a well known donut establishment...... luckly I did not actually bite into it, broke a piece off to find the friendly lil bug waving his attenae at me....... "how you doin"

 

To this day I will not eat a cruller.....

 

I took the donut back in and they told me to get my refund that I would also have to bring the coffee back in as well....... unreal.... I was nice and quiet about it until they actually got s***ty about it. This was in a upscale planned community shopping area. Needless to say the place emptied out.

[bab]

 

Last year I was munching on a burritoe supreme and there was a white piece of plastic in it. Looked like it was from a box or bottle or something.... I should have sued for emotional turmoil

 

 

Not to long ago I had a leaf in mine. I decided that it must be a basil leaf.

 

Please, don't dispell my fantasy!!

[blind_otter]

I frequent local fast food establishments. Mac's drive through is from back in teh 70s, and I swear they put crack in their burgers. At lunch the lines go down the block to this place, it's only open from like 11-3 on weekdays.

 

There's also a place called Burrito Brothers (serial muse may remember this place) -- alumni from the university here actually get them to ship boxes of frozen burriots to different parts of the country.