What do you crave? Chances are, if processed foods have ever been part of your diet, you’re no stranger to craving. What you may not realize, however, is that part of the reason you crave these foods is by a carefully calculated effort by the food industry to manipulate your biochemical, neurological, and emotional centers to crave the foods they sell. That way, they can sell you more. Sneaky, sneaky!
If this story sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same old sales sneakiness. Only in the past, it was cigarette manufacturers in the hot seat, defending their practice of adding chemicals to their products to make them even more addictive.
Cigarettes, it turned out to almost no one’s surprise, were addictive and toxic. Unfortunately, so many people were hooked on the addictive chemicals that quitting smoking no longer even felt like an option to them, in spite of the terribly negative health consequences of tobacco products.
Smokers at least stood a chance, however. Over the past several years, public policy has made it easier than ever for people to stop smoking. Indoor air quality laws that keep cigarette smoke away from public areas allow non-smokers and former smokers to avoid cigarette smoke. For the former smokers, this is especially helpful because they can avoid the cravings that would pull them back into an unhealthy habit.
Our food supply is a little different, however. Food is all around us. Not only is it part of our culture, but there are complex social and emotional aspects to eating, as well (hence, the billion dollar dieting industry). Because our processed food industry is still allowed to engineer foods full of addictive substances, quitting “cold turkey” seems even more difficult. We need to eat multiple times a day, after all, and our lives are so busy that we also crave convenience. But there’s more to it than that.
If you crave crunchy, salty, smooth or spicy things there can also be different emotional issues at play. I am doing a lecture on getting past roadblocks and the best 7 substitutions for the top 7 highly craved foods at my organic smoothie and juice shop, Glow Bio, 7473 Melrose (cross Gardner) in one week, on March 12, from 8-9 pm. If you are in LA, hope to see you there! Reserve your seat here.
We are all responsible for our own behavior. But unhealthy processed foods, it turns out, may be actually highly addictive!
What’s The Bliss Point Of A Food?
In a brilliant article written for the New York Times, Michael Moss tells of a food industry standard of research that nearly all of the processed food giants use where they engage in complex testing to determine the “bliss point” of a food. While the process of determining the bliss point is incredibly complex and involves testing and analysis of hundreds of aspects of a foods preparation (color, ingredients, flavor, mouth feel, texture, crunchiness, creaminess, sweetness, saltiness, etc.), the definition is fairly simple. The bliss point of any food is the most craveworthy version of that food – the one that invites greater consumption while discouraging the brain from disengaging from the food and shutting off the desire to eat more. Food manufacturers may make hundreds of minute adjustments to their products to bring their foods right into this sweet spot, which is typically a range rather than a single point. Within that range of bliss, the manufacturers can find the most cost effective way to make their foods the most cravable to the largest amount of people.
Emotional and Behavioral Manipulation
Beyond manipulating your taste buds, food manufacturers also spend significant resources searching an emotional connection – whether it is cultural, comfort-related, or solving problems of convenience. When the foods can also meet your emotional needs (by being convenient or reminding you of something grandma used to make) while hitting your bliss point, the stage is set for repeat consumption.
Meanwhile, if food manufacturers can trick you into believing you are attending your health while eating their junk food, then they’ve got a group of consumers who return repeatedly for less than healthy offerings. The Snack Wells line of products is a perfect example of this – low fat snack foods that flew off the shelves in spite of high levels of sugar and artificial ingredients. Products with labels like “whole grain,” “low-fat,” “reduced sodium,” “sugar-free,” and “all-natural” limit your guilt factor, leading you to believe you’re engaging in a behavior that is healthy, even when it isn’t. This allows you to give yourself permission to eat foods that are less than healthy.
Food manufacturers study consumer attitudes about food as well as behaviors. They then set about coming up with ways to overcome our objections to certain foods, regardless of whether the actual quality or healthfulness of a particular food changes. This amounts to little more than emotional and behavioral manipulation with the end result being sales of their products and 
increased profits for their shareholders.
This emotional and behavioral manipulation begins at an early age, with junk food manufacturers targeting children. Many of their products are in school lunches, as well. That way, by the time the children are adults, eating processed food products seems like a natural way of life. This makes parental involvement in your child’s food choices of even greater importance, given that one in five children in the United States is clinically obese.
Addicting Ingredients
Of course, that’s only part of the picture. The other part is that several of the ingredients in manufactured foods are addictive, causing you to crave even more of them.
Some of the worst offenders in making junk food addictive follow.
1. Refined Sugar: The Western palate has adapted to prefer slight sweetness. Because of this, food manufacturers add sugar to many products in order to satisfy this preference. Whether it’s sucrose, fructose, high-fructose corn syrup, or another form of sugar, studies show sugar is an addictive substance. One of the reasons sugar is so addictive is that, when you eat it, it releases opiods and dopamine in the brain that trigger the brain’s reward centers. In fact, animal studies have suggested that sugar may be just as addictive – if not more so – as cocaine.
