Our brain is the most important organ in our body. Our brain regulates all the other functions and metabolic processes including our heartbeat, breathing, digesting of the food and everything else. The cognitive decline can be accelerated or delayed by several different factors. But our diet is the best shot at preventing cognitive disturbance for a long time. The studyAccording to a new study published in the Journal Alzheimer's and Dementia, a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, olive oil and nuts, dramatically reduces one's risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases later in life.According to the same study, the Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment but not slower decline in the cognitive function.

Another study conducted for almost 10 years found that people who adhered closest to the Mediterranean diet enjoyed the highest cognitive function throughout the observational study (10-year window).

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The only diet that can keep your brain healthy for years - Times of India

Cutting meat from your diet can be a significant lifestyle adjustment, but the documented health benefits can make the change well worth it.

If your doctor has recommended that you cut back on your meat intake or you have decided to fully embrace a meat-free diet, here are some of the changes your body may experience. Just keep in mind that the effects can vary from person to person.

Because red meat and heavily processed meat products tend to be calorie-dense, eliminating them from your diet may help you lose weight. A 2015 study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that people following a vegetarian diet lost more weight than people on other diets.

Plenty of studies have demonstrated how going meatless can lower your risk for cardiovascular disease and heart disease-related mortality. An American Heart Association study found that people who ate plant-based diets were 16 percent less likely to develop heart disease and 32 percent less likely to die from heart disease and stroke.

The balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut has been linked to many different health issues. Adding probiotics to your diet can create a healthier gut environment, but so can going meatless. This is because animals that are conventionally raised have been given hormones and antibiotics that can wreak havoc on your gut microbiome.

In addition, your body produces Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) while digesting red meat high levels of which have been linked to cardiovascular disease, heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

Some studies have found that adopting healthier lifestyle changes (like reducing meat intake) can affect the length of our telomeres, which are the caps at the end of DNA strands that protect our chromosomes. The shortening of telomeres can cause damage to the DNA strands and has been linked to increased risk of breast and prostate cancers.

According to a 2019 Nature study, cutting back on or eliminating meat especially red meat and eating more nuts and fruits, which have anti-inflammatory properties, can reduce the inflammation levels in your body.

High levels of systemic inflammation in the body can weaken your immune system, contributing to the development of immune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

In order to reap the most benefits from going meatless, its important to protect yourself from any potential nutritional deficiencies.

When cutting out large food groups from your diet, its important to find alternative sources for the nutrients they provided. For instance, if youre not getting most of your protein from meat, youll need to up your intake of other sources like eggs, low-fat milk, beans, peas, soy products, and unsalted nuts and seeds. Stay away from heavily processed and sugary foods that can also have a negative impact on your health.

Be sure to also talk to your doctor about taking supplements of certain essential nutrients and minerals like vitamin B12, vitamin D, and iron. A B12 deficiency can cause anemia or lead to damage to the nervous system.

Getting into the groove of making healthy meat-free meals doesnt happen overnight so dont get frustrated. Try to be as consistent as possible and remember its okay to start with just adding a few meatless meals into your weekly mix.

The more prepared you are before going meatless, the easier it will be to stick to it. Make sure you do plenty of research on tips and recipes ahead of time, and ask your doctor or nutritionist for help creating daily and weekly meal plans that are built around beans, lentils, vegetables, and whole grains instead of meat.

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. If you have, or suspect that you have, a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider.

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What to expect when cutting meat from your diet - PhillyVoice.com

Since John Tesh had the good news that he was cancer free in 2018, he is doing everything he can to stay healthy and in the best shape possible. The beloved television star and musician exclusively tells Closer Weekly that he remains cured with a good daily diet and exercise regime.

I really have [no restrictions], says the 67-year-old, pointing to his wife, Connie Selleccaand stepson, Gib Gerard, help him stay the course especially in quarantine in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jim Cooper / AP / Shutterstock

I mean, my wife and son are on a ketogenic diet, he continues, referring to the weight loss program in which you eat a very low amount of carbohydrates and a lot of fat. I was on it when I was sick, but I eat quite well.

The former Entertainment Tonight star who linked with Connie, 64, in 1992 said that although he is not in the gym at the moment, he stays in shape with full exercises air.

We live on land with about 150 steps going down into a valley, he explains. So Im on these steps every day and it keeps me on the ground. If I dont wake up at 4:30 a.m. or 5:00 a.m. and exercise, then the rest of my day is [shooting].

