IMO It boils down to just more than will power. I experimented on myself for the last 4 years and came to the conclusion of this article to be true. I get bloodwork done every 6 months and change my diet based on the results. I understand many people cannot afford to have bloodwork done at all so I am blessed to be able to have the bloodwork done.
Example: I ate an avocado everyday for 6 months. Cholesterol went from 150 to 190. Mind you I eat the same exact meals everyday. A1C hovering around 5.8 glucose was 80 which lead me to believe I was eating too many carbs. I will have to wait until June to see if my A1C goes down. I didn't realize the pancreas played a major role in the insulin process until late last year.
My hypothesis was true. Feed the body whole foods, never eat processed or fast foods and you will change your gut bacteria to only want to eat healthy. If I eat more fat than my body requires such as too much olive oil my poop floats. Yeah, I mentioned that, I'm an old head and I hope I can reach one person.
Cravings are gut bacteria sending signals to the brain, hey! More sugar, more salt. I tried to tell my friends but it falls on death ears. Most can't comprehend never having cravings. If you feed your body proper nutrients, it will NEVER crave anything. Well, unless you smoke or take gummies.
Look at your body like a car. If you fil it up with garbage petro and don't have your car serviced properly, it will start to break down and cut short the life expectancy of your car. Then there's the stigma of society itself. People feel bad when the go out with friends and want to eat healthy. They feel ostracized. Not me. I don't judge, however, I will not eat what others eat because not only is it bad for my heath, but my body will reject it anyways.
Anyone reading this, trust me. Once you force your body to choose only foods that have beneficial properties, the body will no longer crave the S.A.D.
Be well.
Eating More of This Type of Fiber May Influence Our Decision Making Around Food, According to New Research
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
Prebiotics are superstars when it comes to supporting your gut health. These indigestible dietary fibers—found in various plant-based foods like onions, leeks, artichokes and chicory root—can help your gut microbiome flourish. And now, a new study by the University of Leipzig Medical Center in Leipzig, Germany, explores whether specific prebiotics can extend their benefits to brain function. The study, published in the
BMJ on October 4th, 2023, suggests that consuming more prebiotic fibers may simultaneously enhance gut health and brain function. Keep reading to uncover more about this study’s findings.
What the Study Found
To arrive at these conclusions, researchers at the University of Leipzig Medical Center studied the potential impact of a high-dose dietary prebiotic supplement on the brain's response to popular high-calorie foods. Their exploration focused on a group of 59 participants that included young to middle-aged adults who were overweight and followed a standard omnivorous Western diet.
For 14 consecutive days, the participants consumed a daily dose of 30 grams of
inulin, a prebiotic fiber derived from chicory root. During these two weeks, the researchers used functional MRI imaging while showing participants images of popular high-calorie dishes (hamburgers were shown in a graphic within the published study). Then, they asked them to rate their desire to consume the depicted meals.
The researchers used functional MRI imaging at four key points: before and after prebiotic consumption and before and after a placebo phase. The placebo phase matched the prebiotic in calorie density but didn’t include prebiotics. The results were eye-opening: the brain's reward centers showed reduced activation when faced with high-calorie food stimuli after consuming prebiotic fiber. Furthermore, this change in brain response was accompanied by a notable shift in the gut bacteria's composition.
To gain a deeper understanding, the research team took fasting blood samples from participants that they analyzed for gastrointestinal hormones, glucose, lipids and inflammatory markers. Stool samples were also examined to learn more about the gut microbiota and their metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids. The study was conducted within the framework of the Collaborative Research Centre 1052, “Obesity Mechanisms”.
These findings suggest that functional microbial changes in the gut may drive the brain's altered response to cues from high-calorie foods. “The results suggest a potential link between gut health and brain function, in this case food decision-making," said
PD Dr. Veronica Witte, study co-author and a scientist at the University of Leipzig Medical Center, in a
statement.
The Bottom Line
In a recent study published in the
BMJ, the University of Leipzig Medical Center in Germany explored the connection between gut health and brain function. This research revealed the powerful impact of prebiotic fibers in foods like onions, leeks, artichokes and chicory root, suggesting that they can help nourish your gut while enhancing your brain function.
The study's participants included young to middle-aged adults with weight concerns who consumed a daily dose of 30 grams of inulin, a prebiotic fiber. The findings demonstrated that prebiotics can influence the brain's response to high-calorie foods. These findings highlight the intriguing relationship between the gut microbiome and food-related decision-making, but more research is needed to help clarify their findings amongst a more broad and diverse participant pool. That said, there are many
science-backed health benefits of fiber that might also compel you to up your intake.
Read the original article on
Eating Well.