French fries, or a 5k?

To your body, they might be different. But to your brain, the similarities are shocking… {NAME}, after you eat french fries, do you feel like you just ran a 5k? Probably not… But to your brain, running a 5k and digging into some salty fries are actually pretty similar… Because they both trigger your “reward centers,” making you feel like you just accomplished something awesome.1 The thing is, if eating something unhealthy tricks your brain into feeling great… It makes it that much harder to resist. Luckily, there are ways to overcome those urges — but first... Why does your brain reward you for eating junk food? It’s not just because french fries are delicious… In fact, a groundbreaking study just decoded the mystery: This “reward reaction” to junk food is actually due to a malfunction in our brains. Let me explain: For centuries, your ancestors ate meat and plants as they’re found in nature — for survival. But over the past century or so, your brain has been bombarded with hundreds of new processed foods… Like donuts, chips, cookies, and french fries. And your mind hasn’t found a way to determine how much of these foods you should eat, or how good for you they are. In fact, studies show that when those processed foods are high in both carbs and fat... Your brain has a “hiccup” — and it makes you overestimate how healthy they are. So, you think you’re eating something delicious and nutritious… even when you’re eating a donut.2 That’s dangerous, because that rewarding feeling is addicting… And eating too much of those processed foods can spell disaster for your health — and your waistline.3 All thanks to a malfunction in your brain. That’s totally unfair — as if resisting junk food isn’t hard enough already! But there’s good news: now that you’re aware of it, you can take some easy steps to overcome this “brain hiccup.” So, when you feel cravings for processed foods coming on, try conquering them with one of these strategies:  Craving Crusher #1: Keep a small pile of almonds or a piece of fruit handy. Then, when you’re craving unhealthy foods, reach for those instead. If you find you’re “hungry” for a donut, but not almonds or fruit, you’ll know it’s just a craving. Craving Crusher #2: Start off your day with a protein-packed breakfast — that way, you can stay full longer, instead of dealing with hunger pains all day.4 Craving Crusher #3: Studies show chewing gum can help you fight off cravings, so try to keep some of your favorite flavor handy.5,6 Craving Crusher #4: Get a good night’s sleep — if you’re sleep-deprived, you’re more likely to struggle with stronger cravings the next day.7 With these tips, you’ll be able to outsmart your own brain… And take back control over your health and your waistline. To your present and future health, Amy Lee, MD Head of Nutrition  [Top logo]( P.S. Now, this doesn’t mean you should never eat these processed foods — after all, you definitely deserve a treat once in awhile. Luckily, there’s a way to do it that won’t set you back from your fitness goals. So, if you’re like me and you want to indulge in “junk food” once in awhile… [Try this easy at-home trick that lets you treat yourself — without throwing you off track.]( SOURCES 1 DiFeliceantonio, A., Coppin, G., Rigoux, L., Edwin Thanarajah, S., Dagher, A., Tittgemeyer, M., & Small, D. (2018). Supra-Additive Effects of Combining Fat and Carbohydrate on Food Reward. Cell Metabolism, 28(1), 33-44.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.05.018. 2 Ibid. 3 Poti, J., Braga, B., & Qin, B. (2017). Ultra-processed Food Intake and Obesity: What Really Matters for Health—Processing or Nutrient Content?. Current Obesity Reports, 6(4), 420-431. doi: 10.1007/s13679-017-0285-4. 4 Paddon-Jones, D., Westman, E., Mattes, R., Wolfe, R., Astrup, A., & Westerterp-Plantenga, M. (2008). Protein, weight management, and satiety. The American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, 87(5), 1558S-1561S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/87.5.1558s. 5 Hetherington, M., & Regan, M. (2011). Effects of chewing gum on short-term appetite regulation in moderately restrained eaters. Appetite, 57(2), 475-482. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2011.06.008. 6 Hetherington, M., & Boyland, E. (2007). Short-term effects of chewing gum on snack intake and appetite. Appetite, 48(3), 397-401. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2006.10.001. 7 Markwald, R., Melanson, E., Smith, M., Higgins, J., Perreault, L., Eckel, R., & Wright, K. (2013). Impact of insufficient sleep on total daily energy expenditure, food intake, and weight gain. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences, 110(14), 5695-5700. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1216951110.    This email was sent to {EMAIL} by amylee@nucific.com 19528 Ventura Blvd. #343 Tarzana, CA 91356 [Edit Profile]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Report Spam]( Â