The following Mark's Daily Apple article was written by Mark Sisson, and is narrated by Tina Lehman.

How to stop using food like a drug?

You might be hard-pressed to find many people who never take

advantage of the elixir effects food can have on us. For instance, I'd venture that the majority of us

start our day with a cup of coffee or caffeinated tea. Some of us wind down after a long week with a

glass of wine or a taste of our

favorite bourbon. Even a small dose of sugar during times of excessive stress can lower cortisol,

hence why some of us reach for an extra indulgence when things get rough. As long as we're talking

occasional or modest gratification, we can take advantage of these benefits without worry.

But for some people, food becomes an ongoing coping mechanism, or an unhealthy dependency to get them through their day.

Where's the line between normal indulgence and chronic abuse of food?

And what do we do when we find ourselves sliding into

risky territory? The body is designed for us to enjoy eating. Lab animals that don't produce

dopamine die because they literally won't eat without the internal motivation reward boost.

We're naturally drawn to the sense and textures of food, along with the

associations they offer. I sometimes think about certain meals as actual memories because they

opened new territory of culinary delight. Yet, other than a cup of coffee each day, I'm careful

about how I use food. A few years ago, I even kicked my nightly wine habit

because I thought I might feel better without it. It wasn't until I found a healthy workaround

that I reintroduced it. I wanted to make sure I was getting the benefits without the downsides.

And there's the rub. When is an indulgence working against, not for us? Even if we glean

some benefit from something, such as an energy boost from coffee or a drop in cortisol from

...