This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 7:38 pm and is filed under Diet, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I really shouldn’t be sharing this information with you as it could make my job and other fitness professionals like me obsolete. However, like a good reporter, that’s just what I’m going to do! And of course it is not the first time that a claim has been made in the fitness and diet trade that promises all and delivers nothing or at the very worst has serious side affects!
So what is it?
Apparently scientists have found a way to make sweet, tempting foods (like Pizza – Beeble) keep hunger at bay. That means that you will be able to have your cake, eat it and then leave it there with out going back for more. They are using a plant extract (which is found in most plants and seeds - Beeble) and adding it to all the foods that are bad for us which could keep hunger at bay for up to 12 hours after consumption.
How does it work?
It works by coating digested food thus slowing the digestion process down. This tells the brain that the stomach is full when it may only be half full. At the moment it is still in the early development stages and not ready for human tests, let alone being added to cakes and put in our shops. As far as I can gather it is only a theory and is a few years away from any real tests.
Initial Issues
I can see that they might have problems selling the idea to fast food companies as they make their money from regular customers, some of whom are almost addictive in their eating habits. No fast food chain would welcome an additive that would suppress people’s appetites, especially if it seriously affected company profits. I can’t see them going for it really unless their consciences get the better of them.
Beeble’s Thoughts
The only way I can see it working is to have it as a supplement or put in a healthy snack. Of course the whole purpose of a healthy snack is to fill that gap and suppress the hunger feelings and so would seem pointless as an additive. Having it as a supplement is one idea, however a lot of the time I feel the “bad” foods aren’t necessarily eaten because we feel hungry but because the taste makes us want more. Many of my clients have said the same; that they have eaten beyond the feelings of hunger. To me this means that even if we don’t feel hungry it won’t stop us from having high fat and calorie foods.
The idea of a hunger suppressant sounds like another way to make money and doesn’t really deal with the problem at hand. A lot of overeating isn’t caused from greed but from physiological or psychological reasons that need to be addressed and no supplement will be able to solve these.
What is the solution?
Well if I had the answer to that I would be a very rich man, but it would be a good idea if we started treating the body, mind and soul as one. Any weakness in any one of these areas can bring the whole system down. The only way to deal with problems is to tackle them head on whether that be seeing a professional, talking about it or finding other people who have been in the same situation and getting advice that is from genuine experience and not hearsay.
Remember if it sounds like a quick fix, short cut or just too good to be true then avoid it. The real answer is often the hardest option (not what you wanted to hear – Beeble) but no one said that this was going to be easy. Good luck with your health and fitness journey, it may be a long one but it will be worth it!
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February 14th, 2008 at 3:34 am
I AM LOVING the sounds of this break through!!!!
Karen