In my last post I discussed the Romantic Love Diet. For those who lost weight via this method the following post is redundant. For the rest the post adds support to my over-riding concept that having lots of joy is vital to long term weight loss.
*************************************
Activation of PPAR-alpha peripherally helps relieve edema. (1) indicates that increasing brain palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) can activate PPAR-alpha peripherally.
(2) indicates that human fat cells produce PEA in quantity. Suggesting that as a person drops weight they produce less PEA and may become more prone to edema.
Egg yolk has the highest concentration of PEA in commonly eaten foods. However, very little, if any, PEA is absorbed from our diet. And what is absorbed does not normally make it into our brains. (Yes, I have links to support these statements.)
So what is a swollen girl to do? Have fun! And LOTS of it. (3) points out the role being engrossed in life and love has in elevating brain PEA.
Maintaining weight loss is very few people can do it since it naturally leads to depression due to lowering of PEA. Which is relieved by eating lots of junk food. For the less than 5% of dieters who do restrict calories long term they normally accumulate water weight - particularly if they are female. If depression can't get them then misery at not dropping weight due to water retention probably will. The fix for people who wish to maintain weight loss is to live a more joyful life.
1. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2007 Jun 12
Acute intracerebroventricular administration of palmitoylethanolamide, an endogenous PPAR-{alpha} agonist, modulates carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice.
D'Agostino G, La Rana G, Russo R, Sasso O, Iacono A, Esposito E, Mattace Raso G, Cuzzocrea S, Lo Verme J, Piomelli D, Meli R, Calignano A.
Dept Exp Pharmacol University Naples Federico II.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-alpha) is a nuclear transcription factor. Although the presence of this receptor in different areas of CNS has been reported, its role remains unclear. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a member of the fatty-acid ethanolamide family, acts peripherally as an endogenous PPAR-alpha ligand, exerting analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. High levels of PEA in the CNS have been found, but the specific function of this lipid remains to be clarified. Using carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice, here we show that i.c.v. administration of PEA may control peripheral inflammation through central PPAR-alpha activation. A single i.c.v. administration of PEA (0.01-1microg), 30 min before carrageenan injection, reduced edema formation in the mouse carrageenan test. This effect was mimicked by GW7647 (0.01-1microg), a synthetic PPAR-alpha agonist. Moreover, central PEA administration significantly reduced the expression of the proinflammatory enzymes COX-2 and iNOS and significantly restored carrageenan-induced PPAR-alpha reduction in the spinal cord. To investigate the mechanism by which i.c.v. PEA attenuated the development of carrageenan-induced paw edema, we evaluated IkB-alpha degradation and NF-kB p65 activation in the cytosolic or nuclear extracts from spinal cord tissue. PEA prevented IkB-alpha degradation and NF-kB nuclear translocation confirming the involvement of this transcriptional factor in the control of peripheral inflammation. The obligatory role of PPAR-alpha in mediating PEA's effects was confirmed by the lack of the compounds anti-inflammatory effects in mutant mice lacking PPAR-alpha. In conclusion, our data show for the first time that PPAR-alpha activation in the CNS can control peripheral inflammation.
PMID: 17565008
2. http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/4/837
Obesity 15:837-845 (2007)
...N-palmitoylethanolamine is the most abundant cannabimimetic compound produced by human adipocytes, and its levels are significantly down-regulated by leptin but not affected by adiponectin and PPAR- agonist ciglitazone. N-palmitoylethanolamine itself does not affect either leptin or adiponectin secretion or PPAR- protein expression in adipocytes.
Discussion: This study has led to the identification of human adipocytes as a new source of endocannabinoids and related compounds. The biological significance of these adipocyte cannabimimetic compounds and their potential implication in obesity should deserve further investigations.
3. http://www.nutraplanet.com/product/1057/pea.html
PEA is a naturally occurring substance found in such items as blue-green algae, salami, bologna, and of course, chocolate. In recent years, it has also become an extremely popular ingredient in numerous dietary supplements, ranging from weight loss products to ‘whole health’ products.
