Diet
Food and Depression: No ‘Freakonomics’ required here
Introduction
It was a few years when I came across the book ‘Freakonomics’ written by Steven Levitt, known to several folks for his contribution to finding the link between legalized abortion and the drop in crime rates purely by using a statistical approach.
The underlying theme of the book revolves around the fact that statistics never lie, which is validated in almost every section of the book, of which the chapter “What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common?” just blew me away.
And it’s for no reason that the title ‘rogue economist’ has been bestowed on this Ivy League graduate over the last few years. However, his finding, backed by facts and numbers, only shows that our assumptions about not being able to ascertain certain facts about life may be far from the truth we know.
The Link between unhealthy food and Depression
Everyone knows that a relationship between unhealthy food and depression does exist, yet being ‘subjective’ in nature, one can hardly validate the fact in a lab somewhere using the scientific method. One way or another, depression causes unhealthy eating and vice-versa.
The most common example these days ‘is getting dumped’. Does it make you feel good?
Obviously not. Not only does it leave one with a lack of self-worth, but it also leaves you with a lot of time that you used to spend in the company of someone who doesn’t find you appealing anymore.
So what does one do to fill in the time?
You have no choice but to spend it by yourself… right? Some folks deal with a separation strongly by moving on immediately, but for those who are vulnerable… it leads one down the path of depression.
Now, medically speaking, dopamine in the brain releases hormones that make one ‘feel good’ about themselves, and people who feel a little low on the emotional side tend to get addicted to drugs, alcohol, and, ahh, yes… unhealthy food.
Just to ‘feel good’.
One of the best alternatives in dealing with a breakup is building your self-worth through ‘taking care of yourself’ constructively. Recently, I came across this model over the internet who looked so fine who, after a divorce, decided to wake up and do something with her life. Now, that’s what I call constructive, baby!
The bottom line was how she saw herself as opposed to what other people thought about of which the latter soon became irrelevant. No one gives a crap about her husband but both men and women love and admire her for what she has become today.
Food and Depression:
Most people do not take this route but continue to spiral downwards until there comes a day when you feel like ‘there’s no turning back’. That’s a tough position to spring back from, as we continue to make the same mistakes over and over again… from one relationship to another… making things worse, leaving you feeling jinxed, not forgetting fatter and sicker.
In the case where unhealthy eating creates depression, people who naturally eat too much become fat and have to look at themselves in the mirror every day. Your diet is very important because what you eat controls your emotions. For example, look at alcohol. If you’re happy, it magnifies the emotion… if you’re angry… God save the unsuspecting soul who angers you unknowingly.
And food does that to you as well. Look at Morgan Spurlock, who ate Mcdonald’s food every day for 30 days. Not only did he feel depressed and lethargic, but he was also addicted to the food.
At a subconscious level, everyone wants to look good, and if one loses that battle with his body, he tends to spiral downwards and make excuses for it. And I say this because I’ve been there, done that… but not anymore.
In Closing
A rogue economist doesn’t even have to deal with this one. It’s basic common sense. If you don’t love yourself, you won’t even bother to take care of yourself either. For what you think is what you are…
For a perfectly fit body, a perfect diet chart is needed. And for making a perfect diet chart, the necessity of healthy ingredients and elements is very important. Proper healthy ingredients in diet make the diet chart beneficial for your body. Actually, keeping oneself fit, one cannot change the lifestyle. What they need in their diet is to use perfect food material.
Use of Coconut oil
Most nutritionist gives advice on using Coconut oil. Cooking with coconut oil is good for the diet. It can give one relief from stress. Not only that, but it fixes the cholesterol level up also. It increases the immunity power in the body. One can use coconut oil for cooking or drink two or three spoons. Coconut oil contains a variety of antifungal acids, and thus, it helps to keep up the energy level throughout the day.
