Processed Food Addiction And Mental Health | Part 4

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Issue No. 47 | Brought to you by the Addiction Reset Community – ARC

Unlocking the secrets of processed food addiction and guiding you to find freedom from food and weight obsession.

21 Sources of Depression & Anxiety… contd.

In the previous two issues of this newsletter, we introduced how processed foods are highly addictive drug-like substances that can alter the brain. So far, we have reviewed 14 of the 21 sources of depression and anxiety and outlined how the Addiction Reset Community can be used to address each source.

In this issue we will conclude by reviewing the final 7 of 21 sources of depression and anxiety, namely:

Starvation
Relationships
Jobs/Work
Chronic illness & Pain
Problem-solving
Children
Sleep

Starvation

The diet industry promotes food restriction which can cause us to starve ourselves for weight loss. This triggers an innate fear of famine, causing anxiety which is rooted in the need for food security.

The Addiction Reset Community offers a variety of tools including workshop videos to support members with safe weight management. Food rotation guidelines help members to safely adjust their meal plans to gradually remove the processed foods that cause fat tissue, and inadvertently address weight concerns while getting sufficient nutrition each day. The ARC techniques and tools support members to guard against triggering the fear of famine.

Relationships

Often, people around us are unstable because of their own processed food use and this can add to the challenges in relationships.

The Addiction REST Community provides tools and skills that help members to set boundaries and to communicate their needs in relationships. Members are equipped with ways to improve the quality of their relationships. The ARC‘s provides dedicated support group chats that are specifically aimed at helping members to reduce stress in their relationships

Jobs/Work

The workplace can often be extremely stressful. Amongst numerous contributing factors, you may have to work with people who are using processed foods and are experiencing unstable moods or cognitive impairment.

The Addiction Reset Community provides a safe place to share and process work-related problems and provides support to find workable strategies to minimize stress.

Chronic Illness and Pain

Research shows that processed foods are associated with over 100 illnesses, including mental illnesses, and also cause inflammation, Sickness and pain further are a source of anxiety and depression.

In the ARC, members can use the food rotation tools or get support from their recovery advocates to eliminate harmful, inflammatory processed foods, at a pace that is suitable for them. Abstinence from offending foods promotes healing. Members are also inspired and feel hopeful when they hear other members in ARC chats, sharing their experiences with remission from illness and pain.

Problem-solving

Finding solutions to life’s daily challenges can be stress-inducing and can lead to anxiety and depression. The addiction to processed foods can make us too tired and brain-fogged to solve problems and they pile up. Causing further stress and anxiety.

ARC members can use the food rotation tools and get support to eliminate the foods that cause fatigue and brain fog. In the ARC group chats, members process their thoughts in a calm, relaxed environment and allow solutions to arise as they get feedback from trained hosts. They are also inspired by others who may be solving their own problems.

Children

Processed foods can cause children to lose control of their behavior, vacillating between lethargy and hyperactivity. This can be exhausting for parents, leading to increased anxiety and depression.

The ARC teaches caregivers how to help children recover from processed foods, without fighting and controlling. The ARC also provides a smaller, dedicated peer-support group, especially for members who are raising children.

Sleep

Processed foods disrupt sleep in various ways. For example, caffeine and unstable blood glucose can have devastating effects on sleep patterns, increasing fatigue and stress.

The Addiction Reset Community teaches sleep management to decrease the stress of sleep deprivation. Daily support to abstain from processed foods, leads to a better quality of sleep.

Within the Addiction Reset Community (ARC) our members and their journeys are important to us. We find their stories inspiring and hopeful for everybody in health recovery.

“It’s quite remarkable to notice that although the dynamics of my life haven’t changed since I joined the ARC 3 months ago, I already feel like a different person. Although I’m still not 100 % clean with my food, I have managed to quit sugar, flour and caffeine so far. I never thought that was possible for me. I’m still in the same relationships, have the same job and live in the same house, but since being in the ARC, I feel like I am more confident and competent. I just feel happier!.”

Many people reach out to Joan asking for advice and assistance on how they can begin their recovery journey.

Dear Joan:

I used to have racing thoughts a lot. I just thought that was who I was. I never imagined that this would go away once I was able to eat clean and retrain my brain. Could you explain why processed foods cause racing thoughts?

Joan responds:

Processed foods increase stress levels and at the same time, increase cravings. Hyperactive stress and craving brain cells release a lot of neurotransmitters in the brain. This can create a lot of unrelenting, and sometimes incoherent thoughts.

DISCLAIMER:
Dr Joan Ifland (PhD) is a global expert on the subject of processed food addiction and is not a medical doctor. Information and response shared in this Newsletter are not intended for, and should not be construed as medical advice.

Do you have a question? Reach out to us with your questions about food addiction and recovery at gethelp@foodaddictionreset.com

Are you showing signs of Processed Food Addiction? Take this self-quiz to find out now!

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