Often dubbed “The love molecule” PEA, is a compound naturally produced by the brain, is responsible for the feeling of experiences associated with pleasure and mental awareness. For example, when one is absorbed by an activity like painting, sculpting, or reading a fascinating book, when the world around seems suspended and nothing can disturb us, when worries vanish and hunger goes away, in such moments PEA is being produced by the brain. Likewise, PEA is released in the brain when one experiences the feelings of love and joy. For this reason, PEA has been coined “The love molecule.” When taken orally, PEA is known to readily cross the blood-brain barrier and become immediately available in the brain.
In the brain, PEA is believed to act by having a greater affinity for the re-uptake mechanism for dopamine in presynaptic vesicles. Therefore, when present in the brain, PEA is captured into the presynaptic vesicles and occupies the space normally taken by dopamine. This leads to an increase in free-circulating dopamine in the presynaptic terminal and a higher concentration of dopamine diffusing into the synaptic cleft, therefore enhancing dopaminergic transmission.
This ability to modulate dopaminergic transmission provides PEA with interesting properties in increasing concentration and elevating mood.
PEA has also been shown to enhance norepinephrine transmission in the brain. Norepinephrine is also involved in the experience of joy. Enhancing norepinephrine transmission in the brain increases the experience of joy and reduces appetite. For example, if an animal is implanted with an electrode in an area of the brain concentrated in norepinephrine, and this electrode is activated by a pedal that the animal has access to, the animal will disregard food and water and will press the pedal relentlessly until exhaustion to elicit an electrical impulse in this area of the brain.
Finally, PEA also carries another interesting benefit. As mentioned before, PEA is produced by the brain when one is fully absorbed into an activity like painting, sculpting or reading a fascinating book. At such a time, the world seems to disappear around us, and we are no longer hungry. This phenomenon is not an anorectic effect in which hunger completely disappears but happens because our attention is taken away from the feeling of hunger. In this manner, PEA acts as an appetite suppressant. Therefore, through its ability to reduce appetite, PEA is an effective supplement to be taken as part of a comprehensive weight-loss program.
Nerissa
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Friday, November 2, 2007
Elevating the female libido
This is a long post but may prove useful for women who wish to improve their libido. I'm dividing it into two parts. Part I explains how to lower the toxic metabolite, peroxynitrite. Part II takes this information and adds to it to give ideas on elevating the female libido. References are numbered by the part of the post they are in.
PART I
Lowering peroxynitrite
Peroxynitrite, appears to be a big player in many stereotypical female problems like edema, premature skin aging, thinning hair, fragile nails, a tendency to have headaches, anxiety, autoimmune disorders, low libido and more. Controlling peroxynitrite is very valuable in maintaining maximum functioning and appearance if you produce estrogen or take it as a medication.
(1) helps explain what happens with women to make more peroxynitrite. In low androgen (testosterone, for example) situations peroxynitrite generation is greater. Also, dysfunctional estrogen metabolism that often occurs as women age may create more peroxynitrite.
Following are various ways to limit peroxynitrite toxicity:
Protection from toxicity:
* Taurine - does not lower peroxynitrite but is protective against the damages it causes to the liver, kidney and more. Since estrogen lowers taurine this is a highly recommended nutritional supplement for women. It is particularly useful for female type edema related to estrogen usage.
* Regular voluntary aerobic exercise - elevates BH4 which is damaged by peroxynitrite and is a key player in the psychological problems caused by peroxynitrite. Anything which is exciting and gets our blood flowing rapidly will also elevate BH4. You figure it out - a higher libido which leads to more sexual activity will elevate BH4 which will lead to (you guessed it) more libido.....
Peroxynitrite scavengers include:
* Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
* Blackberry extract
* Caffeic acid - in coffee
* Citrus juices - Grapefruit juice is particularly effective but it reacts with many medications so use with caution.
* Folinic Acid (a more active form of folic acid) - available as a supplement but also in sprouts, brewers yeast, liver & kidney meats.
* Gamma tocopherol (a type of vitamin E)
* Ginger
* Green tea
* Red wine
* Rosmarinic acid (in the spice Rosemary)
* Others may be found by a Google and PubMed searches.
Reduction of the generation of peroxynitrite may be accomplished by:
* Limit consumption of processed foods.
