Posted on 10/12/2003 8:20:04 AM PDT by carlo3b
Eat some Chocolate Cake and just Relax..!!Maybe not!.. It's A GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS story...
We always knew this was so, but most of us were at a loss to explain it.. Eating something devilish, like cake or anything sweet, makes us simmer down.
Well, let me try to explain it in words that may assist us all in understanding.. This is with the help of, none other than the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.
THE GOOD NEWS. Those sweet and fatty foods that we often turn to in times of stress might in fact calm nerves, and relieve anxiety. That's the good news in an innovative biological theory of people's responses to stress. (If you are already stresses, you should stop here an get another Hershey's kiss, before proceeding)
The bad news (You knew this was coming so calm down) is that for those with chronic nervousness, and unusual levels of stress, those extra servings of comfort food come with potentially dangerous baggage, extra fat around the waist. SHAAZAM!
If that didn't do it for you .. Chronic stress, brought about by everyday trials and tribulations, is less well understood than are intermittent bouts of extreme, and acute stress. Here is what scientists know, that when a cat is suddenly attacked by a dog or a person prepares to give a speech, the adrenal gland pumps up production of stress hormones, including those known as glucocorticoids. When present at high-enough concentrations, glucocorticoids provide feedback to the stress-response system, eventually shutting it down.
To the researchers, it is still unclear how the stress response is controlled in animals that remain anxious for days at a time. However in the labs of physiologist Mary F. Dallman of the University of California, San Francisco and her colleagues, they aim to close that knowledge gap.
Drawing on their animals studies and experiments, these and other scientists propose that glucocorticoids work differently in the long term than they do in the short term. Meaning, that when chronically present in the brain and body, the hormones maintain the stress response instead of shutting it down. At the same time, they drive animals to seek out pleasurable foods, much the same as we do in our own nest. This directs the added calories to accumulate as abdominal fat,
However, there is a bright light in this process, at least in animal experiments. That unwanted extra fat eventually checks the glucocorticoids' alarmist effects and tells the brain to Whoa!
The results from several laboratory experiments with rodents (isn't this comforting.. get another Hershey's Kiss) support this view, the scientists say. In one set of conclusions, Dallman and her colleagues simulated chronic stress by increasing the brain concentration of a rodent version of the glucocorticoid called cortisol. As cortisol concentration rose, the rats responded by drinking increasingly more sugar water, eating increasingly more lard, and gaining abdominal girth. Ugh!
In an additional experiment, the researchers found that rats (maybe even you, you dainty mouse) with extra padding produce less-than-average concentrations of a brain chemical that triggers early molecular events underlying the stress response. HUH?
"If you put on some extra weight, there seems to be some sort of signal that says things are better," says Norman C. Pecoraro of UC-San Francisco, a coauthor of the paper. While Dallman and her coworkers don't know what signal the abdominal fat sends, they suspect it's involved with the regulation of metabolism.Whatever accounts for the urge to eat a big helping of Lasagna, it's best not to indulge in it every day. The abdominal weight gain that Dallman and her colleagues have linked to glucocorticoid action increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes. {{{{{SHUDDER}}}}} OH! I see... *<@)... I just thought you should know..The model "puts a new and more meaningful slant on what we mean when we talk about 'comfort foods,'" says Bruce S. McEwen of Rockefeller University in New York. "These may actually calm down an important brain system linked to anxiety."
In a fast-paced society where food is easy to get, glucocorticoid action probably causes chronically stressed people to take in extra calories and to gain weight, says McEwen.
"People are somehow stressed, and they are self-medicating because food is available," adds Pecoraro.
"We also eat sugar and fat because they are good tasting and cheap," notes Adam Drewnowski of the University of Washington in Seattle. The stress response isn't the only brain pathway that controls consumption of sweet and high fat foods, he adds.
SOOOO.. put down the Kiss and go kiss someone..
Who could refuse that, I ask ya?.. Welcome.. :o)
My method is a "from whence I came" method. I have been a high carb eater most of my life. I just figured that less has got to be better. For awhile, I cut too many carbs. I now eat leass of most everything. I do eat veggies and a piece of fruit is now an ocassional treat (used to be ice cream).
The first week was psycologically difficult. After the first week, I actuallly lost my appetite, but I became weak. After the 3rd week, much of my energy returned. Now I'm in a routine.
Ooooohhhh! I *love* it when you speak Italian! :-)
*Grazie*
My wife and I started the South Beach diet two weeks ago. She's down eight pounds but I've only managed four so far - just half what the book led me to hope for. However, I have to say I'm eating a larger breakfast than I did before and have to admit it's not been at all discomforting. My weight does seem to have "redistributed" somewhat for the better - though that is subjective. AAMOF, I'm probably eating more, volume-wise, on the diet than I did before. I'll chaulk it up to re-tuning. Either way, I'm sticking with it for her sake, if not for mine.
As the first "offical" diet I've attempted in 45 years, I can't complain.
I have to admit that I'm a bit apprehensive about shifting to "Phase 2" after minimal loss during the first two weeks. Anyone have any anecdotal experiences on the transition to Phase 2?
Thank you, sir.
Now, if you can just point our S4 to a source for lowcarb MREs ...
Mush = must, DUH... mush isn't very appetizing but this is..
LowCarb Copa Cabana Mint Chicken
1) Arrange chicken pieces on a well greased, large enough baking pan so all are on a single layer.
- 8 large chicken thighs, bone-in, skinned
- 1 lemon, zest and juice
- 3 Tbs. pure olive oil
- 3 lg. cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbs. fresh mint, chopped, or 2 tsp dried
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- Dash of cayenne pepper, to taste
- Season with salt & pepper to taste
- Sprig of cilantro, chopped for garnish
- Pre-heat oven to 350
2) Blend all remaining ingredients except fresh cilantro. Pour over chicken, turning to fully coat.
Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours, or overnight.
3) Place uncovered dish in cold oven, then bake at 350 for 45 - 50 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork and juices run clear. Baste the chicken with the pan juices a couple of times while baking.
Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro, and serve piping hot.. EnjoyLess than 2 grams of Carb per piece.. Yehaaaaaaaaaaa!
A little tea could go a long way to lowering your cholesterol. In a new study, researchers found patients who drank black tea regularly decreased bad cholesterol by 7-11%. Scientists don't know why, but they hope future studies will reveal that tea reduces the risk of heart disease as well.
2. Dark bread: Breads that are dark in color, such as pumpernickel and whole wheat, contain more fiber and whole grains than lighter breads. This holds true for bagels, too.
3. Quinoa: This product is similar to rice but it's more delicate and flavorful--and cooks in half the time. "It's a great carbohydrate-packed alternative to rice or pasta," says Chris Rosenbloom, Ph.D., associate professor of nutrition at Georgia State University in Atlanta. A 6-ounce serving contains 132 calories, 23 grams of carbohydrate, 4 grams of protein, and 2 grams of unsaturated fat.
4. Buckwheat pasta: Also known as soba noodles, buckwheat pasta offers more whole grains and is higher in minerals and carbohydrates than regular pasta. Add to soup, or use in a vegetable stir fry, suggests Rosenbloom.
5. Whole-wheat pasta: This comes with a heartier flavor, more whole grains, and about three times the fiber as regular pasta. As with oatmeal, pasta provides slow-release carbohydrates, which are perfect for distance runners who need sustained energy.
DIET RITE DEAD MAN WALKING DESSERT
Have family member drop you off at any mall that has Hagen Das Ice Cream Parlor, 5 or more miles away that you have to walk home, for every scoop you intend to eat, then go for it! Try out you new body ... :o)
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