Junk food may lower stress

[Birdbomb]

Junk food may lower stress

Good for what ails you? Junk food like burgers could make you less stressed, new research suggests

New Australian research has found that eating foods high in fat and sugar reduces anxiety levels. But while it might make you feel calmer, that does not mean it is good for you.

Our increasing reliance on junk food is one of the reasons behind Australia's growing waistlines.

But it seems there might be a scientific reason why people turn to high fat and high sugar foods when they are stressed.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales gave young rats who had been taken away from their mothers a diet of either junk food or healthy food.

Professor Margaret Morris from the University of New South Wales says they noticed a difference in the animals' behaviour.

"What we found was that the animals that had the junk diet were much less anxious than those that who ate the junk food, so what we think is that animals are using junk food to relax themselves," she said.

Animals given the low fat diet had double the stress levels of the junk food eaters.

And while it might seem quite a leap from mice to humans, researchers say brain pathways controlling appetite are similar in both species.

"People do use food in this way as a kind of a medication to soothe themselves," Professor Morris said.

Overseas studies have shown that people who like junk food tend to choose sweet foods and chocolate when stressed.

"Individuals who enjoy eating certain types of food will seek out that type of food for comfort eating following an unpleasant or stressful experience, and that's a remarkable finding," Professor Andrew Lawrence from the Howard Florey Institute said.

The findings might also explain why many people fail when they go on diets.

Researchers will now look at whether exercise can be as good as junk food at relieving stress.

[TeeTees]

Hmmm.....isn't this why 'large' people become 'obese' ?...

Steps :

1. Person eats junk food which makes them feel 'good' for a while
2. Person looks in mirror
3. Person realises they are NOT slim
4. Person feels bad about themselves, and senses self-shame
5. Person turns to burger/chocolate for comfort
6. Go back to step 2

....or....

1. Person eats junk food
2. Person gets insulted through size matters by ignorant people in society, or even family and so-called 'friends'
3. Person turns to burger/chocolate for comfort
4. Go back to step 2

It's a vicious circle that unfortunately not all of society understands.

The findings might also explain why many people fail when they go on diets

^^ People only fail when they go on diets because they don't stick to them. Unfortunately they are looking for a miracle cure which will help them lose all the excess bodyweight they have gained. There is just one thing to remember here - it took you your entire life to reach the condition you are in....it will not drop off overnight.

[Birdbomb]

I wish it were that simple, but it's not. Just as we are all individuals with our epilepsy, obesity is just as complex. It' not all from just overeating, or self medicating with food.

Junk food just TASTES better and I think we become almost addicted to the sugars, fats and flavors.

[Bernard]

When I decided to try a vegetarian diet as a teenager, it took one month for me to lose the cravings for red meat. It took over a year to lose the cravings for cheese.

Stacy has had intermittent problems in the past staying away from sugar. It is insidiously addictive when you can't have it for medical reasons.

My father struggles with salt in his diet (he likes it, but is supposed to limit it for blood pressure).

You would think that severe negative health consequences would help condition one (like a Pavlovian dog) to avoid what isn't good for you, but the addiction to the endorphin rush is very strong.