Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids

May 26, 2014

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-It is very possible

You can free yourself from addiction by good nutrition. Your brain needs amino acids to function normally.

Addiction is a condition which is real and within us. We are either affected directly or indirectly. Despite its grave effects to humanity we have yet to appreciate that addiction is a physical disorder originating in the brain. Addiction has painful symptoms which occur during abstinence that interferes with the ability to stay sober. Some of these symptoms include; craving, obsession, compulsion, stress sensitivity, anxiety, depression, mental confusion, and hypersensitivity to the environment. It is also important to note that the pain of staying sober can be so severe that it may interfere with the ability to function normally even when the desire for and commitment is strong.

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-Neurotransmitters and Addiction

Everyone need comfort both physical and emotional, for this to effectively take place, neurotransmitters will play a very significant role in feelings of pleasure and well-being. The brain will in the event of deficiency or excess of the neurotransmitters will give rise to uncomfortable feelings. Many at times the decisions and actions we take are chosen to produce good feeling or relieve bad feelings. For example:

We eat because it produces a reward of good feelings.
We eat certain foods because they produce a better reward than others (chocolate produces more reward for most people than parsley).
We have sex because it produces a powerful release of pleasurable chemicals.
We work because the work itself is rewarding for us or because the end result produces a reward.
We refrain from certain actions because they do not produce the feeling of reward we are seeking.
We all differ in what gives us satisfaction and in the depth of satisfaction we experience, but we are all motivated by chemical actions in the brain that nature uses to keep us alive, motivated, functioning, and reproducing.

An imbalance in the interaction of neurotransmitters can result in a reward deficiency3 that can manifest as restlessness, anxiety, emptiness, lack of satisfaction, and vague or specific cravings. When this takes place the brain is simply communicating to us to take action to make right the imbalance. There are substances and activities that change our biochemistry so much that we want to do them over and over. And if the person has a reward deficit that predisposes to addiction, the activity that works will be repeated as often as necessary to get the desired reward. For the person predisposed to addiction, the chosen activity will rapidly go from self-medication to addiction.

But because a substance does not lead to out-of-control behavior does not mean that it is not dangerous. Many socially acceptable addictions can lead to serious health problems and even death. Nicotine usually does not lead to intoxication but does lead to serious health problems. It is far more addicting than alcohol or illegal drugs and is usually accompanied by severe withdrawal symptoms when smoking ceases and can be as painful as withdrawing from alcohol or cocaine. Prescription painkillers and antidepressants can be highly addictive. Withdrawal, especially from benzodiazepines, can be very serious and can even lead to death. For some people, food is the most powerful mood-altering substance available. Most people believe that overeating is a lack of willpower or self-discipline. But the people most susceptible to it often have a physical condition that keeps them from feeling satisfied from normal eating. Some addictions are not to substances but to behaviors such gambling, compulsive working, or excessive spending. The problem does not lie in the behavior itself, but in how it is done. If any behavior is accompanied by compulsion, obsession, and negative consequences, it is a problem and requires some action to learn to manage the behavior in a healthy way.

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-Treatment for the Addicted Brain

While research has opened doors to new understandings of the nature of addiction and its effect on the brain, little of this information has been applied to actually helping people get well from this devastating disease. There are scientifically based strategies that change the brain chemistry of the addicted person, removing the discomfort of withdrawal, eliminating cravings, and relieving the abstinence-based symptoms of addiction. These include nutritional therapy, acupuncture, auricular-therapy, and brain wave biofeedback. The most important is the nutritional approach, especially with the use of amino acids, which is the focus of this discussion.

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-Amino Acid Therapy

Neurotransmitters are made from amino acids, the building blocks of protein. The nervous system is regulated almost entirely by amino acids and their biochemical companions, vitamins and minerals. There are key neurotransmitters that are affected by addiction and need to be restored to their normal state for the recovering person to be free of cravings and anxiety. The amino acids, precursors to neurotransmitters, can be taken separately, as a formulated compound, or intravenously. Intravenous delivery has the advantage of bypassing the digestive system. This offers hope for the thousands of people whose digestive systems have been damaged by addiction to alcohol or drugs, caffeine, or junk food. Certain vitamins—especially B vitamins—activate and potentiate the effects of amino acids.

