It has been a while since I have done a recap on this book.
Why you ask..? Well... I just haven't really been reading it.
SHOOT! I took a little break from reading anything. No good!
But I did get back to reading, which I am really happy about. I feel so much better when I am reading consistently. I'm learning. I'm growing. I'm becoming better. Of course, I'm still not the fasted reader... And I am currently reading 3 books. HA! 1. The Hungry Brain 2. Letter From A Stoic 3. Tools of Titans
I decide on what book to read, depending on my mood at the time.
Here are my notes from what I have read from The Hungry Brain...
-Neuropeptide Y (NPY): it is a small protein naturally produced by neurons in the arcuate nucleus, that cause massive overeating. This protein becomes for abundant after fasting or when hungry.
-Injecting insulin into the brain (of rats) reduced the production of NPY. This reduced food intake of the rats.
*Insulin regulates the levels of sugar and fat in the blood.
-How leptin regulates lipostat: It turns off neurons that drive eating, and turns on neurons that inhibit eating. When leptin levels decline the opposite happens.
-NPY is the "HUNGER NEURON" (if there really is one).
-Leptin helps keep eating "in check."
-We have the drugs to manipulate the brain for food intake/regulating eating & controlling adiposity, but...
1. It is not ethical 2. The side effects can be very dangerous.
-Inflammation genes were found to be more active in obese rats (immune system) *in hypothalamus*
-Chronic inflammation in insulin resistance causes an increased diabetes risk.
-The inflammation in the hypothalamus blocks leptin signalling, leading to leptin resistance and WEIGHT GAIN.
-Unhealthy food can damage the brain. That damage to the brain causes the "us" to have obesity.
-It is (hopefully) reverseable if diet changes are made.
-Some researchers believe low fiber content causes inflammation and obesity because of bacterial population in the gut.
-Easy access to refined, calorie-dense, highly rewarding foods lead to fat gain and changes in the lipostat.
-Repeated bouts of overeating doesn't only make us fat, but it makes our body want to stay fat.
-Most of the U.S. annual weight gain comes from the holiday season (Thanksgiving-New Years). The extra weight stays with us after the holidays are over.
-Excess leptin may contribute to leptin resistance.
-Leptin correlates to the body fat levels, and also short-term changes in calorie intake.
-If you overeat for a few days, your leptin levels can increase, eve if your adiposity doesn't.
-After your calorie intake goes back to normal, so does your leptin.
*Example: Loud music hurts your ears the first time you listen to it, but after a while you desensitize/get used to it.
RECAP OF THE RECAP:
-We overeat because we are surrounded by the food.
-Increases in lipostat cause more overeating.
-Spiked leptin levels injure the hypothalamus.
-This damage causes the body to need more leptin, which means more body fat to hold off the starvation response, which then causes overeating.
TIP: Keep healthy foods in your house, and you have no choice but to eat healthier. You can also make healthier versions of your favorite food.
A lot of this sounds like another language. Well, I guess science kind of is another language. But some of it does make sense.
Mostly, I find it very interesting how much goes on in the brain. And all this is just talking about eating! We do so many more things, other than eating! The brain is so amazing!
I also find it interesting that unhealthy foods can damage your brain in a way. It makes me very thankful for my decision to change my lifestyle and way of eating.
We only get one body, one brain... WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF IT!!!