Eating refined sugar and starches also spike blood glucose levels. As levels drop in the wake of sugar consumption and metabolism, our bodies seek to return to a higher level of blood sugar, increasing cravings for the substance, as well. This combination of craving and addiction makes sugar a particularly dangerous substance in terms of overall health and wellbeing.
2. Salt: Adding salt to foods intensifies their natural flavor, which is why the ingredient is so prevalent in processed food. Add to that the fact the Western palate actually craves a slightly salty flavor, and you wind up with salt in virtually every processed food on the market. A 2011 Duke University study showed that the instinct for salt follows the same nerve pathways in the brain as a number of addictive drugs. This is a biochemical addiction, however, with our flavor preference for salt it also becomes an emotional addiction.
3. Fat: Fat contributes to foods in various ways. It creates flavor, texture, and mouth feel of the foods that Americans prefer. Like sugar and salt, eating dietary fat can also trigger brain chemicals and neural pathways that stimulate the brain in ways similar to drug addiction according to CNN Health.
4. Chemicals: Processed foods contain a dizzying array of chemicals. Such chemicals can be used to simulate flavors, enhance color, change texture, enhance mouth feel, preserve the food, enhance aromas, and serve hundreds of other purposes.
While these chemical additives have been deemed “safe” by the FDA, the truth is little is understood about the effects such a chemical brew has on the human body. The massive amount of chemicals found in the typical Western diet is relatively recent in terms of human evolution – much of it has been around for only about 3 or 4 decades. That’s barely a generation, and not enough time for us to truly understand the long-term effects of so many chemicals, although it appears the results are becoming disturbingly clear. About 1/3 of all adults are clinically obese, as are 20 percent of our children. Eating-related diseases like type 2 diabetes and gout are on the rise. Autoimmune diseases –virtually unheard of 100 years ago – are rampant. Chances are, the chemicals in the foods we eat have as much to do with this as the nutritional bankruptcy of those foods.
How To Curb Cravings
The best way to combat all of this is by drastically changing your diet. For thousands of years, human beings ate what they could gather from the land – plant-based foods that didn’t require processing or cooking. These are the foods our bodies truly crave for good nutrition, and switching to a detoxifying diet of natural, organic plant foods can help you supply your body with the food it needs. Some tips:
- Eat an organic, plant-based diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and healthy gluten-free grains such as millet, brown rice, and quinoa.
- Minimize or eliminate processed foods – those manufactured foods that come in bags, boxes, cans, jars, and bottles.
- Eliminate dairy products, which is difficult for the human body to process, is acid-forming and was never intended by nature for human consumption. Dairy and acne have also been found to be correlated, so taking it out of your diet may alleviate troubled skin.
- Eliminate gluten, which is a very common allergen and extremely difficult for humans to process. Gluten is in wheat, barley, and rye.
- Skip soda and other manufactured beverages. Instead, hydrate yourself with pure water.
- Minimize or eliminate salt and sugar, and learn how is almond milk made to substitute for any of your favorite recipes.
- Avoid the especially addictive and tricky combination of fat, sugar, and salt which hit all of your brain’s pleasure centers, making it difficult to stop eating and triggering cravings for more of the same.
Hey Kimberly,
Are you going to record the lecture? would love to watch it… but Im in Florida!
And what about Chlorella Tablets?? Arent they helpful too??
Hi there,
Would it be possible for you to do a conference call or skype live to hear your lecture? Those of us on the East Coast would love to hear about this. Please consider.
Thank you!
Thanks so much Kimberly, for all your wisdom!! I, as well as my husband, definitely have a problem with craving foods, so this article was very helpful! I wish I lived closer to LA so I could meet you and enjoy your smoothie & juice shop! Keep up the great stuff you do!! Hugs!!
Kimberly,
Would you be so kind to share the 7 for 7 swap for your readers who do not live in CA? I am following your diet from your first book as best as I can but I still fall for some of these sugar and salt cravings.
I’d appreciate the information to add to my good health choices.
Thank you,
Susan
i find that after getting my palate used to good foods the few times i’ve tried to cheat i get a “yuck” vote from my tongue. I often feel nausea and headachy as well after eating out. Not worth it !
wish i could share this on facebook
It would be awesome if you could web cast your upcoming lecture for those of us who will not be in Los Angeles. :)
While I agree with everything in this article and most of the information you provide, I have to say that these articles are getting repetative (meaning what to do about each problem)
Example:
Eat an organic, plant-based diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and healthy gluten-free grains such as millet, brown rice, and quinoa.
Minimize or eliminate processed foods – those manufactured foods that come in bags, boxes, cans, jars, and bottles.
