Finding a New Primary Care Doctor

A Big Thanks To Leslie at Wellparents.com for this great advice Thanks to Leslie at Read more

The Rollercoaster of Life

Grandma: "I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like Read more

Sheltering at Home/Covid 19

Never in the last two decades of my career as a physician would I have imagined that we would be using the same mask to see patients all day and then sterilizing/recycling them at the end of the day. Read more

Turmeric Health Benefits

Have you ever wondered what the paste is applied to the bride and groom's faces and arms in Indian weddings?  It's actually the spice turmeric.  Turmeric is the ingredient in curry that gives it a vibrant yellow color.  Actually, Read more

COVID 19 Precautions

With the scare of COVID here in the USA now, I wanted to post a little info about boosting immunity to prevent contracting the virus. Here are some important facts about Covid-19 It is spread by contact with Read more

Natural Tips for Avoiding Colds

This cold and flu season is still upon us and unfortunately, many patients are still being plagued by these nasty viral symptoms.  Here are a few tips to try if you feel like you are coming down with something. Of Read more

Sherry's Story

Sherry has a great story.  She has been diabetic for years and she has made some massive changes!   "I have been on a lifestyle change. It has been a year following a ketogenic food plan.  When I started this journey Read more

Pharmacy to Farmacy

Many of you may know Erin-- the fabulous Pharm D that worked in our office a few years back.  Erin is a phenomenal gal and we embarked on the journey  into natural medicine around the same time.  As we both Read more

dopamine

Why is Candy Crush Addicting?

I had to do this post because I was determined to find out why I was wasting time playing a stupid game on my phone and burning precious time!  Apparently I am suffering from an addiction no different from sugar, drugs, porn etc.  See there is a biochemical reason that we get hooked on these ridiculous games–they are engineered to suck us in and aren’t really any different from the WHEAT and SUGAR that activates our opioid receptors in our brain.  Let’s just pray that Candy Crush isn’t my gateway drug to something more!!!!

Here is why we get so hooked!ff7ea7b56924b1dd389dd4ccbc6fc0cb

 

1.  The colors and graphics activate our brain’s reward system.  Creating patterns of three and being rewarded with zings and popping sounds encourages us to keep playing

2.  They create the opening rounds really easy and this triggers your brain to release mini-shots of dopamine (the feel good hormone).

3.  Once we get sucked into craving dopamine –we start the anticipation of wondering if we can get to the next level. This stimulates our problem solving, memory and spatial recognition.

4.  Here is where they get us—-we are desperate to get to the next level and actually consider paying 99 cents for extra lives.  They also encourage us to continue on by allowing us to share lives with friends on social media.

 

The real point is that we all have addictions that aren’t really our fault.  These games, foods, drinks, and practices are all based on activating our “feel good” hormones in our brains.  That being said, I am working on focusing on finding ways to calm my mind with a more productive passion.  Exercise, Diet, Meditation, Love, Compassion—all can produce the same effects—Baby Steps!

Posted on by Angela in Diet, Exercise, Nutrition 5 Comments