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..
FReeper Food 101.. :)You should add this to your basic recipe list.. consider this recipe more of a suggestion rather than a true recipe because just about any fish can be substituted for the salmon, and the butter goes equally well on grilled beef, chicken, and pork.
Grilled Salmon with Mustard Butter
1) Combine the butter, mustards, herbs, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- 4 oz unsalted butter at room temperature
- 3 Tbs. Dijon style mustard
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 2 Tbs. chopped chives
- 2 Tbs. chopped parsley
- 1 Tsp fresh lemon juice
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 4 - 6 salmon steaks or fillets, about 6 - 8 oz each
- 2 Tbs. olive oil
2) Roll the mixture into a log about 4 inches (10 cm) long and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm.
3) Rub the salmon steaks with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
4) Place on a grill over moderate heat and cook, turning once, until the flesh is firm to the touch and opaque throughout.
5) Place a 1/2 inch (1 cm) thick slice of the butter on each portion.
Serves 4 to 6. ENJOY!
Get series about HEALTHY, and LOW CARB FOOD
All aboard.. We're getting on track to a healthier LIFE!
Lets get the SKINNY on the Atkins Diet
Hurry, GET ON BOARD the LOWCARB, and OTHER HEALTH LIVING TRAIN, is leaving the station..
The 11 Commandments of a THANKSGIVING DINNER ..Food, Fun, and recipes!
Hope you up and about soon!
??! Birch as in birch trees??! Does other sugar substitutes use this??
Here's why I'm stunned. During this time of weight loss, I've been having a terrible time with fragrances of any kind, to the point where I can't breathe. My doctor sent me to an allergist who determined I've got asthma. She had tested me for allergies and it turns out that besides allergies to dust mites and mold (who isn't), I'm allergic to birch trees, of all things. Since then, I've found that Slenda has been the source of my asthma - now that it's out of my system, I'm fine again. (Thank God! The three prescriptions for the asthma would have been costly!)
This is too weird! Got some serious researching to do! Thanks for that bit of info, PoisedWoman!!
I hate it when I get decked like this, especially this time of year. I get a massage every two weeks and the guy that does it can work magic. I'm calling him today!
Whew, I can't stand salmon. So this would work with Tuna, Trout and Halibut?
BTTT
LowCarb Broccoli Cheddar Soup 1) In a saucepan, melt butter over heat.
- 2 Tbs. butter
- 1 Tbs. arrowroot
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 5-1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped broccoli or 1 1/2 cups fresh broccoli
- 3 Tbs. onion, diced
- 2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Longhorn Cheddar cheese
2) Using a wire whisk, stir in arrowroot, salt, and pepper. Cook over low heat for 3-4 minutes.
3) In a large saucepan, heat milk to simmering. Cook broccoli and onions in milk until tender.
4) Add arrowroot mixture to milk while stirring. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes.
5) Gradually add shredded cheese, stirring to melt.
Puree in a food processor or served immediately.Makes 8 servings
LowCarb, copyrighted by Morelli Enterprises Inc.
LowCarb MooLess Soothin Smoothies A great refreshing Non-Dairy beverage.
Very simple directions: toss everything in the blender and mix.
- 1/2 cup frozen fruit, as peach, strawberry, pear, (or 1 cup fresh)
- 1/4 cup soft tofu
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon Splenda
- 1 20-gram scoop (3/4 oz.) of low-carb soy powder
LowCarb, copyrighted by Morelli Enterprises Inc.
A great refreshing Non-Dairy beverage.
I'm curious about this recipe. Since it's non-dairy, what do I do with the cup of milk?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.