Body In Mind Nutrition

One of my clients said it best, "now it is not OK to just look like a mom, now you have to look cute too".

“Women with eating disorders who are age 30 and above fly under the radar in terms of getting noticed and treated,” says Dr. Tamara Pryor, clinical director of the Denver center and the author of the study. “Over the past four years or so, we've been seeing more midlife women with eating disorders in our center.”

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23680261/

As I coach and guide my clients to become aware of their eating, their thoughts about their bodies, their choices to rid themselves of the food they have devoured, I ask them to be a student of their behavior and to please try to "drop the judgement".  To struggle in disordered eating is to struggle with the harshest of inner critics.  Asking to drop the judgement is a very tall order, yes, but essential.  To begin to  see food as nourishment and not the enemy requires the harsh, mean voice of judgment to be quiet. A calorie is a source of energy-and that is all.  Drop the Judgement.

This poem by Jane Hirshman beautifully describes the internal dance we all have with Judgement.  I highly recommend listening to the audio as a way to begin your day with the intention to Drop the Judgement.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=31251

Have you ever noticed how much promise there is in starting a new diet?  How many numbers there are?  How effortless it all sounds?  How all of your dreams come true if you just get this one right?  No wonder the continued seduction to start "fresh" with the next diet is so powerful!!  But most of the diets with the promises are not sustainable ways of living your life in the real world.  There is another way to approach controlling your eating and your weight WITHOUT DIETING!  This post does a good job of summing it all up!

http://www.healthforthewholeself.com/2011/02/conquering-the-urge-to-diet-three-steps/

Yes, there is good reason to try to make healthy choices when you are deciding what, and how much,  you are going to eat.  But sometimes, trying to make these choices starts to take on too much importance and creates a rigidity in your behavior and an imbalance in your life.

Most eating disorders start with a "diet" or an attempt to start to eat "healthy".  Below is a link to a well respected and validated screening test which you can give yourself to take a look at your own attitudes about eating.  Identifying eating problems early, before you become entrenched in these habits, can mean preventing your own eating disorder.  If you think that your attitudes about eating and food have become rigid and create emotional discomfort, please ask for help now!

http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/eat.htm

Just a little something to raise your awareness of the presence (NOT) of women in your movies...check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bLF6sAAMb4s

One of the most common themes with my clients struggling with eating issues is anxiety and/or an inability to tolerate strong feelings.  It is fairly common to use eating, not eating, purging, excessive exercise, and/or obsession with controlling body size as a way to cope with anxiety and uncomfortable feelings.  Learning the skill of calming you mind and tolerating emotional discomfort is essential in both preventing, and recovering from, disordered eating of all types.

"The same mind that can create such harsh judgments is capable of undoing them through the power of awareness and attention."


This article by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche summarizes the process of developing awareness very well:

Step one:  The Main Exercise

• stage one:  just notice and identify what you’re thinking or feeling
• stage two:  meditative awareness - approaching thoughts and emotions as objects of focus through which we can stabilize awareness, again without judgement
• stage three:  intuitive “tuning in” to determine the effect of the practice

This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.  I will post every day this week in dedication to this cause.

Today's post is to acknowledge the essential nature of loving one's Self to both protect yourself from this very mean dis-ease and to recover from it.  As you read this wonderful poem from The Writer's Almanac, The Kama Sutra of Kindess:  Position Number 3 by Mary Mackey, read it to your Self as your object of sweet love.

To kick off National Eating Disorder Awareness week, check out the powerful partnership of NOW and NEDA!  Check out these videos and/or submit your own!

What you can you do?  Just try one week of being intentional about ending your own "Fat Talk".  This is harder than it sounds because the "Fat Talk" in your own mind counts!  Would love to hear your ideas...

http://now.org/press/02-11/02-20.html

I am posting a blog about a reaction to an article in today's NY Times regarding Obesity research in primates.  Obesity is a serious problem and research which provides insight into eating behavior is essential.  However, this author makes several points which ring true and of them, I would like to share this with you:


"Fight the problem of obesity yourself: the solution is ancient – ignore your restless monkey-mind and eat mindfully.
Let’s face it: there is no shortage of overweight primates (just look around); there is a shortage of humanity and compassion.  Fill the gap.
Wake up, fellow primate!"

Another example of simple, but not easy.....


http://blogs.psychcentral.com/mindful-living/

When the domineering, the harsh, mean voice in your head is pushing you to be perfect, talk back!!  What we consider to be our problems and our flaws are opportunities to be liberated from the craziness of perfectionism.  Self-compassion is the antidote to perfectionism and frees us to be fully, joyfully, in the flesh human!

 Below is a link to a video of Krista Tippett presenting on the topic of " a linguistic resurrection for reconnecting with compassion" to the United Nations, well worth your 18 minutes!

http://blog.onbeing.org/post/3401777593

 This is an old article, but worth reading again.  Bittman does a great job in writing an overview of the environmental impact of eating meat, so I thought I would post it.  I'm not saying "go forth and be vegetarian", but eating less meat is a really good idea!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/27bittman.html?_r=2

We all try to pack so much activity into our lives, that we many times forget that our bodies need to be nourished every four hours or so.  This is especially important for kids and teenagers, but they need the support of parents who plan, and make time, for snacks.

"Parents need to work with teens on managing their time, planning healthy meals and snacks and providing them time to eat," she says.
"Parents need to role model the behavior they are looking for in their teenagers as well. Monkey see, monkey do.
" If Mom and Dad don't take time to eat breakfast, pack a healthy lunch and have nutritious food stocked in the house, it sends the message to the child that nutrition is not a priority."