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-Nutrition

For the brain to recover from addiction effectively the addicted person’s brain will need good food nutrients. For example amino acids and vitamins are essential for nourishing the brain. The good food nutrients and adequate supply of amino acids is not just until you are feeling better, and not just until the initial withdrawal and craving are gone. No one seeking freedom from the discomfort of addiction must make the same kind of commitment to healthy feeding habits all the time.

Depending on what amino acids they contain, some foods increase mental alertness, concentration, and energy, while others are natural tranquilizers that calm feelings of anxiety and stress. The neurotransmitter tyrosine synthesizes to dopamine and norepinephrine, increasing energy and alertness. Foods highest in tyrosine are foods derived from animal protein: chicken, turkey, pork, beef, dairy, and eggs. Moderate amounts of tyrosine are found in plant foods such as beans, corn, spinach, oatmeal, nuts, and seeds.

A very important thing to know about a diet for recovery is that protein contains all the essential amino acids. Therefore a high-protein diet will give your brain more of what it needs. Complete protein foods include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products. The body stores very little protein, so you should eat it at least three times a day. And for the sake of both energy and your brain, we recommend three meals and three snacks daily.

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-Supporting Recovery

To support healing of the brain, other healthy lifestyle choices are important. A regular exercise, yoga, rest, relaxation, fun, and creative living are important to reduce stress and increase a sense of serenity and well-being. However healthy living with good nutrition is the key to recovery from addiction. Nevertheless people who are struggling with addiction and are wondering if ever they will ever overcome the compulsion and obsession related to an addictive substance or the agony of abstinence your help is on the way at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care. This is the place to be and you will meet a team of experts who will help you get well while focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-It is very possible

Diet and Drug Addiction Recovery

May 22, 2014

Diet and Drug Addiction Recovery-Effects of Nutritional Imbalances

Proper diet and nutrition is very good in solving the problem of drug addiction recovery put together with physical activities good health is almost guaranteed.

The human body needs to be kept healthy for it to function optimally as required. Several things put together helps in ensuring the proper functionality of the body. Among them is the good nutrition, we all need to feed well for our bodies to have enough energy to propel daily life activities. When we feed well and a void harmful substance like drugs into our system the body will function normally, however the deficiency of these vital nutrients in the body may have serious consequences especially in the life of those using drugs.

Diet and Drug Addiction Recovery-How substance abuse harms the body

Substance abuse harms the body in two major ways which needs to be properly identified and addresses adequately, the two ways include:

The substance itself affects the body
It causes negative lifestyle changes, such as irregular eating and poor diet

For example, infants who were exposed to alcohol while in the womb often have physical and mental problems. The alcohol affects the growing baby by crossing the placenta. After birth, the baby may have withdrawal symptoms. The mother’s poor nutrition while she is drinking can harm the baby’s growth and development while still in the womb.

Recovery from substance abuse also affects the body in other ways, including metabolism processing energy, organ function, and mental well-being. Proper nutrition may help the healing process. Nutrients supply the body with energy. They provide substances to build and maintain healthy organs and fight off infection.

The impact of different drugs on nutrition is described below.

Diet and Drug Addiction Recovery-Opiates

Opiates including codeine, oxycontin, heroin, and morphine affect the gastrointestinal system. Constipation is a very common symptom of abuse. Symptoms that are common during withdrawal include:

Diarrhea
Nausea
Vomiting

These symptoms may lead to a lack of enough nutrients and an imbalance of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride.

Eating balanced meals may make these symptoms less severe however eating can be difficult due to nausea. A high-fiber diet with plenty of complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, vegetables, peas, and beans is recommended.