* Intermittent fasting - the most effective health intervention currently known to science. Is anti-aging, lowers peroxynitrite, lowers risk of infection, lowers cardiovascular risk factors, lowers risk of cancer, etc. Highly recommended for most people. Discuss with your doctor if you have significant medical problems as this diet is not for everyone.
* Magnesium - estrogen lowers this which is unfortunate since magnesium lowers peroxynitrite production. Regular soaking in the tub with a cup of Epsom's salt added is the best way to replenish magnesium. Add bath oil to limit drying of skin. Side note - magnesium + taurine really make skin look great.
* Maintaining a low body weight. BMI 20 - 22 is recommended for most women.
* Not smoking
* Vitamin C - 3 grams/day is a good dose.
* Zinc - 30 to 50 mg/day (Incidentally, the best natural source for both zinc and taurine is male semen. But, then there are all those nasty sexually transmitted diseases. Fair warning.)
Tricky stuff:
Peroxynitrite lowers brain DHA (a component of fish oil). Even after lowering peroxynitrite our DHA will be low. High dose molecularly distilled fish oil (omega 3) in an egg yolk emulsification can replenish this. Take one tablespoon of molecularly distilled fish oil and beat together with an egg yolk. Take daily. Unfortunately fish oil increases peroxynitrite generation in our intestine. Taurine protects against this.
Mix and match techniques to maximize your health, functioning and feminine appearance.
1. Nitric Oxide. 2005 May;12(3):163- 76 Androgen deprivation increases neuronal nitric oxide metabolism and its vasodilator effect in rat mesenteric arteries. The generation of ... peroxynitrite was greater in segments from orchidectomized than control rats. PMID: 15875321
PART II
Enhancing your female libido
These things work for my libido. I've tried them a number of times. You may have fun doing the same.
First, some background:
(1) indicates that high dose vitamin C (3 grams) significantly increases libido with the effect most prominent in single heterosexual women.
Marrena Lindberg, in her book "The Orgasmic Diet", recommends high dose fish oil. She feels 1600 mg of EPA and 800 DHA is a good dose. I recommend taking a tablespoon of molecularly distilled fish oil. This is about 50% more of these fatty acids than she recommends.
High dose fish oil has a tendency to oxidize in our intestine which is not a good thing. This can be prevented by taurine. I recommend taking 4 grams.
The female libido is driven by the hormone DHEA (2). This reference recommends taking DHEA as a supplement, 50 mg/twice per day. DHEA is a dangerous supplement. Don't do this unless under the supervision of a doctor. DHEA has a number of nasty side effects if overdone.
Lindberg, in her book, advises a low carb diet and limiting caffeine consumption as ways to naturally elevate DHEA. I agree with the low carb recommendation. However, lowering our intake of caffeine may lower libido. Most people get caffeine from coffee which has caffeic acid in it. Caffeic acid scavenges peroxynitrite.
Lindberg also recommends consuming rich, dark chocolate. She feels this elevates dopamine which is how it works. However, my research suggests that the female nemesis, peroxynitrite, is involved and not dopamine. (3) indicates that chocolate protects against peroxynitrate toxicity.
As I mentioned earlier the female libido appears to be inversely proportional to the level of peroxynitrate activity. I have not found this in the literature so this may be new information (or I just haven't looked hard enough). I've yet to figure out if the relationship is direct, as in more peroxynitrite activity lowers libido, or if the relationship is indirect, as in poor health lowers libido and elevates peroxynitrite.
Various references list n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) as being able to elevate female libido. My experience strongly agrees with this. Literature review suggests NAC elevates androstenedione. This is the androgen that DHEA in the brain converts into and which elevates female libido. Unfortunately NAC has negative side effects so only take sparingly. A few times per week should be fine.
Summary
To elevate female libido try these things:
A. One tablespoon of molecularly distilled omega-3 fish oil per day. Beat together with an egg yolk without the white to maximize effect.
B. One to two NAC capsules - no more than twice per week. Discontinue use if you discover shortness of breath as that is a side effect of too much NAC. I stopped taking it for that reason. Too bad since it really elevated libido. I was taking two capsules daily. I'll resume and take only a few per week.