In addition to staying healthy after his terrifying battle with cancer, artist Roundball Rock who organized a six-hour live Facebook fundraiser with Connie and Gib, 38, to support front-line workers online during the coronavirus pandemic in late April says the majority of his schedule stayed the same.

It really is, he insists. Just more work, you know, but again [Im] grateful to do it.

Jm Smeal / EIB / Shutterstock

Throughout his multi-year battle with cancer, John has been fairly open and honest about the trials and tribulations he has faced. In a recent issue of Closer magazine, radio host Intelligence for Your Life congratulated the greatest American actress for being with her in her fight against a rare form of prostate cancer.

I had two major surgeries, then chemo, then I took a drug that sucks up all the testosterone. You are going through menopause, night sweats, you cant eat or sleep, and the cancer keeps coming back, he shared with Closer in early March, admitting frankly that he once asked Connie to please kill me while he suffered mightily . a night.

Meanwhile, we discovered the healing scriptures we started to study, he continued. I started to recover, then they found three or four spots and wanted to irradiate my pelvis with 62 treatments. [It was then] that we realized that I was done with the treatment. It was two years ago, and all the markers indicate that there is no cancer in my body.

We hope John and his family will stay safe during this unprecedented pandemic!

Given the ever-changing nature of COVID-19, Weekly closing wants our readers to have access to the most accurate resources. For the latest information, advice, and support on coronaviruses, see the CDC, WHOand information local public health officials. If you have symptoms of coronavirus, call your doctor for medical advice.

Report by Diana Cooper.

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John Tesh Is Staying Healthy With Exercise and Diet Post-Cancer - Bulletin Mail

The coronavirus outbreak has upended a sense of normalcy and daily routines, which may be affecting your typical health and wellness regimen as well.

And while health experts say maintaining a healthy weight is important, you don't have to go overboard to avoid gaining weight right now.

"I'm not suggesting starting a strict diet or intense exercise program while sheltering in place, but there are some simple things you can do to prevent weight gain and protect yourself not only from Covid-19-related complications, but also from diseases such as diabetes and heart disease," Dr. Melina Jampolis wrote in an article for CNN.

Make stress management a priority

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, it's important to take care of your mental health as well as your physical health, experts note.

"I know, it isn't easy. Balancing homeschooling, financial challenges, cabin fever, social isolation and illness is stressful, but stress can contribute to poor eating choices and increase fat deep in your belly (underneath the muscle) that can contribute to heart disease and diabetes," Dr. Jampolis wrote in the CNN article.

Additionally, the CDC recommends the following measure to look out for your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak:

Pay attention to what you're buying

When you go to the grocery store, or order supplies to be delivered, pay attention to what you're adding to your cart. Try to stay away from having too much junk food in the house to avoid temptation.

Getting enough water and servings of fruits and vegetables is also recommended.

More tips on cooking amid the pandemic can be found here.

Get a good night's rest

If you've been having trouble sleeping lately, a new study shows that you're not alone.

The study, commissioned by Sleep Standards, found that nearly 77% of Americans have lost sleep over the coronavirus pandemic.

Sleep is an essential part of all-around health.

"Both excess sleep and inadequate sleep have been linked to weight gain, increased appetite and worsening blood sugar control, so try your best not to completely abandon your sleep schedule," according to CNN.

Stay social

Just because you're sheltering in place, doesn't mean you have to be socially isolated. In fact, the World Health Organization even encouraged experts to move away from calling it "social distancing" and instead opt for "physical distancing."

Maintaining a sense of connection with people in your life can help keep a sense of normalcy, which can help keep you healthier all around.

"It occurred to me from the beginning that this was an unfortunate choice of language to talk about 'social distance', when actually what was meant was 'physical distance,'" Martin W Bauer, a London-based sociology professor told Al Jazeera. "It is good that WHO finally tried to correct an early error of mistaking physical distance for social distance. In these strange times of the virus, we want clear physical distance, but at the same time, we want people to remain close to each other 'socially.'"

Visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.) at http://www.ajc.com

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Ways other than diet, exercise to stay healthy while at home - Finger Lakes Times

In need of a little calming influence? Try eating food that helps yourelaxnaturally.

If youre experiencing nervousness, racing thoughts, difficulty getting to sleep, or even panic during thecoronavirus pandemic, youre not alone. This is anextremely stressful time; its only natural that wed feel a little amped and uneasy.