Diet and Drug Addiction Recovery-Alcohol

Alcoholism is one of the major causes of nutritional deficiency in the United States. The most common deficiencies are of pyridoxine (vitamin B6), thiamine, and folic acid. A lack of these nutrients causes anemia and nervous system neurologic problems. Korsakoff’s syndrome “wet brain” occurs when heavy alcohol use causes a lack of enough thiamine.

Alcohol intoxication also damages two major organs involved in metabolism and nutrition: the liver and the pancreas. The liver removes toxins from harmful substances. The pancreas regulates blood sugar and the absorption of fat. Damage to these two organs results in an imbalance of fluids, calories, protein, and electrolytes.

Other complications include:

Diabetes
High blood pressure
Permanent liver damage (or cirrhosis)
Seizures
Severe malnutrition
Shortened life expectancy

Laboratory tests for protein, iron, and electrolytes may be needed to determine if there is liver disease in addition to the alcohol problem. Women who drink heavily are at high risk of osteoporosis and need to take calcium supplements.

Diet and Drug Addiction Recovery-Stimulants

Stimulant use (such as crack, cocaine, and methamphetamine) reduces appetite, and leads to weight loss and poor nutrition. Abusers of these drugs may stay up for days at a time. They may be dehydrated and have electrolyte imbalances during these episodes. Returning to a normal diet can be hard if a person has lost a lot of weight.

Memory problems, which may be permanent, are a complication of long-term stimulant use.

Marijuana

Marijuana can increase appetite. Some long-term users may be overweight and need to cut back on fat, sugar, and total calories.

Diet and Drug Addiction Recovery-Nutrition and psychological aspects of substance abuse

When people feel better, they are less likely to start using alcohol and drugs again. Because balanced nutrition helps improve mood and health, it is important to encourage a healthy diet in people recovering from alcohol and other drug problems.

However, people who have just given up an important source of pleasure may not be ready to make other drastic lifestyle changes. It is more important that people avoid returning to substance abuse than that they stick to a strict diet.

Guidelines

Stick to regular mealtimes
Eat a low-fat diet
Get more protein, complex carbohydrates, and dietary fiber
Vitamin and mineral supplements may be helpful during recovery (this may include B-complex, zinc, and vitamins A and C)

People with substance abuse are more likely to relapse when they have poor eating habits. This is why regular meals are so important. People who are addicted to drugs and alcohol often forget what it’s like to be hungry and instead think of this feeling as a drug craving. They should be encouraged to consider that they may be hungry when cravings become strong.

During recovery from substance abuse, dehydration is common. It is important to get enough fluids during and in between meals. Appetite usually returns during recovery. People in recovery are often more likely to overeat, particularly if they were taking stimulants. Eat healthy meals and snacks and avoid high-calorie foods with low nutrition (such as sweets), if possible.

The following tips can help improve the odds of a lasting and healthy recovery:

Eat nutritious meals and snacks.
Get physical activity and enough rest.
Reduce caffeine and stop smoking, if possible.
Seek help from counselors or support groups on a regular basis.
Take vitamin and mineral supplements.

We have adequately seen that nutrition imbalances are a major factor in drug addiction recovery and we must make necessary efforts to ensure that we feed well at all times. However if you are already suffering directly from addiction, then you will need to see a specialist. If you are looking for one then you need not to look any further because at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care you will be professionally handled with a team of experts who will focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. This is the place to be for quick recovery.

