Eating our Emotions

Food and Emotions: 90 percent overlook key to weight loss, survey finds

Expert says diets fail because people don't address the emotional aspects of food

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151201093606.htm

Article Summary: 

This article investigates the correlation between our emotions and our food. With New Years just around the corner, only about 8% of those who make a New Year's resolution will actually keep it. Additionally, studies show that 2 out of 3 people who lose 5% of their total body fat gain it back, and the more weight you lose, the less you chances are of keeping it off. 

Diane Robinson, PhD, a neuropsychologist and Program Director of Integrative Medicine at Orlando Health explains that while people focus almost solely on the physical aspects of weight loss, dieting and exercising, they neglect to focus on the emotional aspects. 

She explains that many of us relate food to our emotions from an early age. We are given food to calm or reward us when we were children. Many holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are remember for their food. We also sometimes even relate smells to our memories of our grandmother in the kitchen, or other memory evoking smells. This memory causes the release of dopamine, the feel good process. Because of this, long into our adulthood, we can seek food for comfort. For example, coming home from a stressful day of work can lead us straight to our refrigerator. 

 Shekyra DeCree has lost over 100 pounds by addressing her emotional connection with food. As a result she claims the best way to fight the fat is to: 

"-Keep a daily diary logging your food and your mood, and look for unhealthy patterns.

-Identify foods that make you feel good and write down why you eat them. Do they evoke a memory or are you craving those foods out of stress

-Before you have any snack or meal ask yourself: Am I eating this because I'm hungry? If the answer is no, look for the root of your motive."

Personal Reflection: 

I think I have this problem without question. It is easy to see that when I am stressed or under pressure, I turn to the only thing that always makes me feel better. Because of this I have definitely formed habits of going to get food to calm me or make me feel less stressed. I also relate comfort of my dad with his cooking and therefore relate certain smells to being home. I can see how this is not good for my habits and can cause issues in the future. 

Correlation: 

We have talked about dopamine in class and its effects in relation to stress. It can help calm you during the stress of school work and can be released when hanging with friends, playing with pets, exercising, and apparently eating. Therefore, while eating may lower your stress, its effects could be worse than being stressed out. I think that this shows you have to make sure you are lowering your stress through beneficial outlets. For example, going for a run to calm down would be much better than going to the kitchen, 

No More SUGA

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151027074759.htm

Obese children's health rapidly improves with sugar reduction unrelated to calories

Lead author of the study, Robert Lustig, MD, MSL, pediatric endocrinologist at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco writes, "This study definitively shows that sugar is metabolically harmful not because of its calories or its effects on weight; rather sugar is metabolically harmful because it's sugar."This article highlights, yet again, the incredibly harmful effects of sugar in children's diets. It shows that sugar leads to metabolic syndrome. It also shows that removing sugar from one's diet can cause weight loss. 

The article explains that Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions, which can be, but are not limited to , "increased blood pressure, high blood glucose level, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels." These accumulation of these health issues can cause an increase in the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

This study took 43 children between 9 and 18 and removed all sugar from their diets for just nine days. To maintain the same fat and caloric intake, they substituted the sugar with starch. Therefore, instead of sugary cereal and yogurt, they were given bagels and pasta. There sugar intake decreased from 28 to 10 percent. 

The results showed only consistent small weight losses. The children also got full faster. Some complained of being overwhelmed with food, yet were intaking the same number of calories. 

Additionally, the metabolic effects of obesity were significantly decreased. There blood pressure decreased, liver function improved, and there "bad" cholesterol decreased by 10 points. 

The conclusive results showed that a calorie is not a calorie, all are not the same. 

Personal Reflection: 

I have seen study after study, and documentary after documentary proving that sugar is detrimental to one's health and yet, still somehow the sugar industry stocks the shelves of ever gas stations. If you think about it, sugar impacts our lives almost before we even have a chance to deny it. For example, every child indulges in juice boxes, capris sons, apple juices in our sippy cups and so much more. These are full of sugar and for some reason we think its okay to pump our barely walking toddlers with straight sugar water. Furthermore, sugar is addictive and unescapable. You cannot walk in any gas station without seeing sugary snacks on almost every isle. 

I do not understand how we can know sugar is this harmful and still have it so prevalent in our lives. Why has the industry not seen the effects of the knowledge we all have now?

Correlation:

We have talked in class of the role of government in what we eat. For example, we discussed the role that big business has in GMO creation when the group spoke on that. It is almost like the tobacco industry. For years it ruled over government and paid researchers to prove that tobacco was not as harmful as it was. Yet, now that the consumers know the truth, tobacco sells have drastically decreased. I think eventually the same happens with sugar. Yet, I think big businesses like coke and others are still fighting it. I just hope the change happens sooner rather than later. 

Don't Forget the Fat!

Low-fat diet not most effective in long-term weight loss

Researchers conduct a systematic review of randomized clinical trials comparing the long-term effectiveness of low-fat and higher-fat dietary interventions on weight loss

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151029185540.htm

Article Summary: 

A study preformed by researches from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Pubic Health (HSPH) investigated the results of randomized clinical trials that experimented about the efficiency of a low-fat diet. The results were that low-fat diets were no more successful that high-fat diets in achieving and maintaining weight loss for longer than a year. 

