Comments on: Another reason to limit the TV time of overweight kids

By: Lochlyn

Lochlyn — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:57:22 +0000

Here’s a weird question.

I’m trying to get into the mindspace needed to release insulin by vividly imaginging, behind-the-eyes and with full sensory experience, walking past a bakery. I’m actually making myself sick and ruining my breakfast doing this, so I’m going to stop and ask you about it.

To me, bread, donuts, cake and ice cream are pica, not food. Has there ever been any studies on committed (1+ year) low-carb and/or grain-free dieters and the effect of stimuli on them?

Purely an academic interest, I know, but an interesting one nonetheless.

Hi Lochlyn–

I don’t think there have been any studies done on the subject. At least I haven’t seen one if there has been. Wanna volunteer?

Cheers–

MRE

By: Carlos

Carlos — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:38:33 +0000

As someone who was not born in this country, it perplexes me to see how the goverment runs our lives and how most people clamor for more gov’t intervention, contrary to the principles upon which this great nation was founded. Astonishing the culture of blame and lack of personal accountability so prevalent in most segments of society. The government doesn’t need to tax any food group, just eliminate the subsidies.

Hi Carlos–

Good observation. The cycle here starts with a demand for government intervention, which, of course, leads to a government screw up, which then leads to a demand for government intervention to fix the screw up (which, naturally, the massed don’t remember was a government screw up in the first place because the politicians have cleverly found a scapegoat), which then starts the cycle again.

Cheers–

MRE

By: Max Evans

Max Evans — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:31:16 +0000

I can swear by Dr. Bernstein’s book Diabetes Solution. It’s helped me get off and stay off meds as a Type II diabetic. The thing that terrifies me about the governments obsession with fat is when the idea arises every once in a while about starting to tax high fat food to try and get consumers to consume less of it. Since fat makes up a major portion of my diet that is gonna cost me a lot of money if it ever happens.

Hi Max�

I hope it takes them a while to get around to taxing fatty foods. By the time they do, maybe there will be a new nutritional paradigm.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Cheers�

MRE

By: Carlos

Carlos — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:25:22 +0000

Dr. Mike,

Does caffeine (coffee, tea, non caloric drinks )induce a cephalic phase?

Some people think it does. I’ve never seen any hard data on it though. (Which doesn’t mean that such data doesn’t exist – it only means that I haven’t seen in.) I don’t particularly think it does. The artificial sweeteners in the diet soft drinks absolutely do, but not the caffeine so much, if at all.

MRE

By: Max

Max — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:30:27 +0000

“I�ll answer your question as to why psych researchers spend money on such studies. Because they get grants. Where do they get these grants? Typically from your employer. Where does your employer get the funds to deal out for such idiocy? From all of us out here in taxpayer land.”

As someone who was once looking at doing a PhD and becoming a research professor, you’d think there would be some intellectual curiosity beneath the psych researcher, into knowing a given thing. Truth be told, I wanted to do the PhD to be a B-school professor, but the research I was designing was centered on something I actually wanted to understand better. So, maybe there are some mercenary psych researchers out there who just go where the money is, but that seems kind of unlikely.

I am employed by the Department of Labor. I’m sure someone here has given a grant for some psych research at some point, but that’s not much of what my employer is up to at any given moment. WE certainly didn’t fund this piece of garbage. Which isn’t to say that we never fund garbage (they do, I don’t), but we’re generally pretty far from consumer research beyond the Consumer Price Index, which is very far removed from psych research, and actually useful to people far beyond government. Any rate, thanks for sharing.

Currently reading “Perfectly Legal” which is the book that makes me most angry about the federal government and makes me most want to earn $330K/year or more and dodge taxes like the top 1%. Tax policy needs a major change. Major.

Hi Max–

I read “Perfectly Legal” when it first came out in hardback a few years ago. I’m sure I had a much different take than you. My thought was not ‘how do we stop this travesty’ but ‘how can I get myself in a position where I can take advantage of these loopholes.’ Sadly, it’s not by spending a couple of hours per day on this blog.