Diet and Drug Addiction Recovery-Effects of Nutritional Imbalances

Nicotine Addiction and Smokeless Tobacco

May 20, 2014

Nicotine Addiction and Smokeless Tobacco-Negative effects discussed

Tobacco smoking is rich in nicotine a substance which is addictive. Drug addiction is harmful to your health stop using drugs

The wise said “where there is smoke there is fire” this is a common phrase in our society today and will remain so in the decades to come. For sure even when you take the face meaning of the phrase it is true that we may not see smoke if fire is not present. Nevertheless in relation to this topic we will explore not just on the smoke and fire as it is commonly known but we will take our smoke to mean the drugs and fire to be the nicotine. People who smoke do so for their own convenience even though they are much aware of the negative effects associated with smoking. This consistent smoking despite knowledge of the harmful and dangers involve is what makes them to be addicted to the drug they smoke therefore drug addiction is often referred to as dependency often leads to tolerance the addicted person needs larger and more regular amounts of whatever they are addicted to in order to receive the same effect. Often, the initial reward is no longer felt, and the addiction continues because withdrawal is so unpleasant.

Nicotine Addiction and Smokeless Tobacco-What causes nicotine addiction?

Nicotine is an addictive drug. This means that the use of nicotine causes changes in the brain that make people want to use more and more of the drug. In addition, addictive drugs cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. The combination of good feelings caused by the presence of an addictive drug and the bad feelings when the drug is not present make breaking any addiction very difficult. The addiction to nicotine has historically been one of the most difficult to break. The 1988 Surgeon General’s Report, “Nicotine Addiction,” concluded that:

Cigarettes and other forms of tobacco are addicting.
Nicotine is the drug that causes addiction.
Pharmacological and behavioral characteristics that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that determine addiction to drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

Nicotine Addiction and Smokeless Tobacco-What else does nicotine do to the body?

When a person smokes a cigarette, the body responds immediately to the chemical nicotine in the smoke. Nicotine causes a short-term increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and the flow of blood from the heart. It also causes the arteries to narrow. Carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry. This, combined with the effects produced by nicotine, creates an imbalance in the demand for oxygen by the cells and the amount of oxygen the blood is able to supply. Smoking further increases the amount of fatty acids, glucose, and various hormones in the blood.

Nicotine Addiction and Smokeless Tobacco-Nicotine in cigarettes increase the risk of heart attack

There are several ways that cigarette smoking may increase the risk of developing hardening of the arteries and heart attacks. First, carbon monoxide may damage the inner walls of the arteries that encourage the buildup of fat on these walls. Over time, this causes the vessels to narrow and harden. Nicotine may also contribute to this process. Smoking also causes several changes in the blood which include:

Increased adhesiveness and clustering of platelets in the blood
Shortened platelet survival
Faster clotting time
Increased thickness of the blood

All these effects can lead to a heart attack to persons using such drugs and if not attended to quickly may lead to lose of life.

Nicotine Addiction and Smokeless Tobacco-Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal

It is important that people are informed of the symptoms of nicotine so that measures are taken in good time to administer treatment for the affected patients to a void in the dangers of cardiac arrest and other related illness. Some of the symptoms include:

Irritability
Impatience
Hostility
Anxiety
Depressed mood
Difficulty concentrating
Restlessness
Decreased heart rate
Increased appetite or weight gain

Many people wonder how long nicotine can take in the body from the time it enters the body. Since entry nicotine does not take long in the body it is rapidly eliminated by the kidney and normally only remains in the body for a period of about two hours.

Nicotine Addiction and Smokeless Tobacco-Smokeless Tobacco

Current law requires smokeless tobacco to carry warning labels and bans all smokeless tobacco advertising on radio and television. The new warning labels, to be rotated quarterly, are required for packages and advertisements. The labels read:

WARNING: THIS PRODUCT MAY CAUSE MOUTH CANCER
WARNING: THIS PRODUCT MAY CAUSE GUM DISEASE AND TOOTH LOSS
WARNING: THIS PRODUCT IS NOT A SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO CIGARETTES

Smokeless tobacco has been directly linked to oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer as well as cancer of the esophagus, gum disease and tooth loss. The use of smokeless tobacco has been increasing, especially among America’s youth. Nicotine addiction is achieved by the use of smokeless tobacco and can lead to serious health consequences. Nicotine Cessation programs can assist individuals in stopping the use of nicotine based products.