Use of pine apple with meat
When meat or pork is used in the lunch or dinner menu, the presence of Pine apple can make it more digestive. Pipe apple has an enzyme which is bromelain which helps the protein to break down quickly. Then the meat of pork becomes much more digestible. Therefore pineapple slices with chicken or mutton can be good for the diet.
Add Spices with fatty foods.
If someone cannot avoid fatty foods, the use of spices like garlic, black pepper, paprika, rosemary, etc. can help a lot. In that case, the fatty foods will not be out of your favorite options of dishes. These spices will decrease the level of triglyceride in the body.
Drinking aloe vera
Drinking Aloe Vera, which is pure is very good for the health. If this element is in your diet chart, it is very good for keeping fit. Well, it increases digestive power and can repair the problematic digestive system. Aloe Vera thus helps you to keep fit.
Vinegar with some desserts
Desserts are very important options after having your main food. Sometimes these desserts contain some fatty elements. It can make you feel hesitation before taking those. But no need to worry if some vinegar is used on that occasion. Vinegar helps to keep the blood sugar level good. Taking some amount of vinegar in the morning also helps to improve the digestion power of a person.
Cinnamon in coffee
As far as the drinks are concerned, coffee can be a good option in the morning or evening. Some amount of Cinnamon with coffee makes it perfect for you. This spice helps to control the amount of insulin in the body. It decreases the blood sugar level as well. It also helps to keep control of cholesterol levels.
Use of good bacteria
The word Bacteria gives us the fear of bad health. But there are some good bacteria that can be used for a healthy body. Some of the good bacteria can improve the digestive system of humans.
For a perfect diet, these elements can help a lot. It is not possible always to leave a lot of food of your choice. It is better to take these things to keep aside the bad effects of those foods.
About the author: Diana Maria is a blogger by profession. She loves writing about technology, health, and parenting. Besides this, she is fond of games and gadgets. She also likes reading various articles on bornrich.com & cellphonebeat.com
How to Make Diet Foods Taste
There’s just something about diving into a late-night snack filled with “bad for you” ingredients. Whether it’s nacho chips decked out in cheese, meat, and sour cream or six-alarm chili with all the trimmings, food that’s bad for you tastes so much better most of the time.
But what if you could make your diet foods – you know, foods that are actually good for you – taste as mouth-watering delicious as the foods that aren’t? Sounds impossible, right? Not so fast.
Research indicates that you can do just that. Here are a few simple ways you can take to make your diet foods taste like your favorite heart attack on a stick.
Use Stainless Steel Cutlery.
A recent Men’s Health News article cites an Oxford University Study which indicated that using stainless steel instead of plastic cutlery gives the impression that your food is more flavorful. Hmm, really?
Eat with stainless steel cutlery to make your diet foods taste better.
According to the study, when participants were given identical samples of yogurt, those eating with stainless steel spoons rated the yogurt at 5.5 while those eating with plastic spoons gave a rating of 4.6. The theory is that people associate stainless steel with higher quality restaurants, while plastic cutlery is commonly associated with fast food.
Create a Food Ritual.
A July 2013 paper entitled “Rituals Enhance Consumption” tested the theory that ritualistic behaviors actually enhance the consumption of food. Simple acts, such as snapping photographs of your meal prior to eating, can help you enjoy your meals better and feel more satisfied by the foods you eat.
Taking a picture of your cottage cheese can make it taste more yummy. Okay, if you say so.
Of course, it doesn’t have to relate only to snapping photos. It can be small rituals such as saying grace, singing happy birthday, setting the table, or even cutting the food on your plate into tiny, bite-sized pieces. The theory is that the rituals involved focus your mind on what you’re doing, allowing you to have greater enjoyment, or involvement, in the moment. So, the next time you’re eating a healthy meal, pull out your camera phone and snap away.
Use Herbs and Other Ingredients for More Flavor.
It is unnecessary to eliminate all hope of flavor to eat healthily. Flavorless food is less satisfying, which often leads to over-indulging. Simple solutions involve using more herbs and spices in the preparation of health foods, according to this U.S. News Health article.