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Running-on-empty-1009607.php

I hear it all of the time, "I know what to do, I just can't do it!"  Telling yourself why you should exercise doesn't motivate actually changing your habits.  Imagining yourself being active and creating a very specific plan about how you can go play is the most effective way to start.  Picture yourself enjoying the activity that you can successfully begin in your current life.  Maybe taking a walk with a friend instead of going out for lunch, maybe asking your sweetie to take a walk after dinner, maybe asking a friend to join a dance class?  Be highly intentional about making time for play and moving your body, put it on your calendar and keep it visible (use your gadgets and apps to help you remember!)  Set achievable goals and then take note of your successes with a "how I took care of myself" journal.  Skip the gym class "shoulds" and move straight to recess!!  


" Behavior strategies include feedback, goal setting, self-monitoring, exercise prescription and stimulus or cues. Self-monitoring, any method where participants record and track their activity over time, appears to significantly increase awareness and provide motivation for improvement, Conn said."



http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110217171342.htm

If you want to check in with your 2011 Intentions or Resolutions, take a minute to read the most recent Newsletter out this morning!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Essential-Peace-for-Real-Behavior-Change.html?soid=1102783429410&aid=KjdhmSvemUw

"The good news? In preliminary results, the researchers are exhilarated to find that a diet high in Omega 3 oils and low in cholesterol appears to significantly reduce the negative effects of the APOE4 gene  (associated  with developing Alzheimer's disease) in mouse models."

"The main take-away message here is that good diets can alleviate the effects of bad genes. Of course nutritionists have had this general idea for a while, but it's nice to be able to show that this approach can be applied to specifically counteract the negative effects of Alzheimer's disease-related genes," says Prof. Michaelson."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110215102848.htm

If you are tired of your dinner ideas (we all get in ruts with our dinner menus), give black rice a try.  You can make up great stories about exploring other cultures, countries, or ancient history and your kids will think you ( or your dinner) are way cool and exotic!!  The truth of the matter follows, along with a link to another black rice recipe (see yesterday's blog for more).

"(NaturalNews) In ancient China, nobles commandeered every grain of a variety of black rice known as "Forbidden Rice" for themselves and forbade the common people from eating it. Now 21st century scientists have discovered that black rice truly is a treasure -- at least when it comes to nutrition. In fact, a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of blueberries, plus the rice bran has less sugar, more fiber and an abundance of vitamin E.

That's the conclusion of Zhimin Xu, Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Xu just announced his research team's findings at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS)..."

So you have shown those who are special to you how much you love and care for them.  What about you? The women in my Eating With Your Body In Mind course and I enjoyed a wonderful yoga class with Sydney Hughes-McGee last night and it was one of the best Valentine's Day gifts ever.  Aaaaaaaah..... Please give yourself permission for Self care every single precious day!

http://www.eatingdisordersblogs.com/minorities_and_men/2011/02/valentines-day-redux-tending-your-garden.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2FGurze%2Fminorities_and_men+(Recovery+Matters

I hesitated to write about the New Dietary Guidelines published Jan. 31 by the Departments of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services because there are no really big differences to point out.  But the little things that are different are significant and worth talking about.  The overall message is that Americans need to "eat less" in general, which means our bodies really don't need all of what we are eating.  Politically, this is significant because the food industry lobbyists lose out when we eat less in general.  For us to eat less, we may also buy less!  So this is a move toward supporting our health and not the food industry-that's certainly good news.

Also, my continued recommendation to pay attention and to eat without distraction, holds true.  Mindful eating supports eating less and is much easier when we are making smart nutritional choices and are being physically active.  All of these behaviors support one another beautifully and you feel SO MUCH better when you get in the rhythm of living this way-without all of the worry, counting, deprivation, and struggle!!  Jane Brody's most recent column does a good job of describing these changes in more detail.  I disagree with only a few of her recommendations.  What do you think?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/health/15brody.html?_r=1&nl=health&emc=healthupdateemb3

Our bodies have been letting us know that chocolate feels so good!  Science continues to explain how cacao seeds (the source of chocolate) nourish us and provide us with health-supportive nutrients.  Our bodies can be trusted to lead us to healthy choices. "...chocolate is a rich source of antioxidants and contains more polyphenols and flavanols than fruit juice.  Cacao seeds are a "Super Fruit" providing nutritive value beyond that of their macronutrient composition." Which is great news for chocolate lovers."

Dark Chocolate, containing 70% or more Cocoa, offers the greatest health support.  The addition of sugar confuses our bodies and makes it difficult for us to self regulate, so milk chocolate is a more challenging choice.  Dark Chocolate, we love you!!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110207073748.htm

I am reeling with the attention that food in our daily lives is receiving from so many angles!!  When a professional model turns yogi  and food guru, I have to take notice and scratch my head.  AND I agree with him (well with some of what he has to say)!!!  We share the work of finding a way out of the twisted house of mirrors we continue to build with food and body size and get back to listening to our bodies and enjoying food (at least, that is part of what he is working to do).  Still scratching my head though.....

DISCLAIMER:  I DISAGREE WITH HIS RECOMMENDATION TO FAST!


 “You’ll enjoy it more if you eat slow,” he offered. “And then you’ll see: you won’t eat even half as much as you usually eat.”
It sounded like a lot of work. Doesn’t such an intensity of dietary awareness prevent him from just enjoying food?
“Food has now become a burden to us,” he said. “A lot of people don’t look forward to life anymore. They just look forward to food. People tell me, ‘But I love food.’ And I tell them, ‘You can’t love something that owns you.’ ”      


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/dining/09yogi.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

One of the toughest truths about being is a parent is that you cannot protect your children from so many things.  Eating Disorders is one of them. 


"...urges parents to follow their gut instincts.  Too often physicians tell parents that it may be just a phase, that they should wait and see what happens," says Le Grange, who likens this to an oncologist who ignores the earliest signs of cancer. "Parents are nine times out of 10 spot on in their thinking that something is amiss. The sooner you recognize and diagnose the disorder the better the chances of recovery," Le Grange says. "


Here are 5 signs your child may be at risk.


1. Weight loss or lack of expected gain.

"Dermatologists are advising parents of infants and young children affected by this common skin condition to be aware of the potential for future food allergies.

