Why We Love Food – and How Food Love Goes Bad – Part 1

The belly rules the mind. Spanish Proverb

A lot of people truly do not understand why they are attracted and obsessed with food. Let’s be honest, people just want to fix what is wrong and not really get into “the meat and potatoes” of why, how, etc. Here is a quick summary of the science behind it all. Part 2 will go over how you can better understand food and your dislikes and likes, and for some of you, retune yourself to what you really should get from the food you eat.

Recent research that has found the forces that have powerful influence over the choices we make about food reveal significant patterns in the neurological workings of the human brain. The systems and circuits activated in both subconscious and conscious food choice are also involved in other areas of human life – moods and emotions, addiction and withdrawal, as well as broader themes like evolution and society. The connection between all of these concepts within the human brain is mind-blowing. The more in-depth this research is studied the more we will understand the bond of human and food conditioning.

Evolutionary biology determines the fact that many humans instinctively desire foods high in fat when grazing and having meals. The thrifty-gene hypothesis provides an explanation for this: in previous societies, like that of the hunter-gatherers, humans who were able to find and store fat were favored by natural selection. What does this mean?Continue reading→

Just Breathe…..

One of my instructors, Dr. Andrew Weil states that one of the most effective tools offering patients positive outcomes is the practice of breathing. In fact, I constantly need to remind myself to breathe in and out during the day – and it does both brain and body a lot of immediate good.

There are very simple techniques that Dr. Weil prescribes, here are the main 3 in detail, courtesy of www.drweil.com :

Exercise 1:
The Stimulating Breath (also called the Bellows Breath)
The Stimulating Breath is adapted from a yogic breathing technique. Its aim is to raise vital energy and increase alertness.

Inhale and exhale rapidly through your nose, keeping your mouth closed but relaxed. Your breaths in and out should be equal in duration, but as short as possible. This is a noisy breathing exercise.
Try for three in-and-out breath cycles per second. This produces a quick movement of the diaphragm, suggesting a bellows. Breathe normally after each cycle.
Do not do for more than 15 seconds on your first try. Each time you practice the Stimulating Breath, you can increase your time by five seconds or so, until you reach a full minute.

If done properly, you may feel invigorated, comparable to the heightened awareness you feel after a good workout. You should feel the effort at the back of the neck, the diaphragm, the chest and the abdomen. Try this breathing exercise the next time you need an energy boost and feel yourself reaching for a cup of coffee.Continue reading→