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..
Splenda is great for flavor, but so are others. I haven't tried Xylitol but I have heard much the same as what you had to say. There are dozens of new products in the marketplace, and hundreds in the pipeline..
In a very short time there will be a great line of Low Carb Pasta, with fantastic texture and flavor.(can't say much more at this time, they are keeping this baby close)
It is exciting to hear that we can eat with a clear mind that we enjoy many more things including chocolate, and will retain our full (tooth) smile.. Please keep us informed with your great info..
I love a fighter.. Yehaaaaaaaaaaa!
This is reminiscent of the flat earth society, they won't see it as fact, until they collapse from exhaustion stubbornly searching for the inevitable end, and ashamed to admit they are wrong!.. go figure!
I used to think members of the flat earth society were sane until they went over the edge... :^)
Grilled Tenderloin Salad in Thai Ginger Lime Dressing Tenderloin Salad
1) Prepare grill* so that it has an area of high heat and one of medium.
- 1 1/4 to 2 lbs whole beef tenderloin (depends appetizer or entrée)
- 1 lg. cucumber, peeled and sliced 1/8" to 1/4"
- 1/2 med. red onion, peeled and sliced 1/8" to 1/4"
- 2 med. tomatoes, chopped
- 1 sm. carrot, peeled and sliced 1/8" to 1/4"
- 3 whole green onions, sliced in disks 1/8" to 1/4"
- 2 Tbls chopped cilantro
- 6 cups assorted salad greens
- few thin slices red cabbage
- 6 sm. fresh Thai chiles, chopped (serranos may be substituted, seeds optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 6 sprigs mint, for garnish (cilantro may be substituted)
2) Grill meat uncovered over high for 4 to 5 minutes, turning frequently to sear all sides.
3) Transfer to medium heat and continue cooking to desired doneness, turning frequently (9 to 11 minutes for medium-rare, less for rare).
*Meat may be pan-seared, turning frequently, in a small amount of oil for about 4 minutes and then roasted at 450 degrees to rare or medium-rare, measured with a meat thermometer (around 20 minutes or less).
Chill and thinly slice.
Toss salad ingredients, excluding meat, together and chill.Ginger Lime Dressing
To serve, toss greens and tenderloin with dressing and serve individually, or arrange greens on a platter, topped with meat and drizzled with dressing. Garnish with mint. Serves 6.
- 5 ounces fresh ginger, sliced in thin julienne
- 3/8 cup Thai fish sauce
- 3/8 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 1/2 Tbls sugar
- 1 1/2 Tbls rice flour, soy, or all purpose
- 2 tsp fresh ginger, chopped
- 1 to 2 tsp black sesame seeds, toasted if desired
- Combine ingredients and chill.
I have a herniated disc and can't get out of bed, so I thought that I might just put the low carb recipes up.
Hey... That was the sound they made when they hit bottom!!
I have come to appreciate how important it is to maintain a healthy diet. If you have not read carefully the web site www.notmilk.com you need to do so in my humble opinion. I was one of those people who enjoyed and helped to sustain the dairy industry while growing up. I never stopped to think about what we ate and drank as a family. The next time you go to the grocery store take the time to read and consider the food you select. You have heard about what processed food includes for years but it goes much farther than that. Many of the foods you prepare are inclusive of adding milk to complete the recipe. Think how many times a week you do this with no real knowledge of what you are asking your body to do. The advertising and marketing of the dairy industry in America is monumental and has trapped millions of you in its snare. The conditioning process being done on you and your family is beyond description.
The dairy industry is not willing to tell you the facts but this website will; it has no vested interest and simply wants you to think about information that will improve your health in a very beneficial way. By now you are saying I will never abandon Milk Chocolate that dreamy gooey piece of heaven you have loved all your life. Or your cheesey macaroni dinners. Strangely enough I thought I would have a much harder time going cold turkey on dairy but not so. It took a lot time for me to understand that cows milk is for calves and breast milk is for babies. As a result of my doin this I am thirty pounds lighter and less congested and my asthma has gone away.
This will not be viewed favorably by the industry but your health and well being has to be put ahead of dairy profits. Please know this as well besides the dairy problems seen and described on this site the best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to become better informed about what is on the labels of the foods you purchase. Sugars make things taste more pleasing, saturated fats and sodium additives all contribute in a negative way to your diet. It is hard, I know but there are ways around this problem, it won't be easy but you will be better off eliminating as much of this out of your diet as possible.
Found a few recipes for sweetened condensed milk but this one from Low Carb Luxury , seems the easiest to me...haven't had the chance to try it yet.
| Low Carb Sweetened Condensed Milk |
Ingredients:
This mixture is useful in any recipe where you'd ordinarily use sweetened condensed milk (like Eagle Brand.) Using the Diabetisweet adds less than 1 carb per serving but aids in proper consistency, however, it will still be delicious without it. Depending on your plans to use it, adding a bit of vanilla after cooking can be a nice touch. Makes approx 1 1/2 pints. 40 carbs in entire recipe; 4 grams per 1/4 cup serving. |
Or this one from somewhere I can't remember.
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 cup cream
2 egg yolks
1/3 cup Splenda
1 teaspoon vanilla
-Bring cream to a boil, but watch so it does not burn.
-In a small bowl,beat egg yolks, add splenda & vanilla.
-Stir in some of the hot cream to temper the eggs.
-Slowly pour this egg mixture into the hot cream.
-Cook on medium low heat until thick.Stir constantly.
-Per T: 1 carb
NOTE.....cook only until it coats the back of a spoon.Cooking longer makes it curdle & unuseable.Another idea for cooking would be to use the double boiler method.
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If I am lucky, I can sometimes find heavy cream that is 40% milk fat and has a lower carb count. I'm waiting to get some more to try this recipe and the lowcarb Egg Nog recipes I found.
And for a brown sugar substitute =1 cup Splenda and 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Molasses (if needed) and mix well.You will need to count the carbs --about 24 for the Splenda and some brands/types of molasses have lower counts than others.
I did try this one but used 1 cup and 1 TBL, need to use it soon after making it or else it will clump and harden and you will have very sweet candy.
;-`)
They're putting these fake sweeteners in children's vitamins.
Thank you for reminding me, and bringing it to the attention of everyone else..
GARDEN QUICHE WITH BACON
1) Add basil and onions to bacon fat and sauté for about 10 minutes until tender.
2) Whisk eggs, mustard and cream.
3) In a buttered quiche dish, or pie pan, layer the Swiss cheese, herbs or spinach, mushrooms, onion mixture and bacon crumbles. Pour egg mixture over everything, being careful to cover all the layers.
Bake at 325°F oven for 45 min to 1 hour.
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