Typically, a food allergy occurs rapidly (within 30 minutes from the time a person is exposed to the food), with skin symptoms such as hives and itching of the lips. More severe reactions may include respiratory, gastro-intestinal or anaphylaxis problems that could be potentially very dangerous."

There are new guidelines for diagnosing food allergies and new research re: prevention of food allergies.  If you are a parent with concerns about your child developing food allergies, this article may help shed some light on the topic.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110205140828.htm

Scroll down for this wonderful recipe just in time for Valentine's Day from the Splendid Table:




Lover's Figs in Honeyed Wine with Mascarpone
http://www.elabs7.com/functions/message_view.html?mid=1171789&mlid=499&siteid=20130&uid=536e806efb

New parents tend to look to health care professionals for answers to questions about what to feed their children.  I believe that we are all born with finely tuned, and precisely accurate, appetite regulation systems that let you know when to eat and when to stop eating.  ( I know this is an unconventional viewpoint, but I refer you to Ellyn Satter's How to Feed Your Kid, But Not Too Much if you would like to learn more!).  But parents, and others in a child's life, tend to get involved and sometimes create a disconnect between the child's appetite and what a child actually eats rather than supporting the child in trusting their body.

Parents cannot determine the number of ounces a child is receiving when a child is breastfed, allowing the parent to follow the child's lead.  This research supports that children who are breastfed, rather than formula fed, have a decreased risk of becoming obese.  Those who are not introduced to solid foods too early (before 4, preferably 6, months) also have a decreased risk.  Support your children in trusting themselves.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/07/us-starting-risk-idUSTRE7161C220110207

I know you already sense this to be true, but playing outside does a mind (and body) good, more than indoor exercise, so says science.  Again, science confirms and affirms our intuition.  I love it when that happens!  The sun is shining today and spring is around the corner, so Go Play Outside!!

"...exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalisation, increased energy and positive engagement, together with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. Participants also reported greater enjoyment and satisfaction with outdoor activity and stated that they were more likely to repeat the activity at a later date.

Our research, which brings together data from a wide variety of sources, adds significant weight to the case for spending more time in the natural environment as members of the public and their clinicians fight to counteract the negative outcomes of modern living, such as obesity and depression."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110204130607.htm

With our renewed interest in eating less meat, I receive almost daily requests for recipes using tofu.  Here are quite a few ideas to get you started.  Bon Appetit!!

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/series/recipes_for_health/tofu/index.html

I confess that I am always keeping an eye on both the research re: coffee (as I am a true addict) and good news about food in general.  Giving yourself permission to enjoy good food (and good coffee) AND being smart about your choices is a tough balance to strike.  So here is some good news to add to your (coffee) pot!

"Lead author Yazheng Liu and co-author Prof. David Kitts found that the prevailing antioxidants present in dark roasted coffee brew extracts result from the green beans being browned under high temperatures.  Antioxidants aid in removing free radicals, the end products of metabolism which have been linked to the aging process."


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110202132607.htm

Powerful story about a chef working with teenagers to learn about food farm-to-fork.

"These kids feared food. Not only are they disconnected from it, they fear it," Garcia observed one Friday. "They have few reference points to describe their culinary experiences."

But slowly, they came around. And one warm evening last week, Garcia gave seven of them their graduation present: a sophisticated, eye-opening taste of the meaning of farm to table.

They arrived at sunset, shy but game..."

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-fig-garcia-20110203,0,7920606.story

• End subsidies to processed food
• Begin subsidies for small farmers who sell actual food for direct consumption
• Break up the bureaucracies at the USDA and the FDA
• Ban factory-farm style animal feeding
• Encourage and subsidize home cooking
• Institute a junk food sales and marketing tax
• Encourage recycling while reducing waste
• Require truth in labeling
• Invest in sustainable agriculture research

Research continues to support that deficiencies in Omega-3 fatty acids in our diets can result in mood disturbances.  This study gives us another piece to this puzzle.

Bottom Line:  "In conclusion, the authors estimate that their results provide the first biological components of an explanation for the observed correlation between omega-3 poor diets, which are very widespread in the industrialized world, and mood disorders such as depression."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110130194143.htm

This is a great post from a mother about responding to her daughter's weight.  This is such a complicated and emotionally uncomfortable topic.  I am always thrilled when I find a healthy response to the question:  What do I do if I think my child is overweight?

http://www.beautifulyoubyjulie.com/2011/01/what-to-do-if-you-think-your-child-is.html

"We should focus on our health, not size or weight. If it was a show about "Let's be healthy," it probably wouldn't have as many viewers, but it would at least be sending a positive message to viewers.

Diets are multibillion-dollar marketing campaigns that people buy into. I believe it's about a lifestyle change, not a diet. Since 95% of the people who diet will regain their weight within five years, this TV dieting is just setting people up for failure."

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-weight-loss-reality-shows-20110131,0,1018771.story

I am always searching for little ways to create a supportive environment for developing the skill of mindful eating.  Today's radio show On Being was an interview with Jon Kabat-Zinn, which was powerful and "spot on".  Along with this, the website for the show provided a poem which describes the goal of mindful eating, which is so difficult to articulate, and a bell sound meditation which you can download and use as a guided meditation.  I hope that you find these resources as rich and helpful as I do.

http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2011/opening-to-our-lives/poem_walcott-loveafterlove.shtml#loveafterlove

http://blog.onbeing.org/post/724957186/bell-sound-meditation-shubha-bala-associate

"In 2007, Neumark-Sztainer's study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior indicated that teens in families that watched TV while eating together had a lower-quality diet than children of families that turned off the tube while eating together. Teens watching television ate fewer vegetables, calcium-rich food and grains; they also consumed more soft drinks than their peers who ate meals without the TV on.
And a 2010 study in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition showed that school kids who spent prolonged hours in front of television tend to be overweight or obese. A national sample of adolescents indicated that 64 percent of 11- to 18-year-olds had the TV on during meals.
One reason for the weight gain, Burley says, is that people tend to eat more slowly -- and consume less food -- when they are not glued to the tube."



