Compulsive Eaters

Compulsive eaters take in just about anything. Unconsciously, they eat foods that have no nutritional values. JUNK! Most compulsive eaters are unaware of their diet. They find reasons to eat and justify their choices of food. Compulsive eaters find comfort in food. A hard day’s work filled with stress can often bring on an eating binge. Food is often used as a distraction from anxiety, rewarding the pleasure centre of the brain with eating. Abundant food is often the barometer of security and happiness of the compulsive eater.

Your food preferences vary from junk to gourmet. Food from the nearby fast food chain relieves the hunger pang. Premixed food preparations are often popped in the microwave oven to satisfy the craving. That food featured delectably on the food magazine becomes an obsession.

The imagination is often the enemy of the compulsive eater. The colors, images, smells, textures and taste of food will tease the compulsive eater, giving an anticipation of pleasure so strong that all determination fails. The smell triggers the saliva to activate the urge to eat. The taste will cause restlessness. The various textures and images leaves a feeling of want.

In the Bible, eating was not a problem two thousand years ago. Food was organically grown, and consumed at its prime freshness because there were no refrigerators. There were no food additives. The early church did not need adrenaline stimulants or fast energy giving drinks or beverages to get through the rigors of the daily tasks.

If Paul is alive today, he would definitely address the problem and would probably say that, “Junk foods are harmful to one’s body. With you as God’s steward, you must live in discipline and wisdom. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit so you must take good care of it.”