If youre having trouble relaxing, avoidingsugarandcaffeineis a must. These ingredients can further stress our bodies and set us up for anxiety. On the flip side, there are foods that can help support our nervous system, increase our resiliency to stress, and even make us feel calm right after we eat them.

As we move through this crazy time, lets lean on these 9 foods that promote relaxation.

Related Reading:How to Shop for Groceries If Youre Concerned About Coronavirus

A fermented drink that falls somewhere betweenyogurtand milk,kefiris a great addition to your social distancing routine. It can be made from dairy milk ornut milkand contains high amounts of beneficial bacteria, which support a healthy gut microbiome. At first glance, our gut health might seem unrelated to our nervous systems, but its actually quite the opposite. Studies have shown not only thatstress can alter the microbiomein undesirable ways, but thatanxiety could actually be alleviatedby regulating gut bacteria.

You can drink kefir plain or use it as a creamy base for recipes like in thisChilled Avocado, Cucumber, and KefirSoup recipeby Julie Smolyansky.

Fatty fish likesalmonare full of omega-3 fatty acids, which have proven to be extremely beneficial for calming the nervous system. In fact, a systematic review of 19 clinical trialspublished inJAMA Open Networkshowed that improvements in anxiety symptoms were associated with omega-3 fatty acid treatment. Try thisMaple Mustard Grilled Salmon recipefromChristine Gallaryand add salmon to the menu a few times a week.

Related Reading:The Best Places to Buy Fresh Seafood Online

Tart cherriescontain high levels of various phytochemicals, including melatonin. Youve probably heard of melatonin before; its known as the sleep hormone because our bodies release it in the evening to help us get to sleep. Well,studies have shownthat consuming tart cherry juice increases melatonin levels and can improve sleep quality and duration. If youre having trouble winding down at night, tart cherries might be the perfect food to lean on. For otherfoods that can help you sleep, read this.

Have you ever wondered whycucumber wateris so popular? It could be because the smell ofcucumbershas natural stress-relieving properties. And its not only the smell, either; this low-sugar fruit also contains B vitamins, which help support our central nervous system. In fact,studieshave shown that a B complex vitamin can improve anxiety symptoms compared to placebo.

Plenty of studies have found interesting links between vitamin C and mood. In fact, one study on 42 high school students showed thatvitamin C actually lowered anxiety levels. Citrus fruitslikelemons,limes, oranges, and grapefruitare one of the best ways to get vitamin C in your diet. Hereshow to segment citrusfor easy, mess-free eating.

Amazon

You might not think of Vegemite as a health food, butone study, published in 2018, showed that people who consume yeast-based spreadssuch asMarmite, Vegemite, Promite, and Aussiemitehave lower levels of anxiety and stress. According to the researchers, the B vitamin content in these spreads is likely to thank for their anxiety-reducing powers. To start using Vegemite, try spreading it thinly on one side of agrilled cheese sandwich. It adds a bitter, salty flavor that you may just learn to love.

Chowhound

Onionsare one of the best sources ofprebiotic fiber, which helps to feed healthy gut bacteria. As we now know, a balanced microbiome is essential for optimal mental health. Other sources of prebiotic fiber include leeks,bananas,garlic, andapples. Try adding raw onions to salads or whips of thisEasy Caramelized Onions recipefrom Aida Mollenkamp.

Pumpkin seedsare one of the best sources of magnesium, which is often referred to as the relaxation mineral and is one of the topstress-relieving nutrients. Many of us are deficient in magnesium, as processed foods are virtually devoid of this mineral, but luckily, pumpkin seeds provide more than 150 mg of magnesium per cup, which is almost 50 percent of your daily recommended intake. Try thisHomemade Pumpkin Seed Milk recipe, from the book Magnesium Everyday Secrets.

Related Reading:This Pumpkin Sourdough Focaccia Is the Perfect Accompaniment to Any Stew

Lucky you: Research published in theJournal of Proteome Researchfound that eating about 1 ounces ofdark chocolateper day can actually lead to lower levels of cortisol, which is one of our primary stress hormones. For extra relaxation benefits, dark chocolate also contains significant levels of magnesium. Just make sure you opt for dark chocolate and if youre not sure what to buy, these are thebest dark chocolate barsout there.

Focusing on these foods can help promote relaxation, peaceful sleep, and a sense of calm despite whats going on outside. Luckily, most of these foods are also affordable, delicious, and can be prepared in any number of creative ways.