I am very disturbed by our governments the world over especially on certain known life threatening drugs. It is naked truth that many drugs like tobacco and alcohol have seriously effects on peoples life and all the authorities are going is just frustrating their advertisements by indicating warnings like the ones discussed above and sometimes levy high taxes on such drugs all in an attempt to make them out of rich to their consumers. Is this the right thing to do? By making the drugs expensive for many are our governments authenticating that it is okay for the rich who can afford the raised cost to dye from the effects of these drugs? Or are they saying that health of the poor people are more important than that of the rich, like I said before I am wondering.

These drugs are addictive and addiction is a serious threat to humanity that various authorities should and must take close to their hearts. Because of the legality of these drugs e.g. tobacco, alcohol addiction has become the order of the day creating a serious need to have professionals to handle the problem if not a crisis which is why at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care we focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. At this facility we work with a team of experts to not only administer addiction treatment but we are also offering exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to other physicians and health care professionals through training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars make us the most resourceful institution to satisfactorily meat your addiction recovery needs.

Nicotine Addiction and Smokeless Tobacco-Negative effects discussed

Drug use and Drug Addiction in Prisons

May 17, 2014

Drug use and Drug Addiction in Prisons-Possible Remedies

Drug use and addiction in prisons is a threat to the well being of the society. Efforts must be done to ensure drugs are not smuggled in prison.

Is it true that the correctional facilities world over is saturated with individuals convicted of drug related crimes? And are the authorities doing enough to ensure that those serving their terms come out completely changed and reformed citizens when their term is over? I have been wondering what life is like in the prison especially in relation to drug use and drug addiction. I believe you are also having the same feelings. Since we are sharing this common feeling I want to request you to stay on this site for a while and keep reading so that together we can unlock the truth about this. It is important to note that the problem of drug use is not affecting those convicts and their families only it is a problem for all of us irrespective of your position in the society. Have you ever thought of how you could be affected? If you haven’t then this article will be an eye opener for you as we continue in the discussion of the problem at hand.

Drug use and Drug Addiction in Prisons-We are all Victims of Drug Related Crime

Even though you may not be the person using alcohol or drugs, or violating the law and for sure you are not, you are surrounded by law breakers and drug abusers increasing your risks of being a victim of an alcohol or drug-related crime. As a matter of fact millions of people each year are victims of alcohol or drug related crime, including millions of young people. To illustrate this candidly it will be important that we have a look at some of the available statistics from the past studies done which include the following:

Each year, more than 600,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.
95% of all violent crime on college campuses involves the use of alcohol by the assailant, victim or both.
90% of acquaintance rape and sexual assault on college campuses involves the use of alcohol by the assailant, victim or both.
Every day, 36 people die, and approximately 700 are injured, in motor vehicle crashes that involve in an alcohol-impaired driver. Drinking and drugged driving is the number one cause of death, injury and disability of young people under the age of 21.

Scrutinizing the connection between alcohol, drugs and crime is very clear and, so is the connection between alcohol and drug addiction and crime. We will therefore need to break the chain that links drug addiction and crime in our society by all means. Like-minded people must work closely with the authorities to ensure that drug addiction does not cause us this enormous pain. We must stand out and do something to impact positively on our children because having them locked up in prison is not rely the solution. The experience we have is that jail alone has had little effect on reduction of drug addiction or in promoting recovery. Holding someone in jail, without access to alcohol and drug addiction treatment, with no specific plans for treatment and recovery support upon release, is not only expensive but it is also very ineffective. The ineffectiveness of our recreational facilities has only succeeded in faulting the criminal justice system.

Drug use and Drug Addiction in Prisons-Drug supply in the prisons

Much as law breakers needs to be put behind bars there has been rising concern about the smuggling of drugs to inmates. This may not be to all the inmates but it doesn’t matter the number small or big the bottom line is that unwanted substances find their way in the prison. Bringing the question how and why? The authority must investigate and weed out the corrupt officers from the system to contain smuggling of illicit substances into the prisons. You can imagine an inmate in the correctional facility abusing drug. This inmate will soon complete his or her term and be welcomed back to the society who may want to believe that the time spent in the prison has been of help to him/her only to realize that the individual is worse than before. This is not only painful to the society which is expected to welcome former convicts back but also to the authorities and by extension to the tax pay who ultimately foot all the bills of keeping the wrong doers in the prisons.