The study took 68,128 participants of 53 studies and investigated their outcomes. They found that when low fat diets were compared to other diet results, the participants lost around 6 pounds in all trials, but was unable to retain the weight loss for more than a year. Additionally, participants of low-fat, low carb diets only lost 1 to 2 pounds. They were only effective when compared to the participants "usual diet."

The implications of this study show that our attention needs to move from ratios of calories from fat, carbs, and protein to developing a balanced diet of whole foods, portion sizes, and tailored to our environment. These can help prevent weight gain in the first place. 

Personal Reflection: 

I chose to write about this article in my blog because I have seen the first hand effects of these carb cutting and fat elimination diets. My mom has done these type of diets for years. I too sometimes have fallen victim to the hype. Yet, after having a nutritional science major as a roommate for two years, I have come to understand the importance of loving your body and not stripping it of what it needs. She would always talk about Avocados and how incredibly healthy they are, but how fat filled they are also. Also, I worked at an organic juicing restaurant this summer. The juices were around 300 calories each. Yet, they were incredibly nutrient dense and healthy. Still, when customers asked about the calories and I told them 300 they would gasp and some would even hand back the juices. I think I have come to understand that we are to fuel our body, not deny it of its necessary needs. 

Correlation:

This correlates to discussions in class following Hunter's individual project on Urban Farming, and mine on Vegetarianism. We talked about the importance of buying local and the difference in American supermarkets and European street markets. We discussed the way American lifestyle has played a crucial role on the decline of our health. Because we no longer have to go out and kill our own chicken to have fried chicken for dinner, it is much easier to eat it often and in large quantities. Therefore, we eat more often and larger sizes than we ever have before, and this is playing a huge role in the decline of our health and our environment trying to keep up with our growing appetites. 

What did your daddy eat?

What your father ate before you were born could influence your health

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151204135513.htm

Article Summary:

A new article sheds light on the fact that what your parents do before you are born had direct effects on your health. The study, led by researchers from Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, observed the differences in 10 lean men's sperm cells, and 10 obese men. It the then investigated the differences in men's sperm cells before and 6 years after gastric bypass. The results were, as the article explains, possess different epigenetic marks that could alter the next generation's appetite, as reported in the medical journal Cell Metabolism." Additionally, the researchers found over 4,000 structural changes to the cell after gastric bypass surgery. While the results are obviously not conclusively, they point to the fact that parents' health can directly effect their children.

The inspiration for the experiment came from studies that acute nutritional stress, ie. a famine, can cause diabetes in the next generation. Another study showed that when a Swedish Village was incapable of attaining sufficient food, their unborn children would potentially suffer from cardiometabolic disease. The article explained, "The grandchildren's health was likely influenced by their ancestors' gametes (sperm or egg), which carried specific epigenetic marks -- e.g. chemical additions to the protein that encloses the DNA, methyl groups that change the structure of the DNA once it is attached, or molecules also known as small RNAs."

Personal Reflection: 

I think this article plays on the nurture vs nature argument. It also makes me question my own genealogy. My parents, especially my dad, are not the perfect picture of health and therefore could have effected my metabolic health. Additionally, this makes me concerned for my future children. I feel like I will play closer attention to my health and my future husband's health for the sake of my children's future. 

Correlation :

This article clearly relates to class. We talk a lot about DNA and genealogy. We watched Gataca, which has clear correlation with this article. It showed the importance of having pristine genes to have the perfect children. While I think the movie illustrates what happens when we take that too far, I do think we should set our children up to achieve the highest level of success possible. I do not think we should set them up for failure, or in this case, obesity or health issues. 

The CTE Epidemic

The CTE Epidemic 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/new-87-deceased-nfl-players-test-positive-for-brain-disease/

Article Summary: 

Shocking information has been revealed that 87 of the 91 brains of recently deceased NFL players has tested positive for a brain disease. Boston University and The US Department for Veteran Affairs has now said that over CTE, or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is in over 96% of NFL players' brains. The disease is caused by repetitive brain injuring hits that result in several concussions. It can cause dizziness, memory loss, depression, and dementia. 

While the very real disease is still being investigated, the NFL has just made a $1Billion settlement with over 9,000 former players complaining of head injuries. The NFL assures that they are changing the game to protect the players' futures, but the damage may have already been done. 

The NFL will face another blow with the new movie coming out called the League of Denial telling the story of Bennet Omalu research that he brought to the NFL. The research was denied by the NFL. 

The NFL, however, is now continuing to fund research and seek better ways to lessen the blows to the head in the industry. 

Personal Reflection:  

My boyfriend is a division I college football linebacker, and after we discussed this topic in class, I asked him how many concussions he estimated he has had in his college career. His response was over 20. The long term effect of that many concussions is scary. Especially after understanding this disease, I fear for his future. I read one study that said 130 out of less that 160 college football and professional football players' brains have shown CTE. 