C. 3 grams of vitamin C/day.
D. 4 grams of taurine/day
E. A few ounces of rich, dark chocolate/day. Raspberries and dark red wine seem to enhance this effect but I'm still researching this.
F. A low carb diet.
G. Any of many methods to lower peroxynitrite as discussed earlier
H. A rich, hot mocha, which has cocoa in it and caffeic acid, works well for a special treat to raise libido. Be sure to get a real mocha and not the artificial ones made at most of the chain coffee houses. You should see the baristi crush dark chocolate and add to the mocha to know you're getting the real thing.
1. Biol Psychiatry. 2002 Aug 15;52(4):371- 4
High-dose ascorbic acid increases intercourse frequency and improves mood: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Brody S. Center for and the Psychosomatic and Psychobiological Research, University of Trier, Germany.
BACKGROUND: Ascorbic acid (AA) modulates catecholaminergic activity, decreases stress reactivity, approach anxiety and prolactin release, improves vascular function, and increases oxytocin release. These processes are relevant to sexual behavior and mood.
METHODS: In this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled 14 day trial of sustained-release AA (42 healthy young adults; 3000 mg/day Cetebe) and placebo (39 healthy young adults), subjects with partners recorded penile-vaginal intercourse (FSI), noncoital partner sex, and masturbation in daily diaries, and also completed the Beck Depression Inventory before and after the trial.
RESULTS: The AA group reported greater FSI (but, as hypothesized, not other sexual behavior) frequency, an effect most prominent in subjects not cohabiting with their sexual partner, and in women. The AA but not placebo group also experienced a decrease in Beck Depression scores.
CONCLUSIONS: AA appears to increase FSI, and the differential benefit to noncohabitants suggests that a central activation or disinhibition, rather than peripheral mechanism may be responsible.
PMID: 12208645
2. http://www.thehormo/ neshop.com/ dheatiedwomensli bido.htm
Male Hormones Not Tied to Women's Libido, however, DHEA is!
SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association, July 6, 2005....
...a low level of dehydroepiandroster one sulfate (DHEAS) did correlate with low sexual desire, arousal, and responsiveness.
The results contradict the idea of using testosterone to treat low sexual desire disorder, the researchers conclude....
DHEAS levels can be elevated by the simple suplementation of USP grade DHEA. 50 mg taken twice a day for 2 weeks had a significant effect on how 87% of women had a positive effect and increased levels of DHEA...
3. FEBS Lett. 1999 Nov 26;462(1-2): 167-70
Protection against peroxynitrite by cocoa polyphenol oligomers.
...epicatechin oligomers found in cocoa powder and chocolate may be a potent dietary source for defense against peroxynitrite.
PMID: 10580113
Nerissa
PART I
Lowering peroxynitrite
Peroxynitrite, appears to be a big player in many stereotypical female problems like edema, premature skin aging, thinning hair, fragile nails, a tendency to have headaches, anxiety, autoimmune disorders, low libido and more. Controlling peroxynitrite is very valuable in maintaining maximum functioning and appearance if you produce estrogen or take it as a medication.
(1) helps explain what happens with women to make more peroxynitrite. In low androgen (testosterone, for example) situations peroxynitrite generation is greater. Also, dysfunctional estrogen metabolism that often occurs as women age may create more peroxynitrite.
Following are various ways to limit peroxynitrite toxicity:
Protection from toxicity:
* Taurine - does not lower peroxynitrite but is protective against the damages it causes to the liver, kidney and more. Since estrogen lowers taurine this is a highly recommended nutritional supplement for women. It is particularly useful for female type edema related to estrogen usage.
* Regular voluntary aerobic exercise - elevates BH4 which is damaged by peroxynitrite and is a key player in the psychological problems caused by peroxynitrite. Anything which is exciting and gets our blood flowing rapidly will also elevate BH4. You figure it out - a higher libido which leads to more sexual activity will elevate BH4 which will lead to (you guessed it) more libido.....
Peroxynitrite scavengers include:
* Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
* Blackberry extract
* Caffeic acid - in coffee
* Citrus juices - Grapefruit juice is particularly effective but it reacts with many medications so use with caution.
