Breaking Food Addiction: Insights from Neuroscience | Dr. Jud Brewer | The Proof Podcast EP

Overeating is not your fault. But it is in your control – just not in the way you might think. Food addiction, or feeling out of control when it comes to making food choices, is a common experience that many of us will face at some point in our lives. The good news is, you’re not just “undisciplined” – you’re working hard against a system that was not built for your success. Learn how to reclaim your agency over food in Episode #316 with psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and self-mastery expert, Dr Jud Brewer.

👇 Visit The Proof website for the full show notes and supporting studies. 👇 https://theproof.com/podcast/

We cover:
00:00 Intro
00:13 Understanding the Brain and Habit Formation
02:55 Key Elements of Habit Formation
10:02 The Brain's Role in Decision-Making and Habit Change
14:58 The Impact of Awareness and Mindfulness on Habit Change
24:35 Analysing Eating Habits and the Food Environment
27:36 Survivorship Bias in Successful Habit Change
31:17 Emotional Eating and Coping Mechanisms
36:24 Addressing Guilt, Shame, and Systemic Failures
41:18 Environmental Influences on Eating Patterns
50:22 Breaking Negative Eating Habits: Weight Loss Journey
58:53 Effective Strategies to Stop Destructive Habits: Breathwork
1:02:50 The Role of Psychedelics and Meditation in Overcoming Negative Eating Habits
1:05:58 How the Brain Changes When We Modify Eating Habits
1:09:20 Pharmacology vs. Mindfulness: Which Is More Effective?
1:20:35 Practical Tips to Overcome Night Cravings
1:30:12 Measuring Success in Habit Change
1:36:14 Debunking the 21-Day Habit Formation Myth
1:37:16 Outro

Dr Jud Brewer, a New York Times best-selling author and internationally recognised expert in habit change and mindfulness, is the Director of Research and Innovation at the Mindfulness Centre and a professor at Brown University. With over 25 years of experience, Dr Brewer has developed innovative mindfulness programs for treating smoking, emotional eating, and anxiety, including app-based solutions. His work, funded by prominent institutions and featured in major media outlets, explores the neural mechanisms of mindfulness using advanced neurofeedback techniques. Dr Brewer is also the founder of MindSciences, now part of Sharecare Inc., and the author of The Craving Mind, Unwinding Anxiety, and The Hunger Habit.

Connect with Dr Jud Brewer:
Website: https://www.drjud.com/
Latest book, The Hunger Habit: https://drjud.com/the-hunger-habit/
YouTube:    / drjud  
Instagram:   / dr.jud  
Twitter:   / judbrewer  
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dr.jud

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Enjoy, friends.
Simon

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Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)
Creator of http://theproof.com/ and host of The Proof with Simon Hill https://theproof.com/podcast/

Author of The Proof is in the Plants https://theproof.com/book/

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