A study at the Monell Chemical Senses Center (located in Philadelphia) shows that, in some ways, food can be similary addicting as cocaine or alcohol. It is obviously not to the same degree, but the effect is nonetheless the same. Scientists showed pictures of delicious foods to test subjects, and brain scans show that the parts of their brain that get excitied are the same ones that were activated in drug addicts.

Researchers believe that this is caused by the hormone dopamine, which serves to trigger motivation and pleasure for humans. The prevailing theory is that the less dopamine receptors you have, the more food you need to create the reaction caused by dopamine.

In response to this, diet pills are being developed in order to regulate cravings. These pills are projected to reduce appetites and boost metabolisms, both of which are key factors in weight control. Two of these drugs are vigabatrin and tesofensine. Vigabatrin has been tested on obese lab rats, and scientists report that the rats lost a significant amount of weight after 40 days of use. Tesofensine has been tested on humans, and the results are similar: patients reduced their weight by an average of 13.5 kilograms.

However, expectations are tempered by similar pills in the past. Taranabant and Acomplia are two such drugs that produce similar results, but both came wide side effects such as mood swings and depression. Government regulation must be a priority in order to minimize the risks of taking such diet pills.

It is clear that more natural methods are in order. In most cases, cravings arise from the need to cope. Whenever we are faced with a stressful or depressing situation, a common reaction is to eat comfort foods. This can be classified under “emotional eating”. In this case, it is very easy to change this habit. Simply find a different coping strategy rather than eating. Viable alternatives are going for a walk or taking a hot bath. Once you become accustomed to that new strategy, then it becomes much easier to stick with it.

Always be mindful that being strong mentally can help you avoid cravings. Mental health and physical health usually go hand-in-hand with each other.

There are many healthy meal plans available to you. One such plan is the 40-30-30 macro-nutrient principle. The concept behind this is to have a meal of 40% carbohydrates, 30% proteins, and 30% fats. It is very important to have a balanced diet, as each of the compounds are necessary for our bodies to function optimally. Carbohydrates provide energy, proteins build muscles, and fats create energy during times when there is no energy source.

Also popular are low-carbohydrate diets, such as the Atkins Diet. The principle behind this diet is to avoid refined carbohydrates, in particular sugar, flour, and corn syrups. The body’s metabolism is then improved to a level where more calories are burned and excess calories are removed.

No matter what diet you choose, it is equally important to regulate the amount of food you eat. You can have a diet composed of healthy foods, but if your servings and portions are in excess, then the problem of excess weight gain remains.

Digestion is an important bodily function that we must consider. Taking the time to chew your food is a must. The faster paced lifestlyes in the modern world translates to a tendency to rush our meals as we move on to more important work. You must remember that enjoying a meal and reaping the health benefits that arise from proper nutrition more than compensates for the time spent on it.

The mantra of three-square meals a day has been ingrained in our minds. But it is better to eat smaller meals more often in order to aid digestion. Binge eating is something that you must generally avoid. Another good tip to remember is to avoid eating 2-3 before going to sleep. The food eaten at that time will not be burned off and will be stored by the body.

Finally, when faced with the decision of where to eat, you have the option of eating at home or eating out. Fast food is an attractive option for those who have busier schedules. It is also less healthy as you don’t have full control over the food that you eat. Fast food typically has foods high in sugar and fats. Sodas are typically bundled with value meals, and these drinks contain a high amount of sugar.

There are times when we can’t eat at home due to time constraints, but the least we can do is to be selective when it comes to eating out.