Posted by bulldog2 on June 13, 2009, at 11:04:43
In reply to Carb Cravings Depression????, posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2009, at 19:50:14
> Could craving carbs signal depression to manufacture serotonin? Phillipa
>
> Recognizing the Symptoms of DepressionThis content is selected and controlled by WebMD's editorial staff and is funded by Lilly USA.
> Font SizeA A A Craving Carbs: Is It Depression?
> Many people crave carbohydrates when they feel low.
> By Kathleen Doheny
> WebMD FeatureReviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MDDoes a bad day at the office or a tiff with your spouse send you marching to the cookie jar or the corner bakery?
>
> Or do you find yourself at the vending machine every day precisely at 4 p.m. for some crackers or candy?
>
> If either scenario fits, you're not alone. Many people crave carbohydrates -- especially cookies, candy, or ice cream -- when they feel upset, depressed, or tired.
>
> "Carb craving is part of daily life," says Judith Wurtman, PhD, a former scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet. She and her husband, MIT professor Richard J. Wurtman, have long researched carbohydrates and their link to mood and depression.
>
> The Wurtmans published a landmark article about carbs and depression in Scientific American in 1989. They are convinced that the carbohydrate craving is related to decreases in the feel-good hormone serotonin, which is marked by a decline in mood and concentration.
>
> Other experts arent so sure. Some wonder if depressed mood and reaching for carbs are both related to an external event -- such as the stock market decline -- or to simply habit.
>
> Carbohydrate Cravings: What's Known? What's Debated?
> Carb cravings seem to be related to decreases in serotonin activity, says Wurtman.
>
> "We discovered years and years ago that many people experience the 'universal carbohydrate craving time' between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. every day," she says. "I suspect the tradition of English tea with its carb offering is a ritual developed to fill this need."
>
> "It's a real neurochemical phenomenon," she says.
>
> The Wurtmans work, however, has its skeptics.
>
> Edward Abramson, PhD, a psychologist and professor emeritus at California State University, Chico, wrote the book Emotional Eating. He does not think the link is strong and clear-cut.
>
> "You could be down because of loss of money in the stock market," he says. "The depression is triggered by an external event, not by [only] a dip in serotonin. It may be the external event causing the dip in serotonin, not the dip occurring, then the craving, he says.
>
> Another possibility, says Abramson, is that carb craving may be just a habit, learned early. For instance, a woman brought up to believe that anger is not an acceptable emotion may turn to eating treats such as cookies instead -- because that's what she did as a kid and perhaps was encouraged to do by a parent.
>
> Carb cravings can also result from diets, says Evelyn Tribole, RD, a dietitian in Newport Beach, Calif., and author of Healthy Homestyle Cooking.
>
> She sees quite a few dieters who crave carbohydrates, especially if theyre on one of the high-protein, low-carb diets.
>
> "You don't want to kill for a piece of broccoli, but you'd kill for a piece of bread. It's a clear signal, she says, that your body needs more carbs. Its not an abnormal craving
> Recognizing the Symptoms of DepressionThis content is selected and controlled by WebMD's editorial staff and is funded by Lilly USA.
> Font SizeA A A Craving Carbs: Is It Depression?
> Many people crave carbohydrates when they feel low.
> By Kathleen Doheny
> WebMD FeatureReviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MDDoes a bad day at the office or a tiff with your spouse send you marching to the cookie jar or the corner bakery?
>
> Or do you find yourself at the vending machine every day precisely at 4 p.m. for some crackers or candy?
>
> If either scenario fits, you're not alone. Many people crave carbohydrates -- especially cookies, candy, or ice cream -- when they feel upset, depressed, or tired.
>
> "Carb craving is part of daily life," says Judith Wurtman, PhD, a former scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet. She and her husband, MIT professor Richard J. Wurtman, have long researched carbohydrates and their link to mood and depression.
>
> The Wurtmans published a landmark article about carbs and depression in Scientific American in 1989. They are convinced that the carbohydrate craving is related to decreases in the feel-good hormone serotonin, which is marked by a decline in mood and concentration.
>
> Other experts arent so sure. Some wonder if depressed mood and reaching for carbs are both related to an external event -- such as the stock market decline -- or to simply habit.
>
> Carbohydrate Cravings: What's Known? What's Debated?
> Carb cravings seem to be related to decreases in serotonin activity, says Wurtman.
>
> "We discovered years and years ago that many people experience the 'universal carbohydrate craving time' between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. every day," she says. "I suspect the tradition of English tea with its carb offering is a ritual developed to fill this need."
>
> "It's a real neurochemical phenomenon," she says.
>
> The Wurtmans work, however, has its skeptics.
>
> Edward Abramson, PhD, a psychologist and professor emeritus at California State University, Chico, wrote the book Emotional Eating. He does not think the link is strong and clear-cut.
>
> "You could be down because of loss of money in the stock market," he says. "The depression is triggered by an external event, not by [only] a dip in serotonin. It may be the external event causing the dip in serotonin, not the dip occurring, then the craving, he says.
>
> Another possibility, says Abramson, is that carb craving may be just a habit, learned early. For instance, a woman brought up to believe that anger is not an acceptable emotion may turn to eating treats such as cookies instead -- because that's what she did as a kid and perhaps was encouraged to do by a parent.
>
> Carb cravings can also result from diets, says Evelyn Tribole, RD, a dietitian in Newport Beach, Calif., and author of Healthy Homestyle Cooking.
>
> She sees quite a few dieters who crave carbohydrates, especially if theyre on one of the high-protein, low-carb diets.
>
> "You don't want to kill for a piece of broccoli, but you'd kill for a piece of bread. It's a clear signal, she says, that your body needs more carbs. Its not an abnormal craving
>I thought you were in remission?
poster:bulldog2
thread:900539
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090611/msgs/900755.html