Back to the supply of drugs in prison, apart from the corrupt officers colluding with the inmates to smuggle drugs in jails, it also believed that inmates have their criminal colleagues in the society who pay them visits during the official visiting hours in the prisons and smuggle drugs to their friends. It is because of these challenges that the prison authorities are seeking for the law to be amended to give them more powers to strip the inmate where necessary when making periodic impromptu search within their jurisdiction.

Drug use and Drug Addiction in Prisons-Solutions for drug use and drug addiction

Nonetheless having known that we are all victims of drug use and addiction it is very important that we focus on the solution oriented mechanism because for many in the criminal justice system, preventing future crime and re-arresting former convicts after release is impossible without treatment for and recovery from addiction to alcohol and drugs. Balancing accountability, treatment and recovery, emphasis should be made to the authorities and especial our judicial system to form special drug court programs across the country and states. These Drug Courts are judicially-supervised court dockets mandated to evaluate and strike the proper balance between the need to protect community safety and the need to improve public health and well-being; between the need for treatment and the need to hold people accountable for their actions between hope and redemption on the one hand and good citizenship on the other. Striking this balance will ensure only deserving cases end up in prisons while the bigger population are handled locally and immediate treatment is administered to them and when they are fully recovered they can be ushered back to the society.

Drug use and Drug Addiction in Prisons-Long Term Recovery

While appreciating the serious impact of alcohol and drug use on crime across the nation it is also important to note that many people who have been in the criminals justice system have broken the chain through long term recovery from alcohol and drug addiction which is why we must incorporate professionals with vast experience in handling matters of drug addiction. Dr. Dalal Akoury who is also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center will be an ideal candidate for this challenge. With over two decades of experience she is offering her exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to physicians and health care professionals through training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars globally, her services will come in handy for the long awaited break through id this set up.

Drug use and Drug Addiction in Prisons-Possible Remedies

Food addiction and the brain

May 16, 2014

Food addiction and the brain-From your brain’s perspective food is a drug

some foods are associated with brain problem, and drug addiction is even more dangerous, eat healthy foods

Making reference from the holy book, God created all things that in his wisdom would make humanity comfortable before even thinking of creating man in his likeness. Among the things created to keep man comfortable is food. From creation man has made a lot of modification on what they feed on making me to believe that it was God’s will that we feed on freshness of his freely provided food be it food derived from vegetation or from animals. What we call improvement is in my view the problem why today we can imagine food as being addictive and this is going to form the basis of our discussion in this article. Therefore to start you off the foods we feed on often affect how our neurons behave and subsequently how we think and feel. From this description in your brain’s perspective, food is a drug.

Food addiction and the brain-Carbon bound consumers

We are generally feed on carbon most of the time. Carbon gets into our system through our feeding tubes in the form of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, we then break those chemical bonds to extract energy, and excrete the residue as carbon dioxide, water vapor and various solid waste. However, occasionally some of these chemicals can make their way from your digestive system and into your brain and the consequences can be subtle or profound.

Ascertaining the distinction between what is considered a food (something that your body wants or needs in order to function optimally) or a drug (something that your brain wants or needs in order to function optimally) is becoming increasingly difficult to define. Indeed, the routine use of some substances, such as stimulants and depressants, is so universal that most of us do not even consider them to be drugs, but, rather, actual food. For instance is coffee, tea, tobacco, alcohol, cocoa, or marijuana a nutrient or a drug?

The truth is that anything you take into your body should be considered a drug, whether it’s obviously nutritious or not (of cause we are now talking on the improvement we have done on what God had intended for our consumption before we introduced technology on food). As you will see, even molecules that are clearly nutritious (such as essential amino acids like lysine and tryptophan—available in bulk at your nearest grocery store) exhibit properties that many of us would attribute to drugs.