Bottom Line:
If we turn the TV off, he added, "we can engage others and pay attention to our food. It gets closer to what we all claim our values to be."

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_108193.html

I don't want to waste one more minute of your time.  Move on and read this powerful and moving post by a mother writing to her daughter's ED...

http://www.medicinalmarzipan.com/2011/01/20/impact-disordered-eating-families-friends/

Great Diane Rehm show today with author Peggy Orenstein of Cinderella Ate My Daughter.


"The dark side of pretty and pink: how choices we make for our toddlers can influence their teenage years and beyond."

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-01-27/peggy-orenstein-cinderella-ate-my-daughter

 The new commentary in JAMA may serve as a warning shot across the bow of the energy drink sector.
“More research that can guide actions of regulatory agencies is needed,” write Arria and O’Brien. “Until results from such research are available, the following should be seriously considered: health care professionals should inform their patients of the risks associated with the use of highly caffeinated energy drinks; the public should educate themselves about the risks of energy drink use, in particular the danger associated with mixing energy drinks and alcohol; and the alcohol and energy drink industries should voluntarily and actively caution consumers against mixing energy drinks with alcohol, both on their product labels and in their advertising materials.”


http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Industry/Energy-drinks-threat-to-public-health-JAMA-commentary

The popularity of the gluten-free diet is hard to resist.  It is so easy to be persuaded by nutrition fads when you are trying to reach your peak performance or manage your weight.  In the case of going gluten-free, it is not recommended for everybody-far from it!

"...there is no evidence whatsoever that gluten-free eating offers any performance benefits over a balanced diet that contains gluten. "The theory that removing wheat from your diet is going to ease inflammation and digestion and speed exercise recovery just doesn't hold up..."

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-301--13683-0,00.html

I just love it when the science catches up with my kitchen table wisdom!!  More research supporting the truth that continuing to make strict and uncomfortable changes with "diets" and "exercise" creates more problems.  Developing an individualized plan to make attainable, sustainable changes in behaviors that support a healthier lifestyle (mindfully eating satisfying foods and creating more play every day!!) proves most effective over time!  YES!!!

"Concern has arisen that this weight focus is not only ineffective at producing thinner, healthier bodies, but may also have unintended consequences, contributing to food and body preoccupation, repeated cycles of weight loss and regain, distraction from other personal health goals and wider health determinants, reduced self-esteem, eating disorders, other health decrement, and weight stigmatization and discrimination. "

http://www.nutritionj.com/content/10/1/9

Research has found that yoga can help people who are dealing with health problems as wide-ranging as back pain, chronic headaches, sleeplessness, obesity, neck aches, upset stomach, anxiety, depression and high blood pressure, said Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an associate neuroscientist in the Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
The health benefits mainly stem from yoga's focus on the connection between mind and body, Khalsa said.
"The best evidence really shows that yoga is good at reducing stress and helping people cope with the stress they have," he said. "It improves management of stress both psychologically and physiologically."


http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_107974.html

The FDA has been discussing changing food labels to help consumers make healthier choices, but some in the food industry are not waiting for new FDA food labeling guidelines.  Consumers need to be aware of possible confusion with these changes.  Read on...

"Starting in the next few months, the front of many food packages will prominently display important nutrition information, including calorie, fat and sugar content. The industrywide program was announced Monday by food makers and grocers. "      

The  administration concluded that “in the end, the label was going to be confusing, because those things would be included out of context, and it could make unhealthy foods appear like they had some redeeming quality,” said an official who was not authorized to discuss the talks and spoke on condition of anonymity. For example, the official said, “ice cream would be deemed healthy because it would have calcium in it.”        

David A. Kessler, a former F.D.A. commissioner, said the industry should wait for the government to set labeling rules. “What the industry is proposing can make something look healthier than it really is,” he said.      

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/business/25label.html?_r=1&ref=business

I'm pinching myself!!  Great News for our health and for our planet!


"It's easy for health advocates to call for change," says Sid Lerner, founder and chairman of Meatless Monday, "but it's a lot more meaningful when the Sodexo's and Walmart's of the world do so -- when there's real business on the line."
Sodexo intends to keep its Meatless Monday program fresh by sending out new tool kits to its client reps every 4 months. These will include newly created recipes, promo materials and educational background. It also hopes to launch other fitness and health programs created by The Monday Campaigns.
Whether it's about encouraging health and wellness, or simply selling products according to USA Today's top marketing trends for 2011, Meatless Monday is on the cusp of an extraordinary year of growth. It's thanks to institutions both big and small that people around the country are adopting this simple message of moderation and choice for their health and the health of the planet.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-elam/sodexo-meatless-monday_b_812889.html

Love this powerful blog about letting our daughters know how much we value them, not what they look like.  I believe this is just as protective and powerful for our boys to hear from us!!

http://www.eatingdisordersblogs.com/nutrition/2011/01/aaron-sorkin-to-his-daughter-smart-girls-have-more-fun.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2FGurze%2Fnutrition+%28nutrition%29

Developing the skills needed to cope with stress offers a great support to your ability to make healthy food choices and manage your weight.  Most of us eat more than we need and exercise less when we are under stress.  My clients are much more successful in making smart food choices when they are learning healthy ways to cope with stress !!


