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10 non-obvious triggers of overeating: how the brain controls your plate
"It's not a weakness of character." What hidden mechanisms are causing you to overeat
Hunger that lives in your head
A study from Yale University (2023) found that 68 percent of overeating is not related to physical hunger. Neuroscientists have found that food cravings are often “breakdowns” in the brain’s reward system. Here are 10 triggers that turn a refrigerator into an emotional crutch.
Trigger 1: The Neurological Mirage of Satisfaction
Dr. David Kessler, in his book The End of Overeating, explains that the combination of fat, sugar and salt activates opioid receptors stronger than heroin. FMRI studies show that after a serving of ice cream, the prefrontal cortex “switches off” for 40 minutes, depriving them of control.
Top 3 Food Drugs:
Trigger 2: Empty Screen Syndrome
Appetite magazine showed that viewing social networks increases snack consumption by 53%. Shimmering blue light suppresses melatonin, disrupting the connection between the stomach and the brain. Solution? The rule of the red plate: there is only at a specially allocated table.
Trigger 3: Emotional Meteorological Addiction
UCLA scientists found that when stressed, the brain requires 35% more calories. Blame everything ghrelin - "anxiety hormone", stimulating appetite. But there is a way out: 20 minutes of dancing reduces his level as effectively as a serving of pasta.
5 non-food antidepressants:
Trigger 4: Nighttime "doping"
Circadian rhythms control leptin - the hormone of satiety. A University of Chicago study found that waking up after midnight increases cravings for sweets by 45%. Solution? "Blue Hour": 60 minutes before bedtime - only warm lights and herbal teas.
Trigger 5: Food Loneliness
The Oxford paradox is that people eat 25% more alone. Reason? Absence of mirror neurons activated during joint meals. Experimental solution: video dinners with friends or "cooking diary" in social networks.
Conclusion: How to Reboot the Food Operating System
Nutritionist Joan Egan advises, “Instead of diets, create rituals.” 20 seconds of deep breathing before eating reduces impulsive intake by 60%.” Remember, food is not an enemy, but an ally. The main thing is to hear the true signals of the body behind the noise of neurochemical illusions.
Hunger that lives in your head
A study from Yale University (2023) found that 68 percent of overeating is not related to physical hunger. Neuroscientists have found that food cravings are often “breakdowns” in the brain’s reward system. Here are 10 triggers that turn a refrigerator into an emotional crutch.
Trigger 1: The Neurological Mirage of Satisfaction
Dr. David Kessler, in his book The End of Overeating, explains that the combination of fat, sugar and salt activates opioid receptors stronger than heroin. FMRI studies show that after a serving of ice cream, the prefrontal cortex “switches off” for 40 minutes, depriving them of control.
Top 3 Food Drugs:
- Pizza (a combination of gluten and cheese)
- Chocolate (theobromine + sugar)
- Chips (salt crystals + umami)
Trigger 2: Empty Screen Syndrome
Appetite magazine showed that viewing social networks increases snack consumption by 53%. Shimmering blue light suppresses melatonin, disrupting the connection between the stomach and the brain. Solution? The rule of the red plate: there is only at a specially allocated table.
Trigger 3: Emotional Meteorological Addiction
UCLA scientists found that when stressed, the brain requires 35% more calories. Blame everything ghrelin - "anxiety hormone", stimulating appetite. But there is a way out: 20 minutes of dancing reduces his level as effectively as a serving of pasta.
5 non-food antidepressants:
- Chewing gum with mint (cheating receptors)
- Cold palms (cooling the body reduces traction)
- Vanilla aromatherapy (stimulates serotonin)
Trigger 4: Nighttime "doping"
Circadian rhythms control leptin - the hormone of satiety. A University of Chicago study found that waking up after midnight increases cravings for sweets by 45%. Solution? "Blue Hour": 60 minutes before bedtime - only warm lights and herbal teas.
Trigger 5: Food Loneliness
The Oxford paradox is that people eat 25% more alone. Reason? Absence of mirror neurons activated during joint meals. Experimental solution: video dinners with friends or "cooking diary" in social networks.
Conclusion: How to Reboot the Food Operating System
Nutritionist Joan Egan advises, “Instead of diets, create rituals.” 20 seconds of deep breathing before eating reduces impulsive intake by 60%.” Remember, food is not an enemy, but an ally. The main thing is to hear the true signals of the body behind the noise of neurochemical illusions.
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