| In the battle of the bulge the most pernicious enemy | | | | energy it causes our bodies to crave snacks even |
| our will power must fight off are those cravings that | | | | more frequently. |
| sneak up on us every day. | | | | Research performed at the Massachusetts Institute |
| According to recent research, it appears that if | | | | of Technology's Clinical Research Center uncovered |
| you're a woman you experience cravings about 10 | | | | this truth when it uncovered a relationship between |
| times throughout every single day. This is likely true | | | | carbohydrates in the brain and weight loss. Dr. J. |
| of men as well. | | | | Wurtman, lead researcher of the study, along with |
| The most common times, it appears, for these | | | | his colleagues, demonstrated that eating |
| cravings to pop up are at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This | | | | carbohydrates high on the glycemic index raised the |
| corresponds to drops in your blood sugar levels as | | | | levels of serotonin in the brain. |
| you system works off your breakfast and lunch. | | | | The results also demonstrated that women suffering |
| Late night eaters will recognize the same midnight | | | | from premenstrual syndrome eat too many |
| snack syndrome. | | | | carbohydrates and consequently gain weight. Others |
| Blood sugar is your bodies gasoline. The food you eat | | | | overeat when they're depressed, stressed or angry |
| is converted to glucose which is transported to your | | | | in an effort to balance these serotonin levels. |
| brain, muscles and other organs by your blood. When | | | | The slower release of blood sugar through the |
| your tank starts getting low, your system sends a | | | | consumption of low glycemic foods reduces these |
| signal to your brain just like the little dashboard light | | | | snack attacks, as the body's glucose levels and other |
| that tells you your getting low on gas. | | | | hormones are kept in better balance. |
| Now your body doesn't know if you are within | | | | The net result is that people on a low glycemic diet |
| eyesight of a gas station or just passed a sign | | | | actually have less dramatic fluctuations in blood sugar |
| reading last gas for 150 miles. It hopes for the first | | | | and hormone levels and thus fewer cravings. This |
| and acts as if the latter was the case. It practically | | | | means they are better able to stay on the diet |
| demands that you grab a Ben and Jerry's and refuel | | | | which reinforces its success level. |
| on the spot. | | | | The glycemic index diet works well to reduce weight |
| When our bodies are used to eating high glycemic | | | | by its very nature. The added benefit of controlling |
| foods which provide a quick but unsustained spurt of | | | | cravings however is a decided advantage. |