According to the BBC, the body can be taught to prefer healthy food over high-calorie foods. Preferring a healthy diet should be possible through a protein-rich diet, where you can lose weight healthily, but without starving. At least that's what American researchers from Tufts University claim. According to them, the desire for high-calorie foods is an addiction that can be changed. To prove this, they scanned the food-addiction center of the brain in a small group of men and women. It turned out that the participants had a desire for healthy food.
Now you're probably wondering why we're constantly craving unhealthy things. This is explained by Prof. Susan Roberts from the University of Boston. It's not like we love French fries and hate whole grain bars when we're born. All of this develops over the years and is caused by the consumption of unhealthy food.
Change eating habits
As a result, people become addicted to high-calorie food and healthy eating comes last. The problem that arises from this is that it is difficult to change your eating habits. But the good news is that, as mentioned above, you can teach your brain to crave healthy foodsfoodsto develop.
New study with a special diet
Now let's move on to Prof. Roberts' investigation, which lasted a full 6 months. 13 people who were overweight took part. 8 of them also took part in oneweight loss programpart designed specifically for this occasion. The other 5 did not follow any special diet.
New diet changes eating habits
The diet is intended to change the eating habits of the 8 participants. Accordingly, they are not allowed to consume any carbohydrates. They were only allowed to eat a healthy diet that included foods rich in proteins. It was important with this diet that the participants did not starve. The reason for this is that this is exactly when the desire for unhealthy food arises.
The brain can influence one's worldview and eating habits
The part of the brain that reacts to rewards and addictions was examined in all participants. A scanner was used for this. It was found that among the participants who followed the diet adhered to, changes occurred in exactly this area for rewards and addictions. To determine this, pictures of food were simply used. These were shown to the participants. The healthy foods, which are low in calories, caused reactions in the mentioned area of the brain, while cravings for unhealthy food decreased.
This result represents a major advantage over gastric bypass. Although it is true that it helps a lot in losing weight, it also has a disadvantage. It destroys the joy of eating. It's better if the body demands and desires a healthy diet, don't you agree? At least that's what researchers at the University of Boston believe.