Eliminate dairy products, which is difficult for the human body to process, is acid-forming and was never intended by nature for human consumption.
Eliminate gluten, which is a very common allergen and extremely difficult for humans to process. Gluten is in wheat, barley, and rye.
Skip soda and other manufactured beverages. Instead, hydrate yourself with pure water.
Minimize or eliminate salt and sugar.
Avoid the especially addictive and tricky combination of fat, sugar, and salt which hit all of your brain’s pleasure centers, making it difficult to stop eating and triggering cravings for more of the same.
I’d like to see more product recommendations and recipes.
I’d be interested to get
your opinion about the Weston Pryce diet. Thank you!
Hi there Kimberly,
I am always so inspired by your posts. I am based in Europe sadly and cannot attend your lecture :( Do you have any more pointers that you can share, even if it is after your lecture at GloBio.. I need to move to LA..
Many thanks!
My son is 11 yrs old and has been a very picky eater since day one. He has several food allergies: soy, peanuts, tree nuts, green beans. He does not like anything green, not a lot of meats or beans. The only fruit he like are apples, strawberries, melons. I am going to be making soups, chicken, turkey burgers for his school lunches. Almost everything they serve at school has soy in it and is very unhealthy….. Any recipes or food suggestions would be much appreciated.
This information is so valuable as I am attempting to get off of drinking coffee and using sugar (of all sorts). Both are so addicting and harmful for me. I am really stuggling to replace the wrong food consumption with the wonderful veggies and fruits. I have always been a big protien eater but am trying to change that also and eat only good protiens. It sure is a challenge when making drastic changes but I find your into so helplful. I have ordered your book and feel that once I have it, I will be able to make better progress. Blessings
I live in Pa. & unfortunately we’ll never see this in our town, craving the real foods!
Is it possible to get a copy of your lecture on the best substitutions for the top 7 highly craved foods.
Hi Kim. Thanks so much for this article. You have pretty much described my diet over the past year – when I fall off the beauty detox wagon! I crave stuff like Pringles, chocolate Digestive biscuits (not sure if you have them in the States) etc.
The junk food is so ubiquitous and I comfort eat so if I am tired, upset or low, I reach for the quick high…I have good intentions to do better (again!). I was wondering though:
For those of us who are unable to attend the talk at GlowBIO in person, would it be possible to stream it online, so we can join virtually? Or Skype it maybe? I do hope so! Thanks. Yasmin
thank you for all your wonderful tips! every email i get frrom you is very valuable information-thanks kimberly!
Thank you for your many nutritious words. I love to be reminded about all the healthy things to eat and give up. I hope you will let all of us know what to do to give up cravings.
I would love to come if I was closer. Maybe you could share some of those substitution tips on your website after your lecture. Thank you Kimberly :-)
Oh darn, my wife and I will be near The Grove and CBS studios the very next day, the 13th. If you get a flood of reservations would you do another presentation on the 13th?
Kimberly:
I definitely believe in eating organic whenever possible and don’t eat fast food. My challenge is food allergies. Between cutting out what I am allergic to, which is a must and avoiding those foods, which aren’t good there isn’t much left. I do what I can. Cutting out dairy and gluten is a challenge as I love both and do not have any intolerances to either. I am allergic to foul, legumes, dates, eggplant, most nuts, some fish, celery, sesame, etc. Any suggestions? What sources of protein do you recommend? I am not a vegetarian. I have an incredible appetite and always feel hungry.
Regards,
Jennifer Walker
I love you and I love all your Idea. I am craving for sweet all the time even though I do your diet program. I made my self the raw pecan pie and eat it when I crave. You have amazing ideas and food. I also want to comment one thing. I personally do not like milk. I don’t drink it at all. I substitute for organic coconut milk or Almond milk. However, I know that God told us how milk and honey is a gift from God. He mentioned it in the Bible hundreds time. “the land of milk and honey” Or “i gave you milk and honey”. I think God is perfect and made that for Humans. Maybe now days, it is so hard to drink milk because of the processed milk and artificial hormones. What do you think. I don’t think you have to be a Christan to answer this since you have a very unique mind. Anyway, I will still love your food and I will thank you for that.
P.S you know how important is mother’s milk to a new born child.
Elsa
I love this blog, a colleague sent me a link. Its very informative and interesting.
I am quite shocked about the information on dairy products. “is difficult for the human body to process, is acid-forming and was never intended by nature for human consumption.” I didn’t know that and its quite puzzling…. I can quite sugar, but the concept of eliminating dairy is quite shocking for me!, I thought milk was good for you?
If we aren’t able to be in LA will you be posting the meeting online? I would love to attend but live in Ohio! I read everything you write in your blogs and love what you have to say! So much truth!! Thank you!