I also watched a documentary on ESPN about a Chiefs player who shot his girlfriend in front of their 3 year old daughter, and then drove to his team's practice facility, and shot himself. His brain showed CTE. The effects of this disease are without question devastating and I am thankful light is being shed on the information, regardless of what it does to the industry.

Correlation: 

We discussed this topic in class, which is where I became interested in it. I have continued to research the disease outside of class. In class, however, we looked at scans, similar to the one above, of a normal brain versus one with CTE. You can clearly see the significant amount of damage that the disease has on the brain. I can only imagine what some of the veteran NFL players' brain look like. 

GM Mice, Pain Free?

The Recipe for Pain Free??

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151204090034.htm

 Article Summary:
Using transgenic mice, meaning, "modified to carry genetic material from another organism," to experiment, scientist think they have now found a cure to pain. The article explains that there is a rare genetic disorder where humans are born with a non-functional Nav 1.7, a sodium channel, are unable to feel pain without the long term side effects and dependency caused by opioids painkillers, like morphine. By giving the mice without Nav 1.7 a dose of naloxone, an opioid blocker, and they became able to feel pain again. Similarly, they gave a woman without the Nav 1.7 a dose of naloxone and she too became able to feel pain. Therefore, this proves that the Nav 1.7 is the key to long term pain management and maybe even elimination. 

Personal Reflection:
This is interesting because being able to cure pain would be amazing for the medical industry. I personally know so many people who's quality of life has been decreased due to daily pain. For example, I worked for a farmer in high school who had injured his lower body in a motorcycle wreck. He was left unable to retain his balance and he is always in pain. The idea that medicine could completely heal him without the worry of dependency or side effects would be incredible.

Correlation: 
The article walks the reader through the trial process. We have talked a lot about this in class. First testing with the mice and then tons of FDA stuff to be cleared. Then it can move to human testing. It also relates to the movie about Breast Cancer that we watched in class. Because the new war of fighting Breast Cancer seemed so much more efficient, everyone wanted to do it, but it hadn't been properly tested and the consequences were devastating. 

Going Green and Staying BIG

Article Summary: Weighing in at an unbelievable three hundred pounds of pure veggies, David Carter is far from unhealthy. After struggling with tendonitis and fatigue, Carter, offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears, decided to go 100% green. Carter claimed after initially losing 40 pounds, he is now back to his weight goal, and feels better than ever. His daily diet consists of over 10,000 calories, and 1.2 pounds of protein exclusively from beans, beats, rice, and grain. He has come a long way seeing that just 2 years ago, he had just signed with the Oakland Raiders weighing a mere 285 pounds. He was adding milkshakes and entire gallons of milk to his diet in hopes of gaining. Yet, his pain was unbearable as his shoulders hurt, his tendonitis was flaring, and three of his fingers had gone totally numb. He relates his turning point to a night when his pain was so severe that he could not even get out of the bath tub. He said, " “I realized I was making everything worse,” he says. “I was feeding the tendonitis, the muscle fatigue, everything. So the next day I went vegan. The first thing I ate was a bean burger and haven’t eaten meat since.” After getting back up to 300 lbs, he was able to lift more, run faster, and felt better than he ever had.
       Yet, the real difficulties come in the amount of food he is forced to eat a day. Between 5 meals, smoothies in between each, and forcing down sauerkraut as a snack throughout the day, 10,000 calories worth of extra effort to eat is a tough job. The article explains saying, "while other athletes crave a cheat meal, Carter just wishes to skip a meal. His favorite food is cashew cheese from nutritional yeast, and he's making the most of this life by proving that vegans aren't always necessarily puny and weak. 

Correlation: It seems as though new research regarding vegan-ism is coming out daily proving the positive influence going vegan has on one's health and the environment. Seeing this hypothesis played out the football field, in front of the eyes of America is really motivating. I believe that many other players will follow in Carter's footsteps, not only because of the nutritional benefit, but because of the impact it has on the environment and the quality of life of individuals. I have read numerous articles regarding vegan diets as means of medicating the sick, healing diseases, and saving the planet. Therefore it correlates with Biology in the News because the study of life is directly connected with this idea of ensuring that life survives in the future, and survives to the fullest. 

Personal Reflection: I will admit that vegan-ism is no walk in the park, and as a vegan failure, I can vouch for this. I have tried multiple times to go animal-free, but each time I cave for some delicious bread, or ice cream. I do, however, believe in the importance of a vegan diet. I love seeing a well-known athlete like Carter prove that a vegan lifestyle is possible for anyone if it is for a huge athlete like himself. I find that extremely motivating myself. My boyfriend plays football for a Division I school, and he uses football as an excuse constantly for his incredibly awful diet. He eats honey buns and cookies constantly using the excuse of him needing to gain weight. I think this is great for him, and athletes like him who struggle with muscle pain and fatigue. There is hope for all of them, and it may be found in plants!

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/08/chicago-bears-david-carter-vegan-diet