Are You a Conditioned Hypereater?
Dr. David Kessler suggests that millions of people worldwide are afflicted by “conditioned hypereating,” an intrinsic drive to eat high-fat, high-sugar foods that’s been exploited by the corporate food industry.
Kessler, former head of the FDA, explores this thesis in “The End of Overeating,” a new book that contends some people really are “wired” to be unable to resist unhealthy foods, and the food industry preys on such people by reinforcing this innate tendency. Result: big profits for processed food makers who load their creations with fat, sugar and salt, and skyrocketing rates of obesity and diabetes.
The evidence? Kessler writes that research has shown:
- Some well-fed rats will consume vanilla milkshakes, and consume yet more as sugar is added.
- Forty-two percent of people who report feeling loss of control over food, a lack of satiety, and preoccupation with food are obese. That’s compared to 18 percent who are obese without those behaviors. He estimates up to 70 million people are conditioned hypereaters to some degree.
- When some people smell and taste chocolate inside a brain-scanning MRI machine, they don’t ever get used to it; instead, they find it more irresistible over time. Even drinking a chocolate milkshake does not satisfy them. The reward-anticipating region of their brains continues to be active.
Kessler concludes that brain circuitry can be retrained. The first step is to recognize the phenomenon of conditioned hypereating as real; then, consciously seek and eat unprocessed, low-glycemic foods that begin to re-route the pleasure-seeking circuitry. As with any addiction, this is difficult at first, gets easier with time, but is never entirely automatic - the urge to hypereat must be actively resisted on a daily basis.
Books like Kessler's and Gary Taubes’ remarkable “Good Calories, Bad Calories” redefine overeating and obesity as biochemical imbalances, not moral failings. This is extremely valuable. “Becoming a better person who eats less” is a murky goal that is easily abandoned in the face of temptation, but “retraining my brain’s reward centers” is far more feasible and blessedly free of emotional stress. These books also underscore the need to reverse government subsidies that make unhealthy food cheap and healthy food expensive.
Overeating a Problem?
Overeating has become all too common, with super-sized items, meals on-the-go and calorie-laden snacks eaten in front of the TV. Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging has hundreds of healthful recipes, eating guides, and an exclusive interactive version of Dr. Weil Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid. Start your free trial now!
Acupuncture Best for Low Back Pain
According to a new study from a group of Seattle researchers, it even works when toothpicks are used instead of needles and the effects seem to be long-lasting. The investigators compared four different treatments on 638 adults with chronic low back pain. Over seven weeks 157 of the adults received 10 individually prescribed acupuncture treatments. A second group of 158 had a standardized course of acupuncture treatments considered effective by experts on low back pain. A third group of 162 patients had 10 sessions of simulated acupuncture - here, the patients didn’t know that toothpicks were used instead of needles. The fourth group of 161 patients received usual medical care. In telephone follow-ups, the patients reported on how they were doing at eight, 26 and 52 weeks after treatment. After a year, 59 to 65 percent of the patients in the acupuncture groups reported less pain and improved functioning compared to 50 percent of the usual care group. The study was published in the May 11, 2009 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Fish, Nuts, Olive Oil for Your Eyes
These foods can protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of age-related blindness in the developed world. Two separate Australian research teams reported new findings on age-related macular degeneration in the May 2009 issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology. In the first study, researchers looked at the diets of 2,454 men and women between 1992 and 1994 and then compared these eating habits with digital photographs of the retina five and 10 years later. They found that a single serving of fish per week was associated with a 31 percent lower risk of AMD - this positive link was strongest among individuals with a lower intake of linoleic acid, an unsaturated omega 6 fatty acid found in vegetable oils. One to two servings of nuts per week were associated with a 35 percent risk reduction. The second study focused on food intake reported from 1990 and 1994 by 6,734 individuals between the ages of 58 and 69. From 2003 to 2006 the researchers tracked cases of AMD that developed in their study participants. Those least likely to develop AMD later in life had the highest intake of olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3s for Memory
Dr. Weil’s Condition Specific Memory Support Vitamin Pack is available exclusively in the DrWeil.com Marketplace. This formula provides ginkgo and DHA, an essential omega-3 fatty acid which may help support and maintain healthy brain function. Purchase it now, or visit Dr. Weil’s Vitamin Advisorfor your free, personalized supplement recommendation.
Featured Recipe
Salmon in Parchment
Salmon, like other oily fish (herring, sardines, mackerel), is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which reduce inflammation, protect against heart attacks, and possibly reduce one's chances of developing cancer.
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Healthy Aging Tip
Courtesy of Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging
Seasonal Foods: June - Raspberries.
These gems are a good source of vitamin C and fiber, and provide folate, vitamins B2 and B3, magnesium and other essential nutrients. Raspberries also have considerable antioxidant potential (50% more than strawberries), and appear to have potent anti-cancer properties. Because commercial strains may be heavily sprayed with pesticides, Dr. Weil recommends buying organic varieties of raspberries.
Featured Discussion:
“Is there a salve for sore fingers?” asks BUBBA.
I test my blood … glucose by using blood drawn from my finger tips 8-10 times a day. My fingers stay in rough condition. Does anyone know of a cream or lotion that would lessen the problem?
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What's New
Dr. Weil Speaks at Hollyhock 2009
Cortes Island, B.C., Canada, June 14-19
Dr. Weil will be a guest speaker at this retreat that brings together the most progressive thinkers of our time Featuring creative role-play, community relationship building, meditation and integrative breath exercises, become empowered to be the empower change you wish to see in the world. For leaders, healers and activists. Registration information.
Dr. Weil at the Napa Fresh Aire Festival 2009
Napa, California, August, 28-30
Celebrate at the Napa Fresh Aire Festival with three days of empowering programs and activities that purify the body, educate the mind, and renew the spirit all in the beautiful setting of Napa, California. Join Dr. Weil, and world-renowned wellness and eco-conscious living experts for inspiring lectures and activities devoted to outdoor experiences, yoga, nutrition, fitness, eco-conscious awareness, meditation, wine tasting, music, and more.Learn more.
Healthy Aging Workshop, Miraval Resort
Tucson, Arizona, October 25 -28, 2009
Join us for this special educational offering featuring Dr. Andrew Weil and the faculty and directors of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at Miraval Resort and Spa, in Tucson, Arizona. This unique four-day healthy aging workshop was developed by Dr. Andrew Weil and will feature the latest information from leading experts in the field of integrative medicine. For rates, reservations and availability for this event, visit the Miraval website.
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