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Most addictive foods - You'll see a common trend in the following 17 foods, as they're usually high in sugar, fat, or both (and they're terribly delicious).

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17. Steak - Who would've thought the steak-craze stemmed from something deeper? Addictive-like eating behavior is more than just a craving or lack of willpower.

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16. Gummy candy - Addictive eating is often linked to processed foods, like gummies, which are high in added sugar and/or fat.

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15. Breakfast cereal - But processed foods like cereal taste so good! Unfortunately, they're often engineered to be "hyperpalatable," making your taste buds dance for joy. Yes, even wholegrain varieties.

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14. Popcorn (buttered) - Fatty, salty, and deceivingly light, popcorn is difficult to stop eating, especially in front of a screen.

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13. Rolls (plain) - Addictive foods also contain high amounts of calories, and cause major blood sugar imbalances, which can result in those crazy carb cravings.

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12. Fried chicken - While you might think it's the mouthwatering food itself, the biggest contributor to addictive-like eating is your brain.

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11. Bacon - The brain has a reward center that is activated and starts releasing dopamine and other feel-good chemicals when we eat, and even more when we eat things like bacon.

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10. Cheese - The brain's reward center explains why most people enjoy eating, and why some seek food, like cheese, for those happy feelings.

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9. Cake - The reward system isn't all bad, as it ensures we eat enough food to get all the energy and nutrients that we need, but foods like cake can throw the system off.

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8. Soda (not diet) - The amount of sugar in soda is appalling, and junk food like this releases huge amounts of feel-good chemicals—but they do not sustain them.

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7. Cheeseburgers - A cheeseburger, for example, yields a much more powerful reward in the brain as opposed to an unprocessed sandwich, but the latter will leave you feeling better.

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6. French fries - Hyper-rewarding foods, like fatty and salty fries, cause your brain to seek more reward through cravings.

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5. Ice cream - Ever heard the ice cream tub in the freezer calling your name? The immense reward and cravings can lock you in a vicious cycle of food addiction.

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4. Cookies - Hardly anyone can just eat one cookie.

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3. Chips - The combination of airiness, crunch, and taste bud-tingling flavor only heighten this food's addictive quality.

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2. Chocolate - If you've binged on chocolate, you're not alone. But, luckily, there are ways to detox.

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1. Pizza - Somewhat unsurprisingly, the food the world is obsessed with is also the most addictive. This may vary depending on the kind of pizza.

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Least addictive foods - You'll find that the following 17 least addictive foods are mostly whole, unprocessed foods.

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17. Nuts - Natural nuts, as opposed to roasted and salted nuts (though still high in fat and calories), are much safer bets.

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16. Eggs - Most people don't actually crave the egg itself, but rather the fried up, salty, paired-with-bacon combination of fat and flavor.

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15. Chicken breast - While chicken breast is a healthy option, you should probably avoid eating things like chicken salad when eating out.

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14. Pretzels - Not all carbs are terribly addictive, thank goodness.

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13. Crackers (plain) - It's the cracker's partner, cheese, which is more likely the problem.

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12. Water - Though it may seem like a joke, water gets those feel-good chemicals flowing, just without any of the negative effects of fat, sugar, or salt (though also lacking nutrients your body needs).

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11. Granola bar - This of course depends on whether you're munching on a healthy granola bar or a highly processed one dipped in chocolate.

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10. Strawberries - Ever eaten too many strawberries and had a stomach ache? If you answered yes, what kind of strawberries are you eating?

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9. Corn (no butter or salt) - Some people wouldn't even consider eating corn without butter or salt, but therein lies the addictive quality.

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8. Salmon - This fish actually helps release more stable happy hormones that won't leave you feeling sluggish.

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7. Bananas - There are certainly people who go bananas for bananas, but it's not the thing that calls you into the kitchen at midnight.

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6. Broccoli - If you're focusing on less addictive foods, do it right and learn how to pick the best fruit and vegetables.

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5. Brown rice - White rice has a higher Glycemic Index, meaning it spikes the blood sugar and causes more cravings than brown rice.

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4. Apples - Ever had a problem stopping after eating a single apple? In fact, apples are often used to curb less healthy sugar cravings.

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3. Beans (no sauce) - The magical fruit! Beans offer a great amount of protein and other nutrients.

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2. Carrots - It's a good thing that carrots aren't as addictive as pizza, because eating too much beta-carotene can make your skin turn yellowish!

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1. Cucumbers -

Stay cool as a cucumber with this least-addictive food. 

See also: Foods that help combat stress, depression, and anxiety

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