What is ingestion analgesia? Tammy Roberts, nutrition and health education specialist with University of Missouri Extension says “Ingestion means ‘to eat’ and analgesia is a state of not being able to feel pain.”
Our brains are hard-wired to eat when we can because there may not be food there tomorrow. Our brains also give us a feeling of deep satisfaction when we do eat. There is research that shows that when you eat sugary, fatty, salty foods the brain actually releases chemicals that help control pain. This feeling can result in addictive behavior. You eat, it feels good so you eat some more.
Dr. M. Flavia Barbano and Dr. Martine Cador (msnbc.msn.com) have conducted research with rats to find out what motivates them to eat or refuse a food. They worked with two groups of rats. One group, they fed until they were full. The other group was not fed. They then presented both groups with a desirable food. What they found is that both groups of rats consumed about the same amount of the desirable food. Rats tend to eat the same amount of desirable food whether they are full or hungry.
“This time of year we have a lot of sugary, fatty, salty foods available to us” said Roberts. “The key is to find something that will give us pleasure without giving us unwanted weight gain.”
One thing that you can do is increase your activity. Prolonged physical activity causes the release of endorphins that give that same euphoric feeling of eating a desirable food. Physical activity not only provides the endorphin high, it helps you burn the calories from eating too much of the desirable foods.
Next time you have a strong desire to taste food after you have already been eating, pause for 15 minutes. For most people the feeling will pass. That will save lots of calories and no doubt help you be successful with New Year’s resolutions.
-our thanks to Tammy Roberts Nutrition and Health Education Specialist
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