* Folinic Acid (a more active form of folic acid) - available as a supplement but also in sprouts, brewers yeast, liver & kidney meats.
* Gamma tocopherol (a type of vitamin E)
* Ginger
* Green tea
* Red wine
* Rosmarinic acid (in the spice Rosemary)
* Others may be found by a Google and PubMed searches.
Reduction of the generation of peroxynitrite may be accomplished by:
* Limit consumption of processed foods.
* Intermittent fasting - the most effective health intervention currently known to science. Is anti-aging, lowers peroxynitrite, lowers risk of infection, lowers cardiovascular risk factors, lowers risk of cancer, etc. Highly recommended for most people. Discuss with your doctor if you have significant medical problems as this diet is not for everyone.
* Magnesium - estrogen lowers this which is unfortunate since magnesium lowers peroxynitrite production. Regular soaking in the tub with a cup of Epsom's salt added is the best way to replenish magnesium. Add bath oil to limit drying of skin. Side note - magnesium + taurine really make skin look great.
* Maintaining a low body weight. BMI 20 - 22 is recommended for most women.
* Not smoking
* Vitamin C - 3 grams/day is a good dose.
* Zinc - 30 to 50 mg/day (Incidentally, the best natural source for both zinc and taurine is male semen. But, then there are all those nasty sexually transmitted diseases. Fair warning.)
Tricky stuff:
Peroxynitrite lowers brain DHA (a component of fish oil). Even after lowering peroxynitrite our DHA will be low. High dose molecularly distilled fish oil (omega 3) in an egg yolk emulsification can replenish this. Take one tablespoon of molecularly distilled fish oil and beat together with an egg yolk. Take daily. Unfortunately fish oil increases peroxynitrite generation in our intestine. Taurine protects against this.
Mix and match techniques to maximize your health, functioning and feminine appearance.
1. Nitric Oxide. 2005 May;12(3):163- 76 Androgen deprivation increases neuronal nitric oxide metabolism and its vasodilator effect in rat mesenteric arteries. The generation of ... peroxynitrite was greater in segments from orchidectomized than control rats. PMID: 15875321
PART II
Enhancing your female libido
These things work for my libido. I've tried them a number of times. You may have fun doing the same.
First, some background:
(1) indicates that high dose vitamin C (3 grams) significantly increases libido with the effect most prominent in single heterosexual women.
Marrena Lindberg, in her book "The Orgasmic Diet", recommends high dose fish oil. She feels 1600 mg of EPA and 800 DHA is a good dose. I recommend taking a tablespoon of molecularly distilled fish oil. This is about 50% more of these fatty acids than she recommends.
High dose fish oil has a tendency to oxidize in our intestine which is not a good thing. This can be prevented by taurine. I recommend taking 4 grams.
The female libido is driven by the hormone DHEA (2). This reference recommends taking DHEA as a supplement, 50 mg/twice per day. DHEA is a dangerous supplement. Don't do this unless under the supervision of a doctor. DHEA has a number of nasty side effects if overdone.
Lindberg, in her book, advises a low carb diet and limiting caffeine consumption as ways to naturally elevate DHEA. I agree with the low carb recommendation. However, lowering our intake of caffeine may lower libido. Most people get caffeine from coffee which has caffeic acid in it. Caffeic acid scavenges peroxynitrite.
Lindberg also recommends consuming rich, dark chocolate. She feels this elevates dopamine which is how it works. However, my research suggests that the female nemesis, peroxynitrite, is involved and not dopamine. (3) indicates that chocolate protects against peroxynitrate toxicity.
As I mentioned earlier the female libido appears to be inversely proportional to the level of peroxynitrate activity. I have not found this in the literature so this may be new information (or I just haven't looked hard enough). I've yet to figure out if the relationship is direct, as in more peroxynitrite activity lowers libido, or if the relationship is indirect, as in poor health lowers libido and elevates peroxynitrite.
Various references list n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) as being able to elevate female libido. My experience strongly agrees with this. Literature review suggests NAC elevates androstenedione. This is the androgen that DHEA in the brain converts into and which elevates female libido. Unfortunately NAC has negative side effects so only take sparingly. A few times per week should be fine.