Article provided by CBS sister site Chowhound.com. All featured products are curated independently by Chowhound editors. When you buy something through their retail links, they may receive a commission.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Coronavirus Diet: 9 Foods That Promote Relaxation To Help You Stay Calm - CBS Chicago

A Tragic Love Story

How about starting the weekend with a reading of Romeo and Juliet? Margaret Qualley and David Corenswet star as the ill-fated lovers in the Friday afternoon reading, which will air live on Acting for a Causes YouTube channel at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. ET. Brandon Flynn, Skylar Astin, Kathryn Gallagher, Will Hochman, and Samuel H. Levine will join in for the reading, which raises funds to benefit The Entertainment Industry Foundation and Mount Sinai-Chicago COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Sarah Margaret Qualley

Denis Makarenko/Shutterstock

Generation XYZ Changemakers Convene for Virtual 92nd Street Y Summit

The 92nd Street Y is hosting a free virtual summit on May 3 featuring a lineup of speakers from Generations X, Y, and Z on topics spanning politics, wellness, media and entertainment. The lineup includes Cory Booker, Emily Ratajkowski, Ramy Youseff, Jessamyn Stanley, Larry Millsteinand Aoife ODonovan, who will all approach the question of Rebuilding a Better World After COVID-19 through the lens of their respective industries.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

See Benedict Cumberbatch Onstage in Frankenstein

The National Theatre released the latest recorded performance for its At Home series, and this week is a two-for-one. Streaming on YouTube for the next week, take in Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in playwright Nick Dears adaptation of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein. And there are two versions of the show, both filmed in 2011, to choose from. The first video, released April 30, has Cumberbatch playing the role of the creator and Miller as Victor Frankenstein; in the second performance, released May 1, their roles are swapped.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternate the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature.Alastair Muir/Shutterstock

Listen to Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge

Let the voices of Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge soothe you. The two actors starred in last summers limited Broadway run of paired one-man plays Sea Wall/A Life. While the show closed last fall and Broadway remains closed the audio recording of their performance is now available on Audible, free for members through the end of May.

Gallery Hopping

Galleries are continuing to debut exhibitions thanks to online viewing rooms. Stop by Lvy Gorvy to take in seven drawings by German artist Jutta Koether in the solo show Our Love Is Here to Stay. Galerie Lelon & Co. is exhibiting archival works by Ana Mendieta and Carolee Schneemann in Irrigation Veins, and downtown gallery The Hole is presenting Second Smile, a group exhibition of 35 artists exploring the intersection of the figurative and surreal.

Installation view of Second Smile.Arturo Sanchez

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WWD Weekend Culture Guide: Plays to Watch and Summits to Experience - WWD

The ketogenic diet is one the most famous diets for weight loss. However, embracing a new diet is not always the easiest thing to do. It takes time and effort to get used to the new form of cooking and your new lifestyle. The same is with the keto diet. It comes with small challenges that may hinder your diet. Here are some of the biggest challenges faced by people starting on the keto diet and some easy solutions to them.Tracking carb intakeThe problem: Carb intake can be divided into total and net intake. Total is the account of every single gram of carb consumed and is easier to calculate. Net carbs, on the other hand, is calculated by subtracting fiber and sugar alcohols from the total carbs. These are excluded because the body does not break them into glucose and have no impact on the blood sugar level. However, it is not as easy to calculate net carbs.The solution: The first step is to increase the amount of home cooking. Eating out and excessive snacking can get you off-rack from the allowed number of net carbs per day. Make sure you use recipes with information of everything. The last step is to get yourself a keto tracking app. The more you keep a track of the nutrients in the food you are cooking and eating, you better you can balance the amount of net carb intake per day.

Customizing according to your body type

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Here are the solutions to some of the biggest challenges of the keto diet - Times of India

What is the OMAD Diet? OMAD stands for one meal a day, which is the gist of the diet. The latter is a 23-day eating plan that allows you to eat all you want but in one meal a day. Indeed, you are not limited to eating only low-carb, low-fat, and low-calorie foods. In fact, you are free to eat indulgent foods, such as a pizza, cookies, French fries, etc. The OMAD diet reduces the amount of calories you consume without restricting you in the choice of products.

