|
 For many woman, sugar is salvation for a stressful day at the office – giving a hit of instant calm and comfort. So why does junk food give us this feeling, and how can we stop the junk food binge when the stress is on? Read on to find out more!
There’s no denying it – for many women and some men, a big ice-cream or chocolate bar can seem to calm frayed nerves, or make a bad day at the office feel better. However, while it may make you feel better for a moment, it won’t solve the underlying problem.  So why does junk food seem to make things feel better? Well firstly there is the immediate comfort effect from eating. The smooth, sweet, creamy texture of an ice-cream or chocolate, or the satisfying crunch of potato chips – all which can be attributed to either the fat or sugar content, give an instant pleasure.
Research also has shown that sugary foods increase the amount of the chemical tryptophan entering the brain. This has the effect of releasing an increased amount of seretonin from the brain. Seretonin is known to improve mood and, in turn,
reduces the desire for more sugar-containing food. But the good news is, other carbohydrate foods that are not high in sugar will also have the same effect. So eating a starchy type food such as bread, or potatoes will still produce mood-boosting seretonin without overloading on sugar or fat. Also, the affect of carbohydrate intake on seretonin levels
is still debatable, so don’t use it as an excuse to overindulge on sugary food! The important point to remember is that comfort eating will not solve the issue. To beat comfort eating, it’s vital to have a healthy relationship with food. This involves not “banning” foods from your diet, eating an overall balanced diet, allowing yourself a treat every now and then, and not labeling foods as good (must eat), and bad (can never eat).  What if you are desperate for something sweet and tasty but not wanting to overindulge? Here are a few healthier options for satisfying the cravings... Sugar free gum Feeling frustrated? Take it out on some sugar free chewing gum and get the bonus of looking after your teeth at the same time. Chewing stimulates saliva production which neutralizes harmful plaque acid. As well as the original minty flavours, Extra now also makes strawberry and blueberry flavoured sugar free gum.  Trim Hot ChocolateSatisfy a chocolate craving with a hot chocolate made with trim milk. You’ll still get your chocolate fix, but with much less fat and the added bonus of calcium – something many of us nzgirls don’t get enough off. Hot Cross Bun If you are craving a sugary carbohydrate like a cake or donut, try a hot cross bun instead. It is still sweet from the goodness of dried fruit and isn’t high in fat. Try toasted with a thin spread of reduced fat margarine.
Nicola Graham, Nutritionist Love keeping fit and active? A career in the New Zealand Army could be just the thing for you! Army life is a lot different to what you probably think it is – say hello to being paid to keep in shape, work in a job you love, travel and keep your social life! Click here to find out more…
|