The foods we eat, and many of our most popular psychoactive drugs, come from plants or animals. The ingredients in these plant and animal products are very similar if not identical to the neurotransmitters our brains and bodies use to function normally. This is why the contents of our diets can interact with our neurons to influence brain function, and it highlights a very important principle that chemicals in the food that you eat will only act upon your brain if in some way those chemicals resemble an actual neurotransmitter or otherwise interact with a biochemical process in your brain that influences the production, release, or inactivation of a neurotransmitter. These active ingredients should be closely scrutinized for assurance of good health.

Food addiction and the brain-Chemicals used by humans and plants

You may be wondering how plants and humans use such similar chemicals for normal everyday functions! Plants produce chemicals capable of affecting our brain because they share an evolutionary history with us and primitive one-celled organisms produce many of the same chemicals that are in our brains. Therefore, irrespective of what you choose to eat the chemicals each meal contains may alter how your neurons function and by extension how you feel or think. We have all experienced the consequences of our shared evolutionary history with the plants we eat. For example, unripe bananas contain the neurotransmitter serotonin. When you eat an unripe banana, its serotonin is free to act upon the serotonin neurons within your digestive tract. The result is likely to increase activation of the muscles in the wall of your intestines.

Many plants contain compounds that should be able to enhance your brain’s performance. For example, potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants contain solanine and α-chaconine substances that can enhance the action of acetylcholine, a chemical in your brain that is vital to memory formation. Your mood might be enhanced slightly by eating fava beans because they contain L-DOPA, a precursor to the production of dopamine, the reward chemical in your brain. Whether these food-borne compounds actually affect your brain depends on the quantity eaten and your own personal physiology.

Food addiction and the brain-Morphine chemicals

Morphine like chemicals are capable of acting upon the brain are produced in your intestines when you consume milk, eggs, cheese, spinach, mushrooms, pumpkin, and various fish and grains. Dairy products in particular contain a protein known as casein, which enzymes in your intestines can convert into beta-casomorphin. In newborns, that beta-casomorphin can easily pass out of the immature gut and into the developing brain to produce euphoria. The pleasurable feeling produced by this opiate-like compound in newborn mammals after their first taste of their mother’s milk is believed to encourage the infant to return again and again for nourishment. Thus, being able to experience the euphoria induced by this opiate-like chemical has life and death consequences for the newborn child.

Food addiction and the brain-Caffeine and Nicotine

These are definitely plants derived from drugs. Chocolate contains a bit of caffeine, but also an array of other psychoactive compounds that may contribute to the pleasurable sensation of eating it. Chocolate contains phenethylamine a molecule that resembles amphetamine, and a small amount of a chemical called anandamide, which resembles the active ingredient in marijuana. Anandamide happens to be used by our brain as a regular neurotransmitter and appears to be critical for us to experience pleasure.

Chocolate also contains some estrogen-like compounds, a fact that may explain a recent series of reports showing that men who eat chocolate live longer than men who do not eat chocolate. The effect was not seen for women, who have an ample supply of their own estrogen until menopause. Post-menopausal women still may gain benefits from being chocoholics, though, because chocolate also contains magnesium salts that may reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweating. And finally, a standard bar of chocolate contains as many antioxidants as a glass of red wine. Clearly, there are many good reasons for men and women to eat chocolate to obtain its indescribably soothing, mellow, and anxiety-reducing effect.

Finally having seen the effect of food to human life, as a society we must pool together to ensure that we live a happy life therefore the services of professionals will be necessary to give guidance. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care, you will be well taken care of. Doctor Akoury is an expert with more than two decades of experience and when you are addicted in any way she will focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE , this is the place to be.

Food addiction and the brain-From your brain’s perspective food is a drug

Category Archives: Dr. Dalal Akoury