Benefits of the OMAD Diet

Slows down aging. Eating once a day facilitates autophagy, that is, a detox process, which makes you look fresher. Moreover, it proves to prevent aging-associated diseases, such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons.Facilitates metabolism. When you eat only once a day, your body learns to resist hunger and starts burning fat fast. Furthermore, one meal a day helps in preventing obesity.Reduces your calorie intake. It is impossible to consume the daily calorie intake just in one meal, which naturally makes you eat less calories.

Side Effects

The diet might slow down metabolism. Research shows that if you drastically cut down on your meals, you might start gaining weight very fast.You are likely to consume insufficient nutrients. Since the diet allows you to eat everything, you might choose the foods that are not rich in vitamins and other essential components.You will fail to understand when you are hungry.The cholesterol level in your body might increase.

Conclusion

Although the OMAD diet seems to be an effective way to lose weight fast, there are some serious risks you should consider. Chances are that this diet will harm you. Therefore, you should get screened for the contraindications to the diet plan in question and consult a dietician.

This content is brought to you by betterme.world

Photos provided by betterme.world

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The OMAD Diet: How Much Food Can You Eat in One Meal? - The Good Men Project

With the novel coronavirus pandemic crippling companies, threatening jobs and denting consumption, the government is trying to shield its economy with a gargantuan stimulus package financed by a supplementary budget bill that cleared the Diet on Thursday.

Although the enactment of the budget bill was delayed due to political wrangling over a cash handout program for households, the 117 trillion size of the economic measures has already been determined.

What are the focuses of the package and how big is this stimulus compared to those drafted in the past? How much will the government spend?

Here are some questions and answers about Japans relief package to counter COVID-19:

How will the stimulus protect the Japanese economy?

One of the top priorities is to stave off the virus spread. The relief package allocates 1.8 trillion for this purpose, to supply more necessary items such as face masks and ventilators to medical workers, bolster PCR testing capability and accelerate the development of vaccines and medicine.

Helping the cash management of companies, as well as safeguarding jobs and peoples lives, are also immediate objectives.

The government will spend 12.8 trillion to fund a controversial 100,000 cash handout program for all individuals, including foreign nationals registered as residents. The Cabinet had initially set a 300,000 cash distribution policy for households struggling with income losses, but it reorganized the bill after Komeito, the junior partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, strongly urged Abe to do so. It is extremely rare for the Cabinet to reverse a policy already approved.

It will finance 3.8 trillion for small and medium enterprises to secure cash to stay afloat. Also, 2.3 trillion is set aside for those companies and solo proprietors experiencing severe financial losses. The firms can receive up to 2 million each and self-employed individuals 1 million if their revenues have halved due to the impact of the virus.

The money for these measures for households and companies totals 19.4 trillion, which accounts for around 76 percent of the whole supplementary budget.

Dubbed the V-Shaped Recovery Phase, the stimulus package includes measures to be launched once the virus is contained. Japan is aiming to stimulate consumption with its 1.6 trillion Go To campaign, which will subsidize peoples travel expenses and tickets for entertainment events.

But some economists and lawmakers have questioned whether its necessary to prepare such measures now, while the outlook for containing the virus remains uncertain.

Will the Japanese government, which has snowballing debts, actually spend 117 trillion on the stimulus?

No, the government usually uses a total scale figure that combines spending by the central government, local governments and municipalities, the private sector and loans offered by financial institutions.

A large portion of the 117 trillion figure is, in fact, the loan programs. Around 26 trillion in moratoriums on tax payments for affected companies are included as well.

In Japan, politicians and economic experts often use the term fresh water (mamizu) to describe actual government spending or money expected to directly push GDP, to differentiate it from the total size (jigykibo), a measure some criticize as an inflated number.

The Cabinet Office says the amount of central government spending the fresh water is 33.9 trillion. Of that, 25 trillion is backed by the supplementary budget, which will be funded by issuing more bonds and will add a greater financial burden on a country whose debts have exceeded 200 percent of its GDP.

This means that although Abe has touted the total size as nearly 20 percent of Japan's GDP, actual government spending will be about 6 percent.

In that sense, the ratio is close to the U.S. $2.3 trillion (245 trillion) package signed by President Donald Trump in late March.

According to the Committee for a Responsible Budget, about $875 billion is estimated for loans. The rest about $1.4 trillion, which is about 6.6 percent of the U.S. GDP is close to the notion of fresh water, said Hajime Inoue, a researcher watching the U.S. economy at the Japan Research Institute.

