Is The Food Industry Manipulating Your Chemistry? An Interview With Dr. David Kessler

If cake is your BFF (best friend forever), if the call of Cheeto sends you into an orange-stained spin, if you start to drool at the mere mention of Cinnabon, and/or if you are mad at yourself for giving in and diving into a vat of chocolate, then pull up a chair and start clicking for an interview that just may change your relationship to food and, in turn, your life.

Read as Janice Taylor, weight loss coach, hypnotherapist, and author of All Is Forgiven, Move On interviews Dr. David Kessler, author of, The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite.

Dr. Kessler was Commissioner of the FDA from 1990-1997 (under two administrations--one red, and one blue), and during that time he was responsible for putting a squeeze on the tobacco industry and reinventing the food label. Janice found him to be an authentic, caring human being who has battled the bulge himself and is a model teacher for how you can take control of your overeating.

Cracking the Overeating Code

JT: Dr. Kessler, you invested seven years of your life meeting with top scientists, physicians and food industry insiders, exploring and investigating just how we (Americans) have lost control of our eating habits. This research must be very important to you.

DK: Yes, very important on a number of levels. While watching Oprah, I heard a woman speak about her inability to control her eating, and the pain and frustration that accompanied her lack of control. I wondered, "What is going on? What's driving this?"

And I related to her story. There's almost nothing in my life that I do on impulse. But foods and the cues that surround them have the power to make me act against my own will. I wanted to understand how this works. I wanted to crack the code.

JT: You found that the food industry plays a rather prominent part in the fattening of America. Please explain.

DK: The food industry is a for-profit business. Their business model is to pull out all the bells and whistles, load the food with multiple layers of salt, fat and sugar, thus creating what I call "carnival food." This carnival atmosphere keeps us wanting and coming back for more.

The food industry's first priority is to make their foods as highly 'palatable' and appealing as possible. They discovered that certain foods can and do keep us eating and eating, with no end in sight.

JT: How does our brain chemistry come into play?

DK: Our brain is the command center of an elaborate communication system. It encourages us to seek out pleasurable things - food being one of them.

Palatability refers to how food engages our senses. Is it cold? Creamy? Does it smell good, and does it taste good? Usually, the most palatable foods contain layer upon layer of fat, sugar and salt. The combination of these factors can and do stimulate the neurons, which are the basic cells in the brain. The brain responds to these highly palatable, rewarding and pleasurable foods by firing electrical signals and releasing brain neurons that are encoded with 'palatability.'

Our brains are being excessively activated - bombarded throughout the day - by food cues. Food cues include the actual food we eat, as well as external cues such as anchors to time of day, location, sound and sight. These cues activate the brain, grab its attention, arousal sets in and it drives consumption.

It's important to understand that when we think of the word 'palatable,' we think of something that tastes good. When the food industry uses that word, they are primarily referring to the food's capacity to stimulate the appetite and prompt us to eat excessively.

JT: I'm having an a-ha! lightbulb moment. Every time I pass Carvel, the urge to go in and order a hot fudge sundae is extraordinary. It must be anchored to happy memories of my father taking my brother and me to Carvel on special occasions.

DK: Yes, exactly. Once the motivational circuits are triggered with food cues, your mind becomes highly focused, the anticipatory neurons are aroused and you are compelled to eat. And again, yes, whether your conscious mind wants to or not.

JT: Goodness, we can all relate to that! Is palatability the only factor to the fattening of America?

DK: No. Another demon here is 'big food.' Portion size is a cue. The corporations drive the portion size, because they argue that they are just giving consumers what they want. The idea that more is better value.

JT: I heard you speak about the packaging on tobacco; explaining that just the crinkle of the cellophane might be enough of a cue to set a person off to seek a smoke. How does packaging and advertising play into the stimuli that cues us to eat?

DK: The advertising adds an emotional gloss which says to consumers, "you will love it; you will want it." Advertising is not really about providing neutral information - the facts about a product; it is about adding emotional gloss. The advertising campaigns increase "the want." The want factor alone can be enough to arouse the motivational circuitry.

JT: So it's a trifecta of emotional gloss, portion size and the fat, sugar, salt combo which activates our neurons. We're being manipulated by the food industry. I don't know about you, but this makes me angry! Tell me, how can we affect change? Not just in our own eating, but in the industry.