Summary
To elevate female libido try these things:
A. One tablespoon of molecularly distilled omega-3 fish oil per day. Beat together with an egg yolk without the white to maximize effect.
B. One to two NAC capsules - no more than twice per week. Discontinue use if you discover shortness of breath as that is a side effect of too much NAC. I stopped taking it for that reason. Too bad since it really elevated libido. I was taking two capsules daily. I'll resume and take only a few per week.
C. 3 grams of vitamin C/day.
D. 4 grams of taurine/day
E. A few ounces of rich, dark chocolate/day. Raspberries and dark red wine seem to enhance this effect but I'm still researching this.
F. A low carb diet.
G. Any of many methods to lower peroxynitrite as discussed earlier
H. A rich, hot mocha, which has cocoa in it and caffeic acid, works well for a special treat to raise libido. Be sure to get a real mocha and not the artificial ones made at most of the chain coffee houses. You should see the baristi crush dark chocolate and add to the mocha to know you're getting the real thing.
1. Biol Psychiatry. 2002 Aug 15;52(4):371- 4
High-dose ascorbic acid increases intercourse frequency and improves mood: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Brody S. Center for and the Psychosomatic and Psychobiological Research, University of Trier, Germany.
BACKGROUND: Ascorbic acid (AA) modulates catecholaminergic activity, decreases stress reactivity, approach anxiety and prolactin release, improves vascular function, and increases oxytocin release. These processes are relevant to sexual behavior and mood.
METHODS: In this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled 14 day trial of sustained-release AA (42 healthy young adults; 3000 mg/day Cetebe) and placebo (39 healthy young adults), subjects with partners recorded penile-vaginal intercourse (FSI), noncoital partner sex, and masturbation in daily diaries, and also completed the Beck Depression Inventory before and after the trial.
RESULTS: The AA group reported greater FSI (but, as hypothesized, not other sexual behavior) frequency, an effect most prominent in subjects not cohabiting with their sexual partner, and in women. The AA but not placebo group also experienced a decrease in Beck Depression scores.
CONCLUSIONS: AA appears to increase FSI, and the differential benefit to noncohabitants suggests that a central activation or disinhibition, rather than peripheral mechanism may be responsible.
PMID: 12208645
2. http://www.thehormo/ neshop.com/ dheatiedwomensli bido.htm
Male Hormones Not Tied to Women's Libido, however, DHEA is!
SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association, July 6, 2005....
...a low level of dehydroepiandroster one sulfate (DHEAS) did correlate with low sexual desire, arousal, and responsiveness.
The results contradict the idea of using testosterone to treat low sexual desire disorder, the researchers conclude....
DHEAS levels can be elevated by the simple suplementation of USP grade DHEA. 50 mg taken twice a day for 2 weeks had a significant effect on how 87% of women had a positive effect and increased levels of DHEA...
3. FEBS Lett. 1999 Nov 26;462(1-2): 167-70
Protection against peroxynitrite by cocoa polyphenol oligomers.
...epicatechin oligomers found in cocoa powder and chocolate may be a potent dietary source for defense against peroxynitrite.
PMID: 10580113
Nerissa
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Artificial sweeteners induce weight gain
Studies on people who drink diet sodas shows that "something" in diet sodas induces these people to gain weight (1).
The "something" is the artificial sweeteners that are in the diet drinks. These stimulate alpha-gustducin (2). This is a taste receptor that allows us to taste sweetness. It is in our intestine in addition to on our tongue.
In our intestine, once stimulated, it increases sugar absorption. Artificial sweeteners may stimulate it more than actual sugar or conversely may not increase the compensatory normal elevation in glucagon-like peptide-1 (not in the literature so just a guess by me). Meaning when we use artificial sweeteners we often end up absorbing more sugar and more calories. Result = a tendency to gain weight.
This same effect should happen whether the artificial sweetener is in diet drinks or anything else we consume. Acesulfame K (acesulfame potassium or K) and Splenda (sucralose) are particularly bad in this regard.
1. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/13/health/webmd/main701408.shtml Diet Soda Drinkers Gain Weight Overweight Risk Soars 41 Percent With Each Daily Can Of Diet Soda J
June 13, 2005 (WebMD)
People who drink diet soft drinks don't lose weight. In fact, they gain weight, a new study shows.
