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Last posts on private forums:  sare  2008-06-16 09:56:33 matthew 2008-04-12 21:25:59 pieniadz 2008-04-12 20:52:26
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Last posts on private blogs: matthew 2008-04-12 21:25:17 mary 2008-04-12 19:27:47 |
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Lastly added medical terms:
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You are in: Main Page / Medical articles / Dietetics / Carb Cravings Unveiled
Abnormal carb cravings may mean you suffer from depression. A bad day in the office or a quarrel with your spouse and you find yourself heading towards the nearest bakery for a sweet treat? Or maybe a day without a candy or a cracker would be spoiled? Many people crave carbohydrates when they're sad, depressed, tired or worried.
According to Judith Wurtman, PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, carb craving is something normal. She has researched carbohydrates and their link to mood and depression. Wurtman together with her husband are convinced that carb cravings are closely associated with a decrease of serotonin, hormone that keeps you feel good. If serotonin levels are low, you feel depressed and have problems with concentration. Other researchers are not willing to make such quick judgments.
Many people feel a sudden urge to eat carbs between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. each day, and as Wurtman claims, it is a real neurochemical phenomenon. On the contrary a psychologist and professor at California State University, Edward Abramson believes that the link between carb craving and depression is not that strong and obvious. It is more likely that some external event triggers depression, serotonin dip appears and this causes carb cravings, not the other side round. Carb cravings may be a habit as well, e.g. eating carbs when hiding our emotions. They can also be a result of a bad diet, especially when you're on high-carb diet which usually give you a sudden need for carbohydrates. However, high-protein dieters don't feel like eating a piece of bread, they don't have to.
Several research connected with carbohydrates have been done so far. Their result show that carb cravers eat about 800 more calories a day and tend to be overweight or even obese. Those who don't experience carb cravings find controlling their weight easier. Taking pluses into consideration, it turns out that carb cravers heal themselves from depression. There's simple reason they do that, carbs make them feel better 20 minutes after they eat them. Eating the carbs is an attempt to undo the depressed mood.
If you feel an urge to eat something rich in carbohydrates when you see somebody eating something it means your will is very weak and you're easily succumbed to the power of suggestion. Sometimes, people do self-medicating by increasing the levels of carbohydrates to feel they have enough power to move walls. Late-afternoon cravings are also something normal and don't mean you're depressed. However, if you are ready to do anything to get a sweet and you feel constantly low, you may need to seek professional help.
Added by:
mary
not connected with health care system
Added on:
2009-06-22 15:08:45 ,
Updated:
2009-06-22 15:13:40
Bibliography:
www.webmd.com
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