"Participating in an 8-week mindfulness meditation program appears to make measurable changes in brain regions associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress.
Participant-reported reductions in stress also were correlated with decreased grey-matter density in the amygdala, which is known to play an important role in anxiety and stress."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110121144007.htm

The government's U.S. Food Environment Atlas website mapping tool has been updated to include 168 searchable criteria. The site lets users compare U.S. counties to see how many fast-food restaurants are in a given area, how many children qualify for free school lunch and what was eaten by people in any one county over the course of a year

http://www.ers.usda.gov/FoodAtlas/

"... this is an extremely important question as concern about weight gain is one of the main reasons why women may avoid or discontinue birth control, which in turn places them at greater risk for an unplanned pregnancy."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119141901.htm

Just in case you were wondering what to expect when you see a Registered Dietitian:


"New experiences are often a source for anxiety, but don’t let your being a first-timer stop you from seeing the dietitian. Use these tips to help get the most out of visits.
So what’s it like? Consider a visit to the dietitian as the mid-point between seeing the doctor and seeing a therapist. A dietitian will assess many things about you, here is a rough sketch":

"... because Wal-Mart sells more groceries than any other company in the country, and because it is such a large purchaser of foods produced by national suppliers, nutrition experts say the changes could have a big impact on the affordability of healthy food and the health of American families and children.  "
 "A range of studies has shown that low-income people, especially those who receive food stamps, face special dietary challenges because eating healthy costs more and healthier food is harder to get in their neighborhoods. James D. Weill, president of Food Research and Action Center, an organization that has been pressing Wal-Mart to help tackle this problem, said the company seemed to have recognized “how much hunger and food insecurity there is in the country.”
Mr. Dach said the lower prices and food reformulations were motivated by the demands of Wal-Mart’s own customers. He said the company believed that, if it was successful, the price reductions would save Americans who shop at Wal-Mart approximately $1 billion a year on fresh fruits and vegetables alone.
“Our customers have always told us, ’We don’t understand why whole wheat macaroni and cheese costs more than regular macaroni and cheese,’ ” Mr. Dach said, adding, “We’ve always said that we don’t think the Wal-Mart shopper should have to choose between a product that is healthier for them and what they can afford.”    

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/business/20walmart.html?_r=1&hp

So many of the messages that we receive about food are negative, that I think we just stop listening or stay focused on what's wrong with our food.  It is a welcome relief to hear good news about the support, pleasure and nourishment offered by food!

"The Mediterranean diet — heavy on vegetables, fish and olive oil, with moderate amounts of wine — may be associated with slower rates of mental decline in the elderly."      

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/health/research/18aging.html?nl=health&emc=healthupdateema6

If you are curious about cooking with tempeh as a way to eat less meat, this recipe would be a great place to start!
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/11155?utm_source=Vegetarian&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=Vegetarian

'if you yearn for the rippled look of "six-pack" abs, consider what you may sacrifice to obtain it: That look might cost you flexibility and freedom of movement. Overdoing abs exercises can lead to a flattening of the lumbar curve, creating a weakened spinal structure. "We're even beginning to see hunchback conditions because of excessive abdominal crunches," claims biomechanics and kinesiology specialist Michael Yessis, Ph.D., author of Kinesiology of Exercise (Masters Press, 1992).

Society's obsession with flat tummies has psychological consequences too. "We want to control our feelings, so we make our bellies hard, trying to 'keep it together,'" says yoga teacher and physical therapist Judith Lasater, Ph.D., author of Living Your Yoga (Rodmell Press, 2000). Soft bellies appear vulnerable; abs of steel don't.


Our center of gravity lies just below the navel, a spot many yoga teachers call the "power center." The source of our vitality, the abdomen is a sacred space in our bodies, so we would do well to shift from criticizing how it looks to respecting how it feels."  

http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/168?utm_source=DailyInsight&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=DailyInsight

"That is why I believe the most important and the most powerful tool you have to change your health and the world is your fork. Imagine an experiment -- let's call it a celebration: We call upon the people of the world to join together and celebrate food for one week. For one week or even one day, we all eat breakfast and dinner at home with our families or friends. For one week we all eat only real, whole, fresh food. Imagine for a moment the power of the fork to change the world.
The extraordinary thing is that we have the ability to move large corporations and create social change by our collective choices. We can reclaim the family dinner, reviving and renewing it. Doing so will help us learn how to find and prepare real food quickly and simply, teach our children by example how to connect, build security, safety and social skills, meal after meal, day after day, year after year."http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/family-dinner-how_b_806114.html

This is a powerful resource that you will want to keep handy as you work to challenge the constant message that there is something not quite good enough about you!  Here are links to this year's winners and those who were short-listed for the Body Image awards in the following categories:

-Best Body Image Bloggers
-Best Body Image Website
-Best Body Positive TV Show, Movie, or Documentary
-Best Body Positive Book or Magazine
-Most Body Positive Ad Campaign
-Best Body Image Post or Article
-Best Body Image Boosting Organization
-Most Body Loving Company
-Best Body Positive Photo or Image
-Most Body Positive Celebrity

http://www.nourishing-the-soul.com/nourishing-body-image-awards/

 "If the agency bases its decision on science rather than sympathy, however, it will reject the recommendation — because there is no research proving that a lap band provides slightly obese patients with long-term health benefits that are greater than its risks."



"But what matters for most patients is whether a lap band is more effective than diet and exercise for years and years after the surgery — and unfortunately we don’t know if it is."

""Under the proposed change, lap bands would be approved, for example, for a 5-foot-6-inch woman weighing 186 pounds (a body mass index of 30) who does not have diabetes or heart disease but does have joint pain that might be relieved by weight loss. Under the current rules, this woman could get a lap band only if she was willing to pay $12,000 to $30,000 for the 30-minute surgery. Because the procedure does not have F.D.A. approval, insurance plans and Medicare usually do not cover it. "
     
"The F.D.A.’s job is to make sure that the lap band is safe and effective, but it cannot do this without long-term data on a more diverse group of patients. Moreover, if the F.D.A. approves the lap band for people who are only 30 or 40 pounds overweight, taxpayers may soon be paying billions of Medicare dollars for these procedures, and for fixing the potential complications. Health insurance companies would be pressured to follow Medicare’s lead, which could add to the cost of insurance for all of us."    

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/opinion/12zuckerman.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

In our culture, the barrage of plastic and "barbiesque" images  is constant.  Do we even know what real bodies look like anymore?  No!  Have we internalized this definition of beauty ideal?  Yes!  Do we believe that our bodies should look like the ideal or we are not OK?  Yes!