The findings come from eight years of data collected by Sharon P. Fowler...
For regular soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
26 percent for up to 1/2 can each day
30.4 percent for 1/2 to one can each day
32.8 percent for 1 to 2 cans each day
47.2 percent for more than 2 cans each day.
For diet soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
36.5 percent for up to 1/2 can each day
37.5 percent for 1/2 to one can each day
54.5 percent for 1 to 2 cans each day
57.1 percent for more than 2 cans each day.
...something linked to diet soda drinking is also linked to obesity. ...
2. J Physiol. 2007 Jul 1;582(Pt 1):379-92
Sweet taste receptors in rat small intestine stimulate glucose absorption through apical GLUT2.
Mace OJ...
Sweet taste receptors in rat small intestine stimulate glucose absorption through apical GLUT2. Natural sugars and artificial sweeteners are sensed by receptors in taste buds. ...
Intestinal brush cells or solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs) have a structure similar to lingual taste cells and strongly express alpha-gustducin. ...
Artificial sweeteners increase glucose absorption in the order acesulfame potassium approximately sucralose > saccharin...artificial sweeteners are nutritionally active, because they can signal to a functional taste reception system to increase sugar absorption during a meal...
PMID: 17495045
Nerissa
The "something" is the artificial sweeteners that are in the diet drinks. These stimulate alpha-gustducin (2). This is a taste receptor that allows us to taste sweetness. It is in our intestine in addition to on our tongue.
In our intestine, once stimulated, it increases sugar absorption. Artificial sweeteners may stimulate it more than actual sugar or conversely may not increase the compensatory normal elevation in glucagon-like peptide-1 (not in the literature so just a guess by me). Meaning when we use artificial sweeteners we often end up absorbing more sugar and more calories. Result = a tendency to gain weight.
This same effect should happen whether the artificial sweetener is in diet drinks or anything else we consume. Acesulfame K (acesulfame potassium or K) and Splenda (sucralose) are particularly bad in this regard.
1. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/13/health/webmd/main701408.shtml Diet Soda Drinkers Gain Weight Overweight Risk Soars 41 Percent With Each Daily Can Of Diet Soda J
June 13, 2005 (WebMD)
People who drink diet soft drinks don't lose weight. In fact, they gain weight, a new study shows.
The findings come from eight years of data collected by Sharon P. Fowler...
For regular soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
26 percent for up to 1/2 can each day
30.4 percent for 1/2 to one can each day
32.8 percent for 1 to 2 cans each day
47.2 percent for more than 2 cans each day.
For diet soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
36.5 percent for up to 1/2 can each day
37.5 percent for 1/2 to one can each day
54.5 percent for 1 to 2 cans each day
57.1 percent for more than 2 cans each day.
...something linked to diet soda drinking is also linked to obesity. ...
2. J Physiol. 2007 Jul 1;582(Pt 1):379-92
Sweet taste receptors in rat small intestine stimulate glucose absorption through apical GLUT2.
Mace OJ...
Sweet taste receptors in rat small intestine stimulate glucose absorption through apical GLUT2. Natural sugars and artificial sweeteners are sensed by receptors in taste buds. ...
Intestinal brush cells or solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs) have a structure similar to lingual taste cells and strongly express alpha-gustducin. ...
Artificial sweeteners increase glucose absorption in the order acesulfame potassium approximately sucralose > saccharin...artificial sweeteners are nutritionally active, because they can signal to a functional taste reception system to increase sugar absorption during a meal...
PMID: 17495045
Nerissa
Friday, October 12, 2007
Lowering chocolate cravings
Intestinal bacteria influence our eating habits. For example, they can increase our desire for chocolate. We should be able to manipulate these bacteria to change our food desires and help us eat a healthier diet. In this post I hypothesize that eating more pectin, consuming chitosan and drinking tea will lower our craving for chocolate. Being a male helps too!
By seeing the relationship of taurine and glycine in chocolate cravers (taurine high in non-cravers and glycine high in cravers) and knowing that only these two amino acids conjugate with bile it is fairly easy to determine the bacteria that bile salts are involved.
