Abstinence is achieved by the elimination of compulsive eating, volume eating, under eating, addictive eating, and all of the substances that will trigger an addictive response. These include highly refined carbohydrate foods, high fat foods, and personal trigger foods. It might be helpful to look at the addictive substances in a general way. All addictive substances have gone through the refinement process. All addictive substances are quickly absorbed.
All addictive substances alter brain chemistry.
All addictive substances change mood. Refined, processed foods trigger the addictive response in people who are genetically predisposed to the disease of addiction. If you don't think carbohydrates are mood altering, think back to a big, heavy Thanksgiving dinner. You may have felt sleepy or lethargic afterward. Possibly you experienced depressed mood or irritability.