Cheers–

MRE

By: Ressy

Ressy — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:55:07 +0000

The amount of insulin that a normal person secretes daily is about 30 units. So, if you�re taking more than 30 units, you�re probably taking too much.

Get a copy of Dr. Richard Bernstein�s book. It will help you greatly.

Hope this info helps.

MRE

Thanks! My dh and doc and myself (RN BSN) are alwaying trying to avoid the situation of feeding the insulin….

I understand it’s gonna be difficult. Right now we are adjusting insulin to a lower carb diet but not less than 30 gm and adding in more exercise…it’s like hitting a moving target sometimes with that insulin dose…which is more than 30 units right now. There has gotta be that sweet spot where the amount of carbs and type of carbs and exercise and dose of Lantus all work together. Once we get those ratios down then all can be adjusted in parallel…. we think. A pump might be in my future…

Sometimes the insulin makes me so hungry….I have to tell this olde body….”if you are that hungry take something off the left hip”….

Off to the bookstore!

Ressy

Good luck. I hope you enjoy Dr. Bernstein’s book. I think it’s a real Godsend to anyone with diabetes.

Keep me posted.

MRE

By: Steve Long

Steve Long — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:58:34 +0000

Does the cephalic phase kick in from the taste of Asparatame/Splenda?

Indeed it does. Which is one of the reasons for the studies showing that subjects randomized to diet drinks don’t lose much, if any, weight as compared to those on regular soft drinks.

The subject is worthy of a longer post some time.

Cheers–

MRE

By: jay

jay — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:31:11 +0000

I like your theory and I think your right on.

By: thomas

thomas — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:28:37 +0000

Dr. Mike,

Do you think that the cephalic phase of insulin release compromises the intended effects of intermittent fasting? In other words, is there sufficient insulin released to cause the fast to end? I’m fasting this morning (a 15 hour overnight fast from my last meal eaten last evening), and sure as heck someone brought in donuts. I didn’t eat any, but I assume my brain prepositioned some insulin. Does the insulin mean my fast has ended and I won’t derive any further benefit by continuing to the 15th hour? Another thought/question. I stopped eating things like donuts years ago, well before I started low carbing. It is a VERY rare occurance for me to eat things like donuts, ice cream, etc. I don’t feel like I really crave these things when I see them, I simply pass them by. Do you think over time this could have resulted in my having less of a cephalic insulin response? Many thanks!

Hi Thomas–

First, I don’t think a tiny squirt of insulin is going to hamper or end your fast, so don’t worry about it. Second, if the food doesn’t appeal to you, your brain is smart enough to figure out that you’re probably not going to eat it, and consequently won’t stimulate an insulin response.

Cheers–

MRE

By: Max

Max — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:58:39 +0000

I constantly wonder why psych researchers (I’m assuming this was a psychology study at heart) spend money on what any economist could tell them for free. Advertising works. If it didn’t, no large company with a history of advertising would ever do it. What’s more, I only need to think back to my college years to realize the suggestive power of television ads: I am unsure how much pizza I bought, but it was generally right after an ad for same on the TV, or a box walking through the lounge destined for another. Thanks for the post which reiterated the science behind the experience that most know.

PS- For anyone who would suggest that the relationship between TV adverts and kids is in need of study, lemme suggest this. The industry (advertising + those who market to kids) continue to advertise. Beyond that, the fact that there is a whole industry. Add to that the increasing numbers of kids shows, networks, movies, etc. Recall, a TV show is merely something to keep you watching ads. Really. That’s how the people who buy and program TV look at them (pay cable is the exception, which is why HBO’s shows tend to be of better quality).

Last thought: Companies don’t do things, over the long haul, that don’t return value. I’m sure we can find exceptions, but companies that sell things don’t sell losers for long, and they don’t pursue marketing that doesn’t return on investment over the long run as well. That way lies the road to ruin. It doesn’t require deep study.

Hey Max–

I’ll answer your question as to why psych researchers spend money on such studies. Because they get grants. Where do they get these grants? Typically from your employer. Where does your employer get the funds to deal out for such idiocy? From all of us out here in taxpayer land.

Cheers–

MRE