If you would like to push against this and find a place to snuggle up with nourishing words and images, here you go:
http://www.nourishing-the-soul.com/

"As a concerned parent pay attention to the messages you are communicating to your kids. If you're unhappy with your weight make sure that you don't model body image dissatisfaction to your child. Kids don't need to hear about mom or dad's continuing struggles with diets and weight loss. Regardless of your weight, let your child hear you express satisfaction with some aspect of your own appearance, even if it's only a new haircut or article of clothing.
Help your child make healthy food choices and encourage her to be more active. Let him see you enjoying a physical activity, even if it's only walking around the block. Focusing on healthy eating and physical activity rather than diets and weight loss will help your child achieve a healthy weight without increasing the risk of an eating disorder."



http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/its-not-just-baby-fat/201101/is-the-campaign-against-juvenile-obesity-responsible-the-increase-?goback=.gmp_1806863.gde_1806863_member_39696602

The Eating Attitude Test (EAT) is a well respected screening tool that you might want to use if you are wondering if you have crossed over that very fuzzy line between trying to eat "healthily" and disordered eating.

http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/eat.htm

This is the question of the day!  With both obesity and eating disorders on the rise, what is "normaI" eating?  I have only run across one definition in the writings of Ellyn Satter from very early in my career and this author cites the very same.  It still rings true for me.   See what you think about it:

• Normal eating is going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied.
• Normal eating is being able to give some thought to your food selection so you get nutritious food, but not being so wary and restrictive that you miss out on enjoyable food.
• It is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow, or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful.
• Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating.
• Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention, but keeps its place as only one important area of your life

"We perceive our own bodies in many different ways. We can look at our bodies, feel touch on our bodies, and also feel our body from within, such as when we experience our hearts racing or butterflies in our stomachs. It seems that a stable perception of the body from the outside, what is known as "body image," is partly based on our ability to accurately perceive our body from within, such as our heartbeat."

Could it be that the disconnection from our bodies that comes with our distracted, busied way of living creates fertile ground for body dysmorphia?  Try this:  Find a quite place, close your eyes, place one hand over your heart and the other on your belly (eek!), and breathe deeply from your belly for 5 minutes or go for a walk, ask for a hug, or rub your sweetie's shoulders.  These little moments of intentionally connecting with your body may help.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110105071151.htm

There is growing evidence supporting the essential nature of developing the skill of mindfulness in order to develop lasting changes in eating habits.  The dogma of dieting is clearly being questioned.  The work of becoming aware of your own eating habits and developing the skill of mindful eating is a much greater challenge than following a diet.  But the lasting effect of your efforts makes it worthwhile, life changing, and I would even say, life SAVING!!


" to help individuals cultivate awareness of both internal and external triggers to eating, interrupt dysfunctional cycles of binging, self-recrimination and over-restraint, and re-engage the natural physiological processes of eating regulation. Furthermore, the program emphasizes the pleasure and nurturing aspects of eating, while encouraging healthier patterns of food choice, in terms of both types and amount of food eaten. MB-EAT is further designed to do so in a way that is effective in internalizing and maintaining change.“

http://www.drsharma.ca/mindfulness-training-and-meditation-to-combat-obesity.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+AryaSharma+%28Arya+M.+Sharma,+MD%29

If you are a teenage girl, the values of the world you walk around in, and certainly the values of your friends, influence your risk for developing an eating disorder.  I think this is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.  From where I sit, this is not just true for teenage girls-they were simply the subjects for this study.

"It appeared that changing attitudes within a group that had been exposed to television were a more powerful factor than actually watching the programs themselves. In fact, higher peer media exposure were linked to a 60 percent increase in a girl's odds of having a high level of eating disorder symptoms, independently of her own viewing."

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-secondhand-television-exposure-linked-disorders.html

  For all of you that are trying to Diet, see if this sounds familiar?

Researchers have shown that dieting sensitizes the brain to stress, which in turn, prompts cravings for treats. These brain changes last long after the diet is over. (They become genetic.) And they entice even healthy individuals to binge -- and ultimately gain or regain weight.

http://www.eatingdisordersblogs.com/ed_science_stuff/

If you haven't heard about how serious the problem of our kids become more and more sedentary and overweight, you must be living under a very big rock.  We have a problem, we know, we know.  But do we have any idea what to do about it?  This author has a great idea about the importance of mobilizing our efforts behind a relatively simple (and positive!) idea-eat your vegetables!!

"As an agriculturist and horticulturist, I believe that the answer is simple. As parents, educators, nutritionists and marketers, we have to imbue our children with the love of—and consumption of—the most beneficial food for growing bodies. This means fresh vegetables and fruits, whether store-bought or home-grown."

"Yet no single institution is sufficient; fighting a problem of this sort requires a multifaceted effort. Churches could do much more to inspire families to grow vegetables. Public and private botanical and community gardening groups should augment efforts to lure neighbors into their educational demonstration gardens. Most families, whether in the city or suburbs, can plant at least a "starter garden"—involving pre-teen children in the planting, tending and harvesting. "

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704774604576035211826290534-lMyQjAxMTAxMDAwNTEwNDUyWj.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVOj2hrWcpc

First, take a deep breath and ask yourself "Am I hungry or am I craving something?".  In order to become more comfortable with your eating, it is essential to know the difference.  The first step is waking up and getting to know yourself.  If you are craving something, there are several paths to choose from.  This article describes research about taking a short walk to handle your cravings-see what you think.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/health/04really.html?_r=1&ref=science

 Register for Eating with Your Body in Mind Course to experience the powerful combination of Mindful Eating Strategies, Smart Nutrition, and Yoga to start your 2011 with fewer distractions!!!

http://www.bodyinmindnutrition.com/services/workshops.php

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/01/132443631/year-in-dieting-distraction-noise-cause-overeating&sc=fb&cc=fp

"What happened in eating is that no matter how much people give you to eat, you'll eat the whole thing," Ariely says. "So it's really a question of how much you start with. Because we've also tested this — we looked at what people end up with and how much they throw away. People eat everything you give them. But if you give people a mechanism to limit what they're going to have for food later on, people actually eat less as a consequence."

