Hyperpalatable foods

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced world, convenience often triumphs over quality—especially when it comes to food. Enter hyperpalatable foods: engineered to be irresistibly delicious but nutritionally hollow. Understanding these foods and their impact on our health is crucial for anyone concerned with wellness.

Using previous study data, researchers sought to determine what characteristics of meals were important for determining how many calories were eaten. They found that three meal characteristics consistently led to increased calorie intake across four different dietary patterns: meal energy density (i.e., calories per gram of food), the amount of “hyper-palatable” foods and how quickly the meals were eaten. Protein content of the meals also contributed to calorie intake.

The Science of Hyperpalatable Foods

The components of hyperpalatable foods like sugar, salt, and fat

Definition and Characteristics
First described by KU scientist Tera Fazzino in 2019, hyper-palatable foods have specific combinations of fat, sugar sodium and carbohydrates — think of potato chips — that make them artificially rewarding to eat and harder to stop consuming. They essentially hijack our taste buds and override feelings of fullness.

The Dopaminergic Pathways

The Neurological Impact
Consuming hyperpalatable foods can lead to an influx of dopamine, a “feel-good” neurotransmitter.

Hyperpalatable foods can stimulate the release of metabolic, stress, and appetite hormones including insulin, cortisol, dopamine, leptin, and ghrelin. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. When we eat hyperpalatable foods, dopamine is released in the brain’s reward system, creating pleasurable sensations and reinforcing the desire to eat these foods.

The hypothalamus is a key part of the brain related to cravings and regulating appetite. It regulates the secretion of chemicals and hormones related to stress, pleasure, pain, and hunger. Eating hyperpalatable foods too often might interfere with how the brain processes hormonal signals related to hunger and fullness. This can result in continued cravings despite having eaten enough food.

The Epidemic of Overconsumption

The obesity projection is now actually 50% for 2030

Rise in Obesity and Related Health Issues

The constant availability and marketing of these foods have led to a disturbing rise in obesity and related health issues.

Economic and Societal Impact
The healthcare costs associated with treating these conditions are staggering.

Hyperpalatable Foods and Movement Efficiency

Compromised health and mobility

How Poor Diet Affects Mobility and Range of Motion

A poor diet can cause inflammation, reduced mobility, and impact your functional range of motion and your mental well-being. It will also drive metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune pathologies, dementia, and is a predisposition for all cancers…

Energy Levels and Raw Power

Optimal energy levels and raw power, fueled by a balanced diet

Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, is the epitome of energy and raw power in motion. His success isn’t just a testament to his training but also to his dietary choices, which fuel his extraordinary capabilities.

Role of Diet
Bolt’s balanced diet provides the necessary nutrients for high energy and optimal performance, avoiding the pitfalls of hyperpalatable foods that offer only temporary boosts.

Adaptive Bodywork’s Perspective
At Adaptive Bodywork Structural Integration (ABSI), we advocate for nutrition as a key element in achieving peak performance and energy levels, providing individualized guidance in our sessions and workshops.

The Takeaway
In the words of Usain Bolt, “Don’t think about the start of the race, think about the ending.” The same principle applies to nutrition: it’s the long-term dietary choices that fuel sustained energy and power.

Strategies for Mitigation

John Sutherland working with a client during an STM1 workshop

The Role of Professionals
Navigating the complex landscape of hyperpalatable foods requires more than just willpower; it calls for a holistic understanding of the body’s needs and functions. At Adaptive Bodywork Structural Integration (ABSI), our unique approach provides this much-needed perspective. We delve into the interconnectedness of your body’s structure to improve not just your physical integrity but also your relationship with food. Our one-on-one sessions and workshops serve as transformative experiences, empowering you to make healthier nutritional choices. By aligning your body’s structural integrity, we create a conducive environment for well-being, making you more attuned to what truly nourishes you as opposed to what merely tantalizes your taste buds.

Ketogenic versus Carnivore diets

Alternative Diet Plans
In the quest for healthier eating, it’s crucial to explore all avenues, especially as we aim to break free from the cycle of hyperpalatable foods. Traditional dietary recommendations have often centered on plant-based or Mediterranean diets. However, there is growing interest and evidence supporting alternative approaches like the ketogenic and Carnivore diets.

Ketogenic Diet: This low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet aims to shift your body’s metabolism from carbohydrates to fats and ketones. It offers a way to avoid sugar and carb-laden foods, focusing instead on nutrient-dense options like healthy fats and proteins.

