In this episode, we dive deep into the science behind food addiction and explore why certain foods can be as addictive as drugs like nicotine or alcohol. Our guest, Ashley Gearhardt, is an expert in the field and shares fascinating insights into how the food industry has engineered products to hijack our brains' reward systems, leaving many people struggling with cravings and compulsive eating. We also discuss the parallels between Big Tobacco and the modern food environment, and how recognizing food addiction could be a crucial step in addressing the obesity epidemic. Expect to Learn: ✦ Why identifying a single addictive substance in food is not the whole story ✦ How the food industry has optimized products to be hyper-palatable and addictive ✦ The role of dopamine in driving compulsive eating behavior ✦ The striking similarities between Big Tobacco's tactics and the modern food industry ✦ Why acknowledging food addiction could be a game-changer for public health policy 🔗 Learn more about the Yale Food Addiction Scale 🔗 Sign up for EC’s weekly bonus email ABOUT THE SHOW The Consistency Project aims to simplify nutrition, health, and well-being by breaking down the concepts and actions we can all take to live fuller, more functional lives. ABOUT US 📍 EC Synkowski is a Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS), a Licensed-Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN), and Certified CrossFit Level 4 Coach (CF-L4). She's the founder of OptimizeMe Nutrition and the creator of the #800gChallenge®. Find her on social media. 📍 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, writer, and podcaster. Find him on social media. Full Disclaimer --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theconsistencyproject/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theconsistencyproject/support