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Community Corner

Why Your Brain Sabotages Your Diet

We look at the science behind failed weight loss plans.

It has been reported for years that if you exercise you feel good.  

The feel good neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, GABA and endorphins are proven to maintain healthy levels with regular exercise. It seems simple that if all of these neurotransmitters are low, then just exercise, right? Well it’s not that simple! Recent research has shown, based on the increase in obesity and weight-related issues, exercise is one part of the solution.  

Dr. Daniel Amen, neuropsychiatrist, has spent 20 years researching this topic and has written two books on this very topic. Amen’s focus is on weight loss and how our brain has a significant role in helping or hindering your efforts. Amen has found through brain scans that overeating in particular is caused by a chemical imbalance.

These chemical imbalances can be caused by lack of exercise, high stress, lack of sleep and lack of proper nutrition. In other words, overeating and emotional eating is not just about willpower, it is about getting your brain healthy enough to help you stop the cycle.

The idea that if you just control your calories and start exercising your body will change is flawed. Although this behavior could help start the physical changes to your body, if your brain chemistry is not balanced, as discovered by Amen’s research, will lead to failure.  

Amen studied the brain images of people with depression, bipolar, ADD and people with addictions finding that the brain images showed many different patterns of unhealthiness. The reason this was significant, was the realization that in the past, these disorders were treated with the same medical protocol. When these conditions were not addressed properly, it often would lead to weight gain and an inability to maintain a proper weight.

These findings led Amen to conduct his study of the overweight population. Until recently the overweight population has been treated as a group, as opposed to specific to individual’s unique brain chemistry imbalances. With his study of the overweight population he found their brain scans also showed different patterns of unhealthiness.

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In other words, each brain was showing a lack of one or several of the neurotransmitters. However, not all the brain scans of the overweight population showed the same deficits. Amen concluded that each individuals weight issues occur for different reasons and each person’s weight-loss solution needs to address their specific brain chemistry imbalance.

In the end, Amen found that each person’s prescription for a maintainable weight-loss solution has to take into account the neurotransmitter deficits. The discussion of will power and motivation for any failed weight loss program needs to address this issue of brain chemistry. From these findings, one can conclude that the one-size-fits-all diet and exercise plans are one of the main reasons we have seen an increase in the population of overweight individuals.

Some programs do work for some and others do not work; however, if you fail to find your best prescription, it would be recommended that you explore your brain chemistry deficits.

Now what? What does that mean for you and bringing balance to your brain?Here is a simple prescription that would help with all neurotransmitter deficits.

1. Stay away from simple sugars and refined carbohydrates,
2. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep at night,
3. Reduce your stress
4. Reduce or eliminate your intake of artificial sweeteners
5. Log your foods and how you feel after you eat.
6. Exercise
7. Prepare healthy alternatives to the upcoming holiday indulgences.

The simple prescription above is just a start in helping you find some brain balance. Since none of us have a brain scanner at home, the best way to find out your brain chemistry balance is by taking a written test which is given by most holistic practitioners.  

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If you are truly curious, you could always pick-up a copy of Amen’s book “The Amen Solution: The Brain Healthy Way to Lose Weight and Keep It Off” and/or “Change your Brain, Change your Body." He offers a detailed synopsis of his solutions to getting a chemical balance and a sustainable weight loss solution.

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