Carnivore Diet: While the Carnivore diet may be experiencing a modern resurgence, it is by no means a new phenomenon. As the original species-specific diet that humans evolved with, it is not only compatible with but also optimal for mankind. This diet restricts one to animal products, thereby eliminating the possibility of indulging in sugary or highly processed foods. Advocates often report benefits like increased energy, reduced inflammation, and a significant decline in cravings for hyperpalatable foods.

At Adaptive Bodywork Structural Integration (ABSI), we believe in a tailored approach that aligns with individual health goals and lifestyle preferences. Our methods can complement a balanced diet to help you achieve optimal body functionality and overall wellness.

The Adaptive Bodywork Approach to Nutritional Well-being

Adaptive Bodywork headquarters in Montreal

At Adaptive Bodywork Structural Integration (ABSI), we understand that optimal wellness is multi-dimensional, requiring a holistic approach. Nutrition plays a pivotal role in how our bodies function, heal, and adapt. That’s why we’re committed to helping our clients develop a comprehensive understanding of how their dietary choices intersect with their physical and emotional well-being.

Why Nutrition Matters in Structural Integration

In Structural Integration, our primary focus is on optimizing the body’s alignment and movement efficiency. However, what we put into our bodies can significantly affect these factors. A diet high in hyperpalatable foods can lead to inflammation, muscular imbalances, and decreased energy—all of which can counteract the benefits of our manual therapy.

Personalized Nutritional Guidance
We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We offer individualized nutritional guidance aligned with your specific goals and body type. Whether you’re an athlete seeking peak performance, a yoga practitioner aiming for improved flexibility, or anyone wishing to improve their general well-being, our advice is tailored to you.

Complementary to Our Therapy Methods

Our therapeutic methods, whether on the table or the floor, integrate seamlessly with sound nutritional practices. For instance, our sessions can help alleviate the physical stress that poor dietary choices may inflict on the body, while our nutritional guidance can amplify the benefits of each session.

Educational Workshops
We’re excited to share that ABSI frequently offers workshops where you can learn more about the interplay between nutrition and body functionality. In these two-day weekend workshops, we delve into subjects like understanding how different diets, from ketogenic to Carnivore, can complement the Structural Integration therapies that we provide.

An Invitation to Holistic Wellness
We invite you to take a proactive step toward a more balanced, integrated lifestyle. In collaboration with ABSI, you can navigate the complexities of modern diets and make informed choices that honor your body and improve your quality of life.

Conclusion

This is a call to action urging people to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle

In a world awash with quick fixes and easy pleasures, the rise of hyperpalatable foods represents a challenge that is as much about societal norms as it is about personal choices. These foods have been engineered to captivate our senses, making it incredibly difficult to resist them. However, the long-term costs—ranging from physical ailments like obesity and diabetes to the subtle degradation of our mobility and range of motion—can no longer be ignored.

But the story doesn’t have to end there

At Adaptive Bodywork Structural Integration (ABSI), we believe in empowering you to become the best version of yourself, breaking free from the limitations imposed by hyperpalatable foods. We bring you state-of-the-art manual therapy sessions tailored to your needs and offer workshops that provide a deep dive into how alternative diet plans can be harmoniously integrated into your lifestyle.

This is not merely a call to action; it’s an invitation to a lifestyle revolution. A revolution where we, as a community, reclaim our inherent right to well-being, free from the trappings of harmful dietary choices. Where we redefine our relationship with food, not as a fleeting moment of indulgence but as a lasting partnership with our bodies.

Join us on this transformative journey. Whether through one-on-one sessions, educational workshops, or personalized nutritional guidance, ABSI is here to support you every step of the way. Let’s create a future where our food nourishes us, our bodies empower us, and our choices reflect the richness of lives well-lived.

Start your journey to structural well being with a comprehensive 90 minute Adaptive Bodywork Session or make it a project with a 3, 6 or 12-series.

Together we’ll explore what’s holding you back.

Together, we’ll set you on a path to a more balanced and integrated life.

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Have you got questions?
For more information visit us at: www.adaptivebodywork.com

Are you ready to get started?
Start your journey to structural well being with a comprehensive 90 minute Adaptive Bodywork Session or make it a project with a 3, 6 or 12-series.

Together we’ll explore what’s holding you back.

Together, we’ll set you on a path to a more balanced and integrated life.

3167 St-Catherine St., East
Montreal, Quebec, H1W 2C4, Canada
1-514-830-5444

info@adaptivebodywork.com