How does this stimulus compare to the past record-setting package?

The previous record relief measures were compiled in 2009 when the international community was suffering amid the global financial crisis, triggered by the collapse of the U.S. subprime mortgage market in 2007.

At that time, their total value was 56.8 trillion, with actual government spending of 15.4 trillion, so the COVID-19 package is far bigger.

As for the economic impact, the Cabinet Office expects that the 117 trillion stimulus will push Japans real GDP up by 4.4 percent. Its estimation for the 2009 package was 2 percent.

The scale of the economic measures this time may indeed be larger, but the government will likely have to take additional steps given that it reportedly plans to extend the state of emergency for a month, which will result in more damage to the economy.

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In Japan's record stimulus, which cleared the Diet, what will be on offer? - The Japan Times

The craving struck me about two weeks ago. My brain's message was clear and direct.

You want Russian dressing.

I tried to shake the thought, but the more I fought it, the more my brain dug in. And then, sure enough, during my next weekly grocery shopping trip, I picked up a bottle to later glop atop a mixed greens salad.

My craving for Russian dressing wasn't an isolated incident. For whatever reason, I picked up a box of S'mores Pop Tarts the other day. I'm still jonesing for salmon roe. Yes, salmon roe.

I'm not alone either. Friends of mine send me pictures of weird chip flavors they've picked up at the grocery store. Another texted yesterday to tell me he ate a Sloppy Joe for breakfast. The hashtag #covidcooking has more than 85,000 photos on Instagram and is splattered with everything from banana cinnamon donuts to Spam mee pok tah.

So what's driving all these weird cravings?

The idea that my body needed some particular type of nutrient within the Russian dressing (the easily digestible carbohydrates in all the high fructose corn syrup, perhaps?), has long been debunked.

New science shows that food cravings operate via a complex and intricate network that involves many parts of the brain.

And there's a big complicating factor about food cravings as it relates to the coronavirus COVID-19, self-quarantine, and the worldwide fear brought about by a pandemic: stress.

To help delve deeper into the psyche of why COVID-cravings seem to be a thing, I contacted Kent Berridge, Ph.D., a James Olds Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan Department of Psychology.

Berridge's lab studies, among other things, how the brain generates pleasure, controls appetite, and learns reward.

Here's what Berridge had to say about food cravingsRussian-dressing related and otherwise.

"What guides the specific target of our cravingsthat neuroscience does not yet understand very well," says Berridge. "We can say at least that specific food cravings are not random. They're specific to you as an individual, and your history with foods, and your particular likes and dislikes."

In short, one person's Russian dressing is another person's Sloppy Joes.

Berridge continues: "We have a good idea of how brain craving circuitry works to power the intensity of cravings, but not so good an understanding of what controls the specific target of a focused craving, though that's an issue that my lab does now study."

"Yes, definitely. Virtually all stresses trigger what's been called the brain's master stress neurotransmitter, CRF (corticotropin releasing factor) in hypothalamus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbensparts of brain-craving circuitry," Berridge says.

Stress can ignite and inflame. "CRF can directly promote craving itself," says Berridge. Plus, CRF can "also contribute to the unpleasantness of some stressors by acting in other brain structures, and some foods may be eaten more then as 'hedonic self-medication.'"

Anyone who has ever given into a craving for crummy food (S'mores Pop Tarts, as one example) and then suffered some guilt for doing so knows what Berridge is talking about.

"Yes, to the degree home isolation and financial consequences are stressful, that would definitely set the stage for the processes above to kick in and magnify craving," says Berridge.

Most stressful cravings are for highly palatable foods that are also high in calories, says Berridge. (See: sugary dressing, sugary cookies posing as breakfast pastries, sugary Sloppy Joes.)

And so I thought about it some more. While I do remember eating Russian dressing on salads when I was younger, I think that maybe I was actually craving the comfort provided by my yearly summertime Big Mac indulgence. Big Mac sauce sure does tastes a heck of a lot like Russian dressing.

And the comfort food factor, be it from the nostalgia for a Big Mac or Spam-and-noodles, how strong is that when it comes to COVID-cravings?

"That probably has more to do with other psychological cognitive processes and memories having to do with the notion of comfort, rather than basic food-craving circuitry," says Berridge.

So, in a sense, take me back to the Big Mac days.

Originally posted here:
Food Cravings During Coronavirus - COVID-19 and Diet - Men's Health