What Food Addiction and Drug Addiction Have in Common

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BLVD Treatment Center
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What Food Addiction and Drug Addiction Have in
Common

• There are shocking parallels between food
  addiction and drug addiction. The centers of the
  brain that lead to drug addiction and the need
  for Los Angeles drug rehab are the same as what
  leads a person to be addicted to food. The
  similarities are rather frightening, yet they
  give treatment centers and doctors an idea of how
  to help patients overcome both forms of
  addiction.

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(No Transcript)
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The Brains Reward System Is out of Control

• Both drugs and junk foods bombard the brain with
  dopamine, which is a feel-good neurotransmitter.
  Dopamine affects the pleasure centers of the
  brain. Over time, the brains structure and
  function can change, which leads to a reduction
  in dopamine receptors. While this may seem like a
  good thing, it isnt. This is because a person
  may find food and drugs less enjoyable, but his
  or her mind and body still desperately crave
  these substances. When a person turns to Los
  Angeles drug rehab for help at this point, it is
  about retraining the brain. Some of the same
  techniques are used to battle food addiction.

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Cravings Are Intense

• When a person addicted to drugs needs a fix, he
  or she will experience cravings, just as a person
  wanting a candy bar is craving it. The cravings
  are very difficult to fight. Once access is given
  to the craved substance, the person may binge.
  For the drug addict, this can result in an
  overdose. An overdose can lead to hospitalization
  or death. While food doesnt immediately lead to
  hospitalization or death, the effects to a
  persons health can be very damaging over time.
  The results are heart disease, diabetes, liver
  problems, and digestive system issues.
• Tolerance is also an issue that food addicts and
  drug addicts face. Tolerance is when a larger
  amount of the substance is needed to achieve the
  desired effect. Again, this is what can lead to a
  drug overdose. An increasing tolerance can also
  lead them to Los Angeles drug rehab because they
  realize they have a very expensive problem. Even
  food addicts experience financial consequences as
  their tolerance grows and they need more food to
  satisfy the cravings and their growing appetite.

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Withdrawal Is Intense

• Most everyone has heard about how drug withdrawal
  is very intense. A person addicted to drugs can
  experience tremors, nausea, vomiting, intense
  anxiety, hallucinations, intense sweating, and an
  inability to sleep. Food addiction can also cause
  a person to develop anxiety and tremors when
  sugary and fatty foods are taken away. This may
  explain why a person still eats large quantities
  of cookies, cakes, chips, and processed foods
  even when motivated to stop eating these
  unhealthy items.

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Repeated Attempts to Quit

• Something else those addicted to drugs or food
  have in common is the repeated attempts to stop.
  People addicted to drugs may find themselves in
  Los Angeles drug rehab more than once. People
  trying to stop bad eating habits may try every
  diet in the book. If they start a new diet and
  then eat poorly, they may eat more out of guilt
  for falling off the wagon. The attempts happen,
  but success seems harder to achieve each time.
  The fact is that success can be experienced if
  the right type of treatment is acquired.

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CONTACT US

• Address
• BLVD Treatment Centers
• 448 South Hill Street
• Suite 303
• Los Angeles, CA 90013
• Phone
• [phone]