Conquering Food Addictions With Dr. Neal Bernard
by Kim Seelbrede, originally posted on urbanzen.org)
On this crisp Fall day, the Urban Zen Center welcomed Dr. Neal Barnard to share the science behind food addictions, and his solution of a plant-based (vegan) diet to control and reverse many chronic health problems, including food addiction. Winning Weight Battles And Conquering Cravings was the theme of the day as guests filled the stunning zen-like space. The six-hour workshop offered just the right balance of nutritional wisdom and delicious samples of the sweet and savory foods that promise to help heal our bodies. Can low fat, nutrition-dense food choices also be delicious? Absolutely, and my fellow attendees would agree.
The breeze from the garden was invigorating as the indoor space filled with the aroma of culinary delights that included kale and pear smoothies, vegan quesadillas and lentil stew on a bed of quinoa. With such a diverse group of guests, it was inevitable that someone would ask, “So what’s for dessert?” Not to disappoint, nutrition experts and chefs Christine Waltermyer, Jill Eckhart and Emily Richard served a raspberry chocolate mousse made with tofu. It was refreshing, (okay, pretty amazing, and I’m tofu-tolerant, not really a fan!).
The science portion of the workshop was just as captivating as the food demonstrations. Why do we crave certain foods and how can we maintain healthy weight without resorting to diets which inevitably fail? Dr. Barnard, known for his ground-breaking research on reversing Diabetes through diet shared his three part nutritional approach: avoiding animal products, reducing fat intake and avoiding sugary, processed foods. Guests were surprised to learn that his approach to curbed cravings, disease reversal and permanent weight loss actually included healthy complex carbohydrates. Complex carbs on a chilly day in the West Village is indeed comforting.
Dr. Barnard’s keys to curbing cravings and losing weight includes eating grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes. Guests learned that chocolate, cheese, meat and sugar are physically addictive because these foods release opiate-like substances which in turn increase the neurotransmitter dopamine, otherwise known as the “feel-good” chemical in the brain. Dr. Barnard compared what happens in the brain when ingesting these foods to the experiences of a heroin addict—and thus explained how the cycle of food cravings becomes problematic. Dr. Barnard explained how, tragically, industry aided by government, exploits these natural cravings, pushing us to eat more and more unhealthy foods.
The solution, according to Dr. Barnard, is to eliminate these foods from one’s diet. As a result, the insidious cycle of craving will naturally resolve. Dr. Barnard’s nutritional wisdom was easy to understand, and insightful.
Neal Barnard is the founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) www.pcrm.org. You can find his work and new book The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook here at www.nealbarnard.org and you can find samples of these body-loving recipes here at www.NutritionMD.org and www.CancerProject.org
Kimberly Seelbrede, LCSW is a New York State Licensed Psychotherapist, Advanced EMDR/Somatic Practitioner and Couples Therapist based in New York City and Bozeman Montana. She has trained extensively with world-renowned experts and blends her extensive post-graduate training, certifications and clinical expertise to offer an integrative and holistic approach to healing. Kimberly practices psychodynamic psychotherapy, EMDR and Somatic Experiencing practices, Internal Family Systems (IFS), positive neuroplasticity, hypnotherapy, crisis-focused counseling, CBT and DBT skills, attachment-focused couple therapy, high-level coaching and perimenopause/menopause emotional health assessment and coaching. As a New Yorker, she also specializes in working with high-profile clients. Kimberly is honored to provide energy psychology practices and integrative yoga therapy inspired by her intensive year-long training with the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Program in New York City. She is an advocate for mental health awareness to decrease the stigma and normalize through education.
In addition to online therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship struggles, Holistic Psychotherapy & Wellness offers a wide variety of online services to fit the needs of busy professionals. New Yorkers often lead fast-paced and complex lives, which makes work-life balance and managing career, family and social obligations a challenge. Psychotherapy and wellness practices provides the support to help clients cultivate resources, resilience and enhanced emotional health, as well as uncover conflicts and obstacles that may interfere with having the life they desire.