Research is showing that the effort to educate us about the calories in our food does NOT alter our food choices.  In particular, that we tend to eat all of the food we are served, regardless of the nutrition information. Could it be that the great majority are not aware of the body's sensations of satiety and continue eating all of the food served (and paid for!) even when it is too much?  This research discusses the fact that people may choose to eat fewer calories when they are given choices about altering the calorie content of what they eat by choosing a different side item.  Maybe taking a few seconds to consider another choice helps to increase our awareness just enough.
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/28/132413126/oh-that-hamburger-is-900-calories-yes-please?sc=fb&cc=fp

 An interesting book about the role of genetics and diet/weight- finally.


"... studies report group outcomes. Every plan has its own rare, shining success stories as well. Sometime, a diet just clicks.  Perhaps the remarkable diversity of the human organism — whose various sizes and shapes (double chins, giant thighs and all) are so clearly driven by such a vast array of different appetites and genetic cues — simply means that it is foolish to expect a single diet to serve all comers.
There. A proposal to end the war, just in time for the new year. "     


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/28/health/28zuger.html?ref=science

"The cost of not treating is astronomical, both in human suffering and medical problems," said Dr. Murray Zucker, a medical director with OptumHealth, the care management arm of UnitedHealth Group. "From a cost-effectiveness standpoint, it makes sense to treat eating disorders as quickly as possible and in as efficacious a way as possible."

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/112457489.html?elr=KArks:DCiU1OiP:DiiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUoD3aPc:_2yc:a_ncyD_MDCiU

"Support for Contrave is less about how good this particular drug combination is (it's modestly effective and has some toxicity), and more about how bad the overall state of pharmacotherapy for weight management is," said David L. Katz, MD, MPH, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center. "The FDA committee's decision can be justified by invoking the 'any port in a storm!' clause."

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/Obesity/24049

"And I bet it’s time for you to update that ol’ workout playlist. “Best” Workout Songs of course, is a matter of taste, but the following songs are guaranteed to get your body moving (even though they don’t include The Suckers’ wonderful, non-exercise-related song by that name.) And if you don’t exercise, just think of all this great music as reason to get up offa that thing."

http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2010/04/the-80-best-workout-songs.html

I recently had a conversation with a friend about the many merits of eating sardines, which, is an acquired taste in my opinion.  But the list is quite long, and sardines are a nutritional powerhouse!  So I did a little research about exactly how I might begin the adventure of cooking sardines.  I came across this video and thought you might be encouraged to join me.  (I have received no financial support from any fishing industry and neither has any member of my family-rest assured).



http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/12/24/dining/1248069379379/broiled-sardines-with-lemon-and-thyme.html?scp=1&sq=sardines&st=cse

"A food-drug interaction is the alteration of a drug’s pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics when certain foods or beverages are consumed at the same time. Older patients are particularly at risk for negative food and drug interactions simply because this population takes more than 30% of all prescription drugs.1 Patients with cancer and/or malnutrition, gastrointestinal tract dysfunction, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; patients receiving enteral nutrition; and transplant recipients are also at risk."

http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/121610p26.shtml

I have struggled with my reaction to "The Biggest Loser" (along with other TV shows about body size), but my strongest reaction is to the seductive quality of the magical transformation that we see in the contestants.  My experience is that changing habits that result in permanent weight loss requires SUSTAINABLE changes in our eating and activity patterns.  Fast weight loss is fun to watch on TV, but weight loss that is for keeps requires a very different approach.

"My concern is that such shows not only establish unrealistic expectations but could promote unhealthy, potentially risky, behaviors from viewers attempting to emulate these spectacular results (see Chart at link below). In the article, "Is "The Biggest Loser" Really a Big Winner or Just a Big Loser?" Dr. James Hill of the University of Colorado at Denver states that such entertainment is "...trivializing the complex genetic and environmental influences on our behavior and weight."

http://scienceblogs.com/deanscorner/2010/12/_nbcs_biggest_loser_has.php

The debate continues about when a gluten-free diet is recommended for the treatment of Celiac Disease.

"Our results demonstrate that metabolic alterations may precede the development of small intestinal villous atrophy and provide a further rationale for early institution of gluten-free diet in patients with potential celiac disease, as recently suggested by prospective clinical studies," the scientists conclude.



http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101215121916.htm

You do know that Ronald McDonald is THE most recognizable figure to our children.  The debate starts to get interesting when you throw in the concepts of personal responsibility and parenting.

"Parents are responsible for their children’s diet. And they certainly could do a better job: almost 17 percent of American children are obese, three times as many as in the 1970s. But it would be easier for parents to do their job if they didn’t have to push back against the relentless tide of marketing aimed at their children."      

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/opinion/20mon4.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a211

No matter what the distraction, listening to a story, watching TV, computer tasks, reading the newspaper, you name it, you will find yourself less satisfied when you eat while doing other things.  Usually, this leads to eating more.  When you are not present to really savor your food as you are eating it, you may find yourself craving more.  The research has been done on meals eaten in front of the television.  Now we have research re: snacking in front of the computer.

I know the issue for many is the feeling of not having the time to stop and allow yourself the time for lunch or a snack unless you continue to work while you eat.  You and your health are worth the investment!  Start small and commit to one meal or snack a day where you sit and enjoy your food without distraction.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_106761.html

"Overall this study illustrates an important principle: that what is genetically advantageous in one cultural or historic context may not be in another. In fact, Montminy does not view obesity as an aberration or a "disease." "Storing fat in adipose tissue is a normal response. A lot people are obese but do not develop type 2 diabetes," he says, suggesting that genes like CRTC3 could serve as diagnostic tools as well as drug targets. "A goal is to go to your doc and learn whether you have the risk factors to progress to diabetes."


