Craving Processed Food?

Hello I just have a question I was hoping someone might be able to help me with.
Lately I've been trying to eat much more naturally, less packaged food, more fruits and veggies, making my own granola bars are such, as well as all natural cheeses, almond rather than cows milk, edamame rather than processed soy burgers (I'm vegetarian) ect.
However, I find that sometimes, if I haven't eaten anything processed or which chemicals in them, I just crave it! It's so weird!! Sometimes I will just have huge cravings for a really processed granola bar, even after I've had my own homemade one, even after my all natural, organic chocolate. I'm just really confused... isn't the body supposed to NOT want all those chemicals.
Has this ever happened to anyone else? Why is this happening? And what can I do about it (other then ignore he cravings of course). I'm curious about the science behind why this is happening.

Thank you

 

You crave it because it tastes delicious, basically. It just sucks that delicious shit is apparently also really bad for us.

 

The exact opposite has happened to me. Since eliminating processed foods from my diet, I am repulsed by them more than ever, and the cravings are non-existent. Once you normalize your blood sugar levels, you don't crave sweets. Unfortunately, granola causes a high glycemic response, so this could explain why you crave the "really processed granola bar" after eating your own homemade granola.

 

I was going to just say some of the chemicals in processed foods are addictive but I think pr explained it better.

Also, I think if you grow up eating certain foods you'll probably crave them your whole life. I think your brain develops an attachment to certain foods as a child. I still crave my grandmother's cooking even though I haven't had it in almost 20 years

 

Certain food additives are addictive. That goes away though.

 

Which ones?

 

Just noticed the op post count and post date. Probably not true.

 

Well, processed sugar (sugar in general really but esp processed) is addictive.

MSG is addictive.

I know there are many of them. I'm not sure what all they are but anything put in to make something taste better wouldn't surprise me.

 

Any food which is hyper-palatable, which is most processed food and fast food, has the potential to be addictive. These foods are high in things like sugar, salt, or fat (or a combination of these three things) to make them more palatable, and so that people tend to crave them more and eat more of them. It's not a mystery.

 

When I don't eat junk food for a month I'm also repulsed by it and then I go get a quarter pounder and like yuck it's full of oil and makes me sweat oil. And I go get another one every week. XD

 

AT I thought you said additive not addictive. Oops.

 

So as was mentioned, it could be the sugar that you crave.

I suppose that you might also be missing some vitamins. A lot of processed foods are fortified.

 

Agree with all,

Processed food is not good because it contain many preserved chemical which make it looks fresh and good every time. Processed foods are like crap foods. Altough it looks good but they are stale food with zero nutrition.

 

Its those mysterious "artificial and natural flavors" and "seasonings" that food companies are allowed to list as an ingredient when in reality they contain many unknown ingredients blended and designed by "Big Food" to make their so-called "foods" as addictive as possible.

Try adding butter or incorporating healthy unprocessed and humanely raised meats into your diet. These things have been eaten throughout human history and satisfy cravings that would otherwise be satisfied with junk food.

Try adding your own blends of herbs and spices too.