Awesome! I just read a very similar looooooong 13 page article in the New York Times. Yours is so much better.
Everithing that you write is very very excellent and helpful! After read this article , I am very concern about the foods that I eat!!! Thank you! Bless you!!!
HI Kimberly!
So wish I was on the West Coast so I could attend your lecture…until then, are you able to post or send out notes at all? This particular topic is a BIG one and I’d love to have the help and support and I’m sure you’ll be discussing more than what you wrote above, so, just thought I’d ask! Have a great one and thank you!
Rachel
Thanks, Kim! You’re awesome!
Hi Kimberly, I absolutely agree with your article! I even have my own story to share, I used to LOVE this crunchy and salty snack and for some reason couldn’t stop eating it. Then I started changing the way I ate in general towards more natural and healthier foods and now I just don’t’ crave it anymore. I think my body is so nourished right now that it is not starving for nutrients and therefore is not craving junk anymore. Thanks for all that you do!
Kimberly,
I cant make it but would love to hear what you have to say about stopping the cravings. I started making your glowing green smoothie to help with my symptoms for Fibromyalgia- I suffer with alot of body pain 24/7. I live far from LA and do not do well traveling in a car for much distance. Could u kindly email me this info? I have always known eating green is best but it is a difficult challenge especially when you do not feel well most of the time.
Thanks,
Diana
Dear Kimberly, I just wanted to thank you for this post. I know first hand how hard it is to stop the cravings you speak about b/c I had a very difficult time with it myself until I began changing the way that I eat
I now eat only plant based foods & have completely cut out all of the junk foods like salt,sugar,dairy extra. My life has never been better. I will say that in the beginning it was not easy but little by little it became so natural for me to not want those foods in my diet at all!!! It is so amazing to me that making the commitment to change my way of eating has changed my entire life. I am 46 years old and have never felt better or healthier in my life. Thank you so much for all that you do to get the right information out there for people like me to live a better quality of life. By the way since starting the GLS I am down 14 more pounds making it a total of 48 since starting with The BDS.
SINCERELY, CINDY
I really enjoyed reading this! I actually saw a segment on Dr.Oz in which they talked about all of this. Going to pass it on to all of my girlfriends especially the ones who are parents. I myself have drastically changed my lifestyle and do my best to eliminate all the processed, sugary, salty foods from my diet. I try my best to stick to organic vegetables and fruits. I also make the GGS and drink that for breakfast! love it and keeps me satisfied until lunch time. thanks again!
Would LOVE to hear your lecture! Would you consider posting it online?
Thank you!
Hi Kimberly, what a wonderful website! Thank you so much. A lack of knowledge is truly something that keeps us where manufacturers want us. I’m staying in South Africa and can unfortunately not attend your lectures. But thank God for the internet!
Keep up the good work!
Love
Janie
I have been following you about a year now and find you simply amazing! All of your information shared has been so helpful in many aspects in my life. I have purchased your book the Beauty Detox Solution and also have joined the Glowing Lean System. I have watched every module and downloaded the transcripts. I keep a binder next to my night table of a copy of each module. Each night before I go to sleep I read a module – at this point I have reread them at least four times each. Through my years I have struggled with severe digestive issues and have tried many different natural remedies. Since I have been following your program, I have never felt better. I have read many natural health and healing books in my years but find your book and daily web articles to be the most helpful – so thank you!!! I read your whole journey when you travelled to India and found it so inspiring – Last year I had travelled to Peru for two amazing weeks – it was all hiking, camping and being with nature. We were pretty much isolated – spent a lot of time being present in the moment which was refreshing. It was mentally, physically, spiritually & emotionally one of the best journeys of my life so far! I have also shared your website with many friends and family. If you are ever on the East Coast I would love to come and hear you speak. Please keep all your East Coast followers informed. Congratulations on your engagement!
Love & Peace Always, Angela Nannariello
Thanks for the helpful and necessary information that we need to help our bodies fight disease!
It is a GOOD thing to repeat information… because many of us do not get it the first time! Wonderful job Kim!!!!
I every time emailed this blog post page to all my friends,
as if like to read it then my friends will too.
This site definitely has all the info I needed concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Hi there, just wanted to tell you, I loved this blog post.
It was practical. Keep on posting!
I’m not sure why but this website is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my end? I’ll
check back later and see if the problem still exists.
Now about reading this information we resonate with the above because its what we actually feel so its pleasant reading from an op thats showing this for us to see.
That’s really a high percentage that Apple gets.
Extremely nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have truly enjoyed browsing your weblog posts. Right after all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write once again soon!
They have the added bonus that they protect you from snapback hats for sale the sun.
Makes the job a lot easier to keep it a secret so people won’t know.
The higher quality hats are made up of fiber metal and yet they were durable and very
elastic to wear. Hats need to be taken that you get when you are looking for.