DK: We need to educate. We need to understand what is going on in terms of 'palatability,' and understand that our minds are being stimulated. We need to get to the point where we realize that this kind of eating - the fat on top of sugar on top of salt on top of fat - is disgusting. That is the beginning of change.

JT: Obesity is a major problem that threatens our health and well-being. It has reached epidemic proportions. What role should government play?

DK: Government should demand greater disclosure. Once you know how the industry is manipulating the foods and our brain chemistry; you then understand that this has serious implications for our generation as well as for our children. We are conditioning the behavior of our children for a lifetime.

JT: You've given us plenty of food for thought today. Thank you, Dr. Kessler, for your important and life changing work and for the time you've taken to talk to me today.

DK: Happy to do so. My pleasure. Thank you.

More from Janice Taylor on the food industry:
Food Inc.: What's the food industry hiding?
Xtreme Eating Awards: Food Morality?

Spread the word ... NOT the icing,
Janice
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Read more from Janice on her Beliefnet.com weight loss blog
or visit her "Our Lady of Weight Loss" website.

Follow Janice Taylor on Twitter: www.twitter.com/OurLady

Comments

[RMankovitz]

Here is a different view of animal fats, salt, and sugar. We crave them because, in their natural form, they promote health and were part of our original diet for almost 2.5 million years. However, the medical community is correct that if we eat what is presently offered by the food industry in these categories, we are likely to get very sick. An answer to this paradox is to go back to nature and see what she had in mind.

Natural animal fats are those from grass and grub-fed free range animals. The nutritional profile of these natural fats is different from the grain-fed caged-animal Frankenfood offered today, and is filled with healthy nutrients. All of the demonizing studies of animal fats in today's literature are based on the grain-fed junk.

Next is salt. Most of the salt present in today's foods is refined salt, which is another Frankenfood, quite likely to make you sick. Natural salt is unrefined, has a nutritional profile different from Frankensalt, and can actually lower blood pressure!

Moving on to sugar. Most of the foods today that contain sugar are yet another category of Frankefoods. Nature's version of sugar is raw, sweet, ripe fruit, which is a far cry from the refined junk brought to you by the food industry.

For references to what nature intended humans to eat, ask your librarian for a copy of my book: "The Original Diet."

Roy Mankovitz, Director
http://www.MontecitoWellness.com

[NoSillyName]

And even refined sugar is NOT high fructose corn syrup!!!!!

[Janice Taylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for your insights and information about 'real food.' Nothing Franken (except Al) for me!
Deliciously yours,
Janice

[MerhabaAbi]

Attn: Huffington Post editors. The above post solicites viewers to request their library buy the posters book. Free advertising.

[RMankovitz]

Merhaba abi (hello brother):

You have assumed facts not in evidence.

As a matter of fact, I donate copies of my books to public libraries in the US. Your username appears to be Turkish. If you are not a US resident, perhaps one of your US friends can provide you with a copy.

In the unlikely event you might want to read a copy, and if your local library does not have one, send me the web link to that library along with a link to your website. I will contact the librarian and provide them with a free copy to hold in your name.

[CaveatMagnusFrater]

Hi Janice,

There is hope. I was raised on fried food. If the entree wasn't fried, a side dish usually was. I still have to have something deep fried every now and then. My kids on the other hand, both adults now, were raised on fresh fruit instead of candy, simple cereals and real jiuce and water in lieu of sodas. The sugery stuff was an occasional treat but they outgrew those and now both have diets I envy. With interviews and articles like yours being spread throughout the web, even parents who can't break the suger/salt/fat habit entirely can know that their efforts can help their kids avoid the same difficulty.

P.S. You confused my toward the beginning with...Janice found him to be an authentic,... Are you writing in third person or did someone else write that part?

[Janice Taylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Caveat...
I am hopeful that the healthy word is spreading and that parents understand the ramifications of junk food ... and how it changes our brain chemistry. How frightening.

And yes, I wrote the first part in the third-person, a set up for an interview. I dip in and out of third and first person, all day long ...

Thank you for your insights ...
... fried isn't evil. It's the layers of fat, salt and sugar that are purposely mixed and brewed that are!

Deliciously yours,
janice

[NoSillyName]

How odd.

