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"Why Do Good People Eat Bad Things?"
by Margaret Gedde, MD, PhD
Cake, cookies, pastries, ice cream, candy bars…
potatoes, pasta, bread, noodles, rice… these are what so
many of us rely on as “comfort food”. Why do they draw
us in again and again, even though they make us foggy
and fat?
“Experts” say we eat comfort foods because they remind
us of comforting situations – that is, they remind us of
mom. But if that’s the whole story, why doesn’t a photo
make us feel the same as a pint of Triple Caramel Chunk?
Here are two situations involving depleted body signals
that can drive you to eat in the moment – and what you
can do to restore balance.
1. Soothed by Serotonin
What do foods like mashed potatoes, pasta, ice cream and
other high carbohydrate goodies do to your nervous
system when you eat them? They trigger release of
serotonin – none other than the “feel good” messenger of
your body.
Serotonin sends the signal that you’re safe and
everything’s okay. It lets you feel calm, relaxed,
optimistic and satisfied.
If you’re low on serotonin you probably feel irritable
and blue at times, and reach for favorite foods to help
you feel better. And that’s what they do! When eating
triggers a serotonin burst, grouchiness gives way to
optimism and calm (even if you also feel stuffed and
guilty).
Is there a way to get a surge of serotonin without
eating foods that make you unhealthy and fat? Yes!
Here are two powerful ways to boost serotonin signals
and reduce the appeal of high-carbohydrate foods:
-- Add L-tryptophan. This is the precursor to serotonin
naturally present in our food and throughout our bodies.
Start with L-tryptophan 500 mg plus vitamin B6 50 mg
each night at bedtime. (The B6 ensures L-tryptophan will
be converted to serotonin.) If L-tryptophan seems to
relax you and improve your sleep without causing
grogginess the next morning (or if you don’t notice
anything), increase it to 1000-1500 mg at bedtime with
the 50 mg vitamin B6. Also, take some L-tryptophan if
you find yourself reaching for a comfort food,
especially in the evening. See if the urge to eat
lessens, giving you room to choose something else.
-- Add St. John’s Wort (SJW) standardized to 3%
hyperforin. This form of the herb has been proven in
clinical trials to relieve depression as well or better
than pharmaceutical drugs. SJW acts on both the
serotonin (calming) and dopamine (stimulating) sides of
our nervous systems. On the serotonin side, it allows
your body to recycle GABA, the neurotransmitter that
serotonin assists. This amplifies your serotonin’s
power, and gives you less need to reach for a favorite
food. Start with one 600 mg capsule of St. John’s Wort
3% hyperforin, then increase to 2-4 caps per day.
2. Blood Sugar Swinging
This is a basic, survival-driven situation that’s
important not to miss. If your blood sugar drops too low
-- maybe in the morning before you’ve eaten, or 3-4
hours after a meal -- you can feel “sick hungry”
(nauseous and hungry at the same time). You might feel
irritable, dizzy and weak.
Feeling this way makes you crave something sweet, and
eating that sweet thing makes you feel better
physically. There’s nothing psychological about it. The
problem is, eating refined sugar or starch can send your
blood sugar swinging even more wildly. Plus it stresses
your adrenals and pancreas, the glands that make your
blood sugar-regulating hormones cortisol, glucagon and
insulin.
If you think your sugar cravings are from low blood
sugar, here’s what you can do:
-- Eat a balanced meal or snack every 3-4 hours.
“Balanced” means that grams of protein about equals
grams of carbohydrate. Include a non-starchy vegetable
for extra fiber, and your snack will keep you steady for
a while. For example, have chicken, crackers and
cucumber. Raw almonds are also an excellent choice –
they have balanced protein and carbohydrate plus lots of
fiber.
-- Support your adrenal glands. Your best bet is to add
a high quality adrenal glandular supplement, available
at supplement stores. This is an animal product – it is
freeze-dried adrenal glands from sheep or cows – so look
for an organic glandular such as those from New Zealand.
Take 1-2 capsules in the morning and any time you feel
your blood sugar is low. Adrenal glandulars may trigger
acid stomach though, so if this happens, take the
supplement with food. Adrenal support herbs can also
support blood sugar. Most supplement stores have several
varieties to choose from.
-- Take L-glutamine when you feel low blood sugar coming
on. This is an amino acid found naturally in our bodies
that helps stabilize blood sugar. Start with 500 mg. If
you do okay with that, then take L-glutamine 500-1500 mg
when you get “that sinking feeling”. Together with
adrenal support, this can carry you until your next
balanced meal.
Disclaimer: Remember, this article is not medical
advice. It is for your information, and the suggestions
here may not fit your situation. Be sure to consult a qualified health
practitioner about your health concerns.
© 2005-2009 Gedde Whole Health LLC.
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