Things like sun-dried tomatoes, herbs, and even low-fat cheese added to dough prior to baking can leave you feeling more satisfied with the flavor of your pizza crusts, rolls, and breads. Adding sharp grated cheeses and dried fruits to food adds a nice burst of flavor, as does marinating foods in low-sodium marinades – particularly those that are tangy, sweet, or savory.
Have Someone Else Prepare Your Food.
Here’s the theory: You’re more likely to find the food satisfying and full of flavor if someone else prepares it for you. When you prepare a meal yourself, you anticipate the flavor while making the food. When someone else prepares the food for you, that mental anticipation isn’t quite the same.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University believe this is due to extended exposure to the food being prepared. Experiencing the making of the meal, in this case a sandwich, makes the sandwich less desirable. It’s sort of like the law of diminishing returns in action. The first bite of a desirable dish is the most desirable (and most satisfying).
These great tips will help you add the flavor diet foods often lack so you can hopefully enjoy them just as much (or close to it, anyway) as you enjoy foods that are notoriously bad for you. Put them to work today and see what a difference they make for your diet efforts.
Have you tried any of these tips or other tips to make your “diet food” taste better? Did they work?
Freelance writer Elizabeth Magill is an author who writes articles, blog posts, news stories, guides, and ebooks on a variety of topics, including health, medical, and many business topics including Reputation.com reviews.
Despite what you have heard from low-carb diet fanatics, eating fruits and vegetables will NEVER make you fat!
Fad low carbohydrate diets like the Atkins Diet and the South Beach Diet may tell you that you should avoid all carbs like the plague, but the science and common sense just don’t agree. When it comes to eating fruits and vegetables, More Is Better, according to the USDA, and thousands of studies on the research between chronic diseases and fruit and veggie intake.
The more fruits and vegetables you eat, the lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and almost every chronic disease we know!
Yet some diet promoters will go so far as to say fruits and veggies will make you gain weight! Is it true?
Well, let’s talk about common sense here. If you were to write down the 10 most overweight people you know and analyzed their diets to see what could possibly have made them so overweight, here’s what their diet would look like:
The Typical Overweight Diet
- Soda, milkshakes, energy drinks, mocha lattes and other sugary drinks
- Excessive amounts of fried foods – french fries, fried chicken, etc.
- Lots of dairy consumption including milk, ice cream, cheesecakes and other desserts
- Lots of greasy foods like pizza prepared by someone else
- Lots of meat consumption, probably in every meal
- Lots of white foods – white flour, white sugar, white pasta, white salt, etc.
- Lots of packaged and processed and canned foods
- Lots of chips, cookies, crackers, and candies
- Very few, if any, raw foods – including fruits, vegetables, and berries
- Very few, if any, whole grains or legumes (beans)
When you analyze the diets of the average American (and, by the way, the average American is overweight or obese), you realize that this is what most people eat most of the time. And especially overweight people – they’re eating all this processed, packaged food made in a factory somewhere that is loaded with excess empty calories, food additives, chemicals, dyes, preservatives, hormone disruptors and other toxins.
And that’s what they eat day in and day out! In fact, the average American only eats fewer than 20 kinds of fruits and vegetables in any one YEAR – yet many of us will eat 20 different kinds of sugary sodas, 20 different kinds of cookies, 20 different kinds of cakes, 20 different kinds of ice creams, etc. in any one year!
So is the problem with obesity in America that people are eating too much fruits and vegetables? Of course not!
So pay no attention to those who will try to confuse you in order to sell you weight loss products, pills, and quick fix fad diets.
If you want to lose weight, it’s really simple (not easy, but simple). Just reverse the standard American diet we outlined above. Eat very few of those processed foods at the top of the list and eat lots of fresh whole foods – fruits, vegetables, and berries.
Could it really be that simple? Why not try it for yourself!
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