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101215133310.htm

I am not one to recommend avoidance, but protecting yourself and your kids is something I do recommend.
"My thoughts? This isn't a movie I'll be going to, nor will I be taking my daughters. Why add one more trigger?"

Don't even say the word Exercise!  Find ways to play and move that you look forward to so you will make it a part of your day.  Try to create an activity that you "want to" do instead of feel like you "have to".  

"The most important thing is to find activities that you like, that you can do, and that you can stick to over time," Hankinson told MyHealthNewsDaily. "Maintaining activity is really the key."




http://www.livescience.com/health/exercise-maintain-weight-101214.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+livescience%2Fhealthscitech+%28LiveScience.com+Health+SciTech%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

http://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/26/can-foods-trigger-migraines/?nl=health&emc=healthupdateemb6

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/health/research/14hazards.html?ref=nutrition

I continue to be fascinated with the compelling research about how our brain changes when we overeat and then become accustomed to overeating.   This particular research is especially interesting because it also addresses how overeating affects children at risk of obesity.

"What that suggests, the researchers said, is that the caudate response decreases as a result of overeating through the lifespan.
"The decrease in caudate response doesn't precede weight gain, it follows it," Small said. "That suggests the decreased caudate response is a consequence, rather than a cause, of overeating."


"One of the primary culprits behind obesity, she said, is the constant availability of "excessively rewarding food" that, when eaten often, may alter the brain's reward system.
"It's increasingly being recognized that the brain itself plays a fundamental role in obesity and overeating," Volkow said."


http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_106525.html

This is amazing work done by a talented group of passionate animators here in Winston-Salem, NC- Out of Our Minds Animation Studios.  Please check it out and pass it on!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SZjtmjnnpU

"Food cravings are a complex mix of physiological, psychological, environmental and hormonal aspects," Heller added.



Maybe visualizing yourself eating a specific food allows you to become more mindful and intentional when you actually eat it!
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_106480.html

Remaining committed to taking care of yourself through the Holiday Crazies can help you remain mindful in your eating and prevent overeating.

http://www.yogajournal.com/health/516?utm_source=DailyInsight&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=DailyInsight

"This is likely because young people's eating patterns are influenced by many complex factors, and the family environment plays only a partial role. More attention should be given to the influence of the other players on children's eating patterns such as that of schools, the local food environment and peer influence, government guidelines and policies that regulate school meals, and the broader food environment that is influenced by food production, distribution and advertising." He added, "Parents need to be better empowered to be good role models and help their children eat a healthy diet."


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101208142257.htm

"A recent study found that 95% of non-eating disordered women overestimate the size of their hips by 16% and their waists by 25%, yet the same women were able to correctly estimate the width of a box!!!"
http://www.mybodygallery.com/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/videos/news/changing_mealtimes_120610.html

"Vitamin D boosts immunity by stimulating production of cathelicidin, an antimicrobial protein that serves as a "natural antibiotic" in the body, says Michael Zasloff, a professor of surgery and pediatrics at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
But so far studies looking directly at whether higher vitamin D levels help prevent upper respiratory infections have had mixed results."


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704156304576003531437073192.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

If you realize that you are eating because you are feeling stressed out, allowing yourself a few minutes to take a deep breath can break the cycle of overeating.



"rapid breathing is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. It's part of the "fight or flight" response — the part activated by stress.
In contrast, slow, deep breathing actually stimulates the opposing parasympathetic reaction — the one that calms us down"

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131734718/just-breathe-body-has-a-built-in-stress-reliever&sc=fb&cc=fp

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/04/nyregion/04watchers.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a29

"In a new study, children who ate the most vegetables and fruits had significantly healthier arteries as adults than children who ate the fewest.  Here are 10 tips to encourage your children to eat more vegetables and fruits. "

1. Make fruit and vegetable shopping fun!
2. Involve kids in meal prep.
3. Be a role model
4. Create fun snacks
5. Give kids choices — within limits
6. Eat together as a family
7. Expect pushback
8. Grow it
9. Covert operations
10. Be patient

"An advisory committee to the FDA will consider on Friday a request by a pharmaceutical company, to significantly lower how obese someone must be to qualify for surgery using the company’s Lap-Band device, which restricts intake to the stomach.

... still leaves some people uneasy, in part because of side effects and failure rates. In addition, long-term weight reduction is hard to maintain.
“You’re talking about millions and millions of people who would meet these criteria,” said Dr. George Blackburn, associate director of the division of nutrition at Harvard Medical School. “Let’s make sure by the most rigorous research that this is safe and effective.”

“It would be kind of ironic if people have access to surgery and not medical therapies, where they can go from Weight Watchers to surgery and have nothing in-between,” said Dr. Louis J. Aronne, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medical College."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/business/02obese.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&adxnnl=1&emc=a25&adxnnlx=1291295148-RvWZEvjiccKgSP3FbEl/5A

"These results suggest that dieting not only increases stress, making successful dieting more difficult, but that it may actually 'reprogram' how the brain responds to future stress and emotional drives for food," said study co-author Tracy Bale of the University of Pennsylvania, in a news release."                                                                                                  

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-yo-yo-diet-20101130,0,4227680.story

From the very first client that I saw when I started to practice in 1986, there has been an ongoing conversation in my office about the possibility of being "addicted" to certain foods, primarily foods high in sugar.  This conversation continues, but is becoming louder in the scientific community.  This article is a must read if you sometimes feel as if you are addicted to food.

"DiLeone, the Yale researcher, says it's still not clear how far the food-drug comparison holds up, especially in people.
"There's an ongoing argument in my field whether food is addictive or not," he says. "But whether it's addictive or not, there's probably components that are similar to addiction."
That means it makes sense to focus on eating behavior early in life, when the brain is adapting to a particular environment. It also probably makes sense to take approaches used to treat addiction and adapt them to overeating," DiLeone says."

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/01/131698228/overeating-like-drug-use-rewards-and-alters-brain?sc=fb&cc=fp