Quitting junk food produces similar withdrawal-type symptoms as drug addiction:
If you plan to try and quit junk food, expect to suffer similar withdrawal-type symptoms—at least during the initial week—like addicts experience when they attempt to quit using drugs.
A new study by University of Michigan is believed to be the first of its kind to evaluate withdrawal symptoms people incur when they stop devouring highly processed foods, such as pastries, French fries and pizza.
Previous studies have focused on sugar withdrawal among animals and the literature regarding humans offered only anecdotal evidence, said Erica Schulte, the study's lead author and U-M psychology doctoral candidate.
What all researchers can agree upon is that the addictive qualities of tobacco, drugs or alcohol affect the brain similarly and cutting back can lead to negative side effects that can make it difficult to reduce intake. Anxiety, headaches, irritability and depression are some of those outcomes.
Understanding whether withdrawal may also occur with highly processed foods was an essential next step in evaluating whether these foods might be capable of triggering similar addictive processes.
Abstract: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666318306196 (DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2018.09.013
Pizza is not junk food! It's also not a pie.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Wednesday September 26 2018, @01:58AM (1 child)
They're functionally crippling after decades of heavy-ish daily consumption. Not migraines, just extremely painful headaches. Even without side effects, I still wouldn't be motivated to quit though. Most all stimulants help with ADHD.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by insanumingenium on Wednesday September 26 2018, @03:28PM
It is the only drug that you will not only be socially acceptable, but will almost certainly be offered at every gathering, from meals, to business meetings, to church on Sunday (or Friday or Saturday even for all I know). It isn't like I am ever going to have to go without short of apocalypse.