Healthful Bites

Smile Mile After Mile

For those searching for the magic pill to cure anxiety and depression: you’re in luck! Scientists have discovered it—and the best part? You don’t even need a prescription. Just move!

Boston University professors hope that their findings can help to encourage mental health professionals to recommend exercise and even get trained in exercise therapy to help their clients. After reviewing many previous studies, the researchers found that physical activity can supplement, or even replace, drug therapies for some suffering from depression and anxiety (this by no means suggests that those doing well on psychological medications should stop taking them, however).

Self-reported levels of anger, stress, anxiousness and sadness decrease after sweat sessions, possibly because of neurotransmitter (or brain chemical) changes. In fact, mood improvements can be felt less than 30 minutes after beginning a workout! Mental health improves almost immediately, while physical health improves over the long-term if exercisers keep at it. Talk about motivation to move :)

 (Image from Kirklees Council)

Mind Your Meal

I like my nutritious food (healthful bites!) as much as, or probably more than, the average person. Little did I know, thinking about my eats as good for me may make me want to eat more. Study participants eating a “tasty” food rather than a “healthy” food felt more satisfied and less hungry later, even when the food consumed was identical.

Findings published in the Journal of Consumer Research noted that those focusing on making positive health changes may compensate for wise wellness choices later on. This could be a partial explanation for why some claim that exercise is actually detrimental to weight loss efforts; people may ride their bikes for 30 minutes and reward themselves with a Double Down (ick)! Or, those who order a salad for dinner may go home and have a healthy-sized piece of apple pie a la mode for dessert since they ate so “well” at their meal.

In one of the studies noted in the research article, all of the student study participants ate the same raspberry and chocolate protein bars: one group noshed on bars labeled as a healthful, the others were told it was a chocolate bar. Those who ate the so-called chocolate choice rated their hunger levels later on as lower than those who ate the content-conscious bar. In a similar study, subjects were told they were eating a piece of bread that was low-fat or a slice that was tasty. Later, both groups were offered pretzels to nosh on. No surprise: those who were told they ate less fat ate more pretzels.

But when people are given the choice between an option that is good for them and one that is less so, and they partake in whichever one they want, reported hunger levels are equal among both camps.

So next time you sit down to try a new vegetable, think about how delicious it will taste! You may be more satisfied afterwards.

Do you feel that label claims or other nutrition descriptions affect your perceptions of satiety?

 (Image from Life Info Centre)

 

Water cooler conversation starter: A recent article published in SELF magazine and on the Today Show’s Web site poses a controversial “Would You Rather?” question…larger and happy or thinner and miserable? The author added about 80 pounds after beginning an antidepressant regimen. Pills kept her mood manageable, but made her ashamed of her once thinner body. 

So would you prefer to be slimmer if that meant you would be less joyous? Or, more broadly, which do you think comes first, good mental health or physical health?

Aroma(food)therapy

In the past year or so, I’ve come across quite a few articles about Sensa, a calorie-free food sprinkle that claims to speed up feelings of fullness, thus decreasing intake. The explanation behind Sensa relies on the body’s recognition of aroma and taste; makers claim that the sprinkle increases the taste of the foods you eat.

While I’m majorly skeptical about this “diet plan” ($40-60/month for what seems like glorified salt? Thanks, but no thanks), researchers are legitimately studying anti-hunger scents. These smells would supposedly make diners feel full quicker, decreasing the amount of food they consume—much like Sensa.

In the future, foods may be manufactured to release such traces so that we all stop sooner. But this idea also raises the question: what about those people who need to eat large quantities? And how far are we willing to go to mess with food products for weight loss? It seems that overeating is often related to emotional issues, which would never be sorted out with an external whiff fix.

What are your thoughts on the smelling/appetite quelling link?

(Photo from Family Styles)

A Smiling State

Not surprisingly, thinking that you’re healthy, happy and well is linked to an optimistic attitude. But do you know where the most happy people live? The south, according to new research published in the journal Science. Scientists say that environmental factors, such as amount of sun, cleanliness of air, etc. are related to an upbeat nature. I can totally understand that—when the weather is nice, my attitude follows suit!

Here’s a rundown of the top five happiest states:

1. Louisiana
2. Hawaii
3. Florida
4. Tennessee
5. Arizona

The data studied was from several years ago, so scientists suggest that there may have been changes since then. Still, it’s interesting to note that generally the most positive people seem to live in the same region. The least happy state? New York, the study found.

What factors do you think play into good mental health and/or happiness?

(Photo from Well Rounded Kids)

Water cooler conversation starter, or for this one, an are you serious?: a female competitive weightlifter in Chile started unexpectedly giving birth—yes, really—while practicing in her gym. She had been feeling ill, but had no idea that she was pregnant. The baby boy was born six months along. Happily, Mom and son are doing well!