Most/all of us have heard the term “GATEWAY DRUG” and this refers to particular substances that are thought to open the way to using more dangerous or harder drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Many of our parents warned us that smoking weed was “bad”, not necessarily because the marijuana itself was harmful but they believed it would lead to our use of other, more dangerous mind-altering drugs.
Let’s move the conversation to the concept of “Gateway” foods and drinks, i.e. those consumables that prompt us to want to eat/drink more of those weight-derailing food/drink sources.
Chemically, we all make MANY hormones that impact our eating behaviors and one of these is a chemical called “GHRELIN”. This hormone is produced in the stomach and it is also known as the “appetite” hormone because this causes us to feel hunger. Conversely, there is a chemical called “LEPTIN” that induces satiety.
Here are the foods/drinks that cause ghrelin levels to rise, thereby making us feel the need to eat/drink more of these items:
- Highly processed foods (remember those old Lays Potato Chips commercials that stated “You cannot only eat just one!”?)
- Carbonated beverages
- Artificial sweeteners
- Sugary foods
- Corn syrup
We all should avoid “Gateway” foods and drinks as the ingestion of these will lead to bigger/badder eating and drinking behaviors.
No songs about “Gateway” foods but David GATES did sing some iconic songs from the 1970’s with the group “Bread” (a “Gateway food”). Here is a number one single from 1970.