[Ellencpw]

Good for you Janice - very smart move on interviewing Dr. Kessler - you are leaving no stone unturned - a man with as much clout as he, is someone you want in your corner - hopefully he will continue to make a difference, and not only change the way people think, but more important, have some strong influence on those who are making money on doing us wrong - I do think that his having you in his corner, and visa-versa would work synergistically.

[Janice Taylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Ellen ... Dr. Kessler is the 'real-deal.' A man of influence, who truly cares and is making a difference. It was great speaking to him. I do believe that he and I are the yin and yang of weight loss and at the end of the day, we want and are working toward the same thing. Thanks for writing. Janice

[NYCgrrl]

Great interview! I didn't know that Dr. Kessler had struggled with his own weight problem. I look forward to reading his book.

[Janice Taylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Dr. Kessler's book - The end to overeating ... is one of the all time greats. I ingested, digested and processed each and every word. It was an honor to have the opportunity to speak to him.

Janice

[SigmundPi]

Great interview!
It is so illuminating to see how we are being manipulated by the food industry. I have begun to change my diet knowing that eating organic/avoiding processed foods is not just a health issue but it is a profoundly political act: we have to begin to free ourselves from the tentacles of the agribusiness industry---
The adage "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT" is absolutely true.

[Janice Taylor - Huffpost Blogger]

SigmundPi ... Be the change, as Ghandi said.
Buy organic, vote via your pocketbook.

Thank you for changing your ways.

Janice

[AngieMom57]

"The food industry is a for-profit business. Their business model is to pull out all the bells and whistles, load the food with multiple layers of salt, fat and sugar, thus creating what I call "carnival food." This carnival atmosphere keeps us wanting and coming back for more."...not only this yet artificial flavors, colors, and smells to deceive and entice us to keep eating the JUNK FOOD.

"The love of money is the root of all evil." not money itself. The demonic corporations are a bottom line entity not a humanitarian energy. In a capitalistic society we vote each time we spend a dime! Please stop voting for empty nutrition/ fast food "happy meals" that make our children &society obese, sick, and hypnotized by illusion and please start voting for organic farmers & vegan alternatives along with health, happiness and true prosperity for all not some fathom wealth for a few.

"Everything that deceives may be said to enchant." Plato

[Janice Taylor - Huffpost Blogger]

AngieMom57, Yes, we vote with each and every purchase.
We need to let the government and the food industry, the demonic corporations hear us loud.

"Eat healthy: Be political" ~ Our Lady of Weight Loss

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Great interview Janice -- it always helps to know that someone in power has some common sense as most of them are such slaves to industry and money.
If only the food industry itself was as realistic.
Love you
Deb

[Janice Taylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Yes, Dr. Kessler is one of the few good ones.
And we need put the word out. Blog about the food industry and let people know that they are being manipulated.

Love you, too.
Janice

[Ranaye]

I agree Janice, the food industry is out to make a buck, as our most of our industries, but at what cost? The health of our children and the increase in the costs of health care has snowballed into a disaster not unlike the financial crises due to unregulated greed. Sure we all have a choice, but with the stress that surrounds us now -- it is too easy to find solace in chocolate. Note the one industry that is actually making money as the rest of the world crumbles

[Janice Taylor - Huffpost Blogger]

So true, Ranaye. It is about greed. At what cost?
When do we stand say, "ENOUGH already!"

We vote when we shop. By the way, dark chocolate in small amounts, high end (not the cheap stuff) is safe!

Thanks for writing!
Janice

[caphillprof]

For starters, broadcasters should be prohibited from running food commercials after 7 p.m. each day. Did you ever wonder about those hamburger and pizza ads at 10 pm? 11pm? Midnight?

[Janice Taylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Great point, Caphillprof! Have you counted the number of food commercials that are shown during children's programming?

Spread the word ... NOT the icing!
Janice

[Romulus]

I have a problem with too much government control. Dr. Kessler's solution is more education including greater disclosure. I agree that is the way to go.

[Janice Taylor - Huffpost Blogger]

I do believe that the government needs to insist that we know the truth about what we are eating. Full disclosure. Thanks for your comment,

Janice

[AngieMom57]

Our Government IS controlled by the Fast Food Industry!

Watch the shift, it might be an amazing site ;-)