Most Addictive Foods (and why they taste so darn good)

The 1800s and 1900s saw the influx of fast food, junk food, and other types of processed food. With drinks like diet coke practically having a cult surrounding it and foods like McDonald's being commonplace in every major city in the world (and scattered through both the US, Europe, and China), it should come as no surprise that these foods are addictive. Indeed, up to 20% of the population suffer from this phenomenon and that only gets worse among obese people. Like all addictive substances, having an addiction to food can lead to drastic health issues. The top three most addictive foods should come as no surprise: pizza (first), chocolate (second), and chips (third). These are all processed foods, engineered with fats, sugar, and sodium. The companies that produce them use our body's instinct to eat against itself. Due to the high-calorie content and its ability to affect our blood sugar, our bodies want it. It sounds counterproductive but, from an evolutionary angle, it does make sense - calories mean we wouldn't starve so the body wants it to stay alive. If it can gain those calories quickly, even better. So, as we eat, our brains release dopamine, the addictive neurotransmitter, and chemically rewards us for eating. Processed food happens to release far more dopamine than "normal" foods so it comes as no surprise that it triggers a far stronger demand for those foods.

So here's the long-awaited list of the top 10 most addictive foods (courtesy of healthline)

1) Pizza

2) Chocolate

3) Chips

4) Cookies

5) Icecream

6) French fries

7) Cheeseburger

8) Non-diet sodas

9) Cake

10) Cheese

Note, if you struggle with food addiction, speak with a nutritionist to put together a trigger-free diet.