PMID 7611405, below, points out the amazing fact that chocolate is a mimic for the taurine conjugated type of bile salt. PMID 17152920, also below, takes this information and indicates the bacteria that consume this type of bile salt. These bacteria, mostly of the bacteriodes type, should be the ones that induce a chocolate craving.
What to do? Simple - increase the bacteria that consume glycine conjugated bile. These will out-compete the ones that induce chocolate cravings. Consuming a high pectin diet will do this. Citrus fruit and in particular grapefruit is sky high in pectin.
Another thing that might help is to consume chitosan. This substance selectively inhibits bacteriodes bacteria. It is extracted from the shells of shrimp and other sea crustaceans.
Also, consider regular consumption of tea. PMID 16962743 indicates this lowers bacteroides.
Grapefruit, chitosan and tea are already commonly used in weight reduction programs. While they may not help any particular person drop excess body weight they should at least lower their chocolate craving which might be a start to a better diet.
Special note for the ladies and my male to female transsexual friends - PMID 12877349, below, indicates that estrogen increases taurine bile salt and furthermore that the bacterial activity on the bile salt is elevated. Can it be a surprise that estrogen increases chocolate craving? My experience in transitioning from male physiology to female physiology supports this idea.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071012/ap_on_he_me/diet_chocolate_craving
Scientists explain chocolate cravings
By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer
Fri Oct 12, 4:34 AM ET
WASHINGTON - If that craving for chocolate sometimes feels like it is coming from deep in your gut, that's because maybe it is.
A small study links the type of bacteria living in people's digestive system to a desire for chocolate. Everyone has a vast community of microbes in their guts. But people who crave daily chocolate show signs of having different colonies of bacteria than people who are immune to chocolate's allure.
That may be the case for other foods, too. The idea could eventually lead to treating some types of obesity by changing the composition of the trillions of bacteria occupying the intestines and stomach, said Sunil Kochhar, co-author of the study. It appears Friday in the peer-reviewed Journal of Proteome Research.
Kochhar is in charge of metabolism research at the Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. The food conglomerate Nestle SA paid for the study. But this isn't part of an effort to convert a few to the dark side (or even milk) side of cocoa, Kocchar said.
In fact, the study was delayed because it took a year for the researchers to find 11 men who don't eat chocolate.
Kochhar compared the blood and urine of those 11 men, who he jokingly called "weird" for their indifference to chocolate, to 11 similar men who ate chocolate daily. They were all healthy, not obese, and were fed the same food for five days.
The researchers examined the byproducts of metabolism in their blood and urine and found that a dozen substances were significantly different between the two groups. For example, the amino acid glycine was higher in chocolate lovers, while taurine (an active ingredient in energy drinks) was higher in people who didn't eat chocolate. Also chocolate lovers had lower levels of the bad cholesterol, LDL.
The levels of several of the specific substances that were different in the two groups are known to be linked to different types of bacteria, Kochhar said.
Still to be determined is if the bacteria cause the craving, or if early in life people's diets changed the bacteria, which then reinforced food choices.
How gut bacteria affect people is a hot field of scientific research.
Past studies have shown that intestinal bacteria change when people lose weight, said Dr. Sam Klein, an obesity expert and professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis.
Since bacteria interact with what you eat, it is logical to think that there is a connection between those microbes and desires for certain foods, said Klein, who wasn't part of Kochhar's study.
Kochhar's research makes so much sense that people should have thought of it earlier, said J. Bruce German, professor of food chemistry at the University of California Davis. While five outside scientists thought the study was intriguing, Dr. Richard Bergman at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, had concerns about the accuracy of the initial division of the men into groups that wanted chocolate or were indifferent to it.
What matters to Kochhar is where the research could lead.
Kochhar said the relationship between food, people and what grows in their gut is important for the future: "If we understand the relationship, then we can find ways to nudge it in the right direction."
Am J Physiol. 1995 Jun;268(6 Pt 1):G1051-9.
Role of amidation in bile acid effect on DNA synthesis by regenerating mouse liver.
Barbero ER, Herrera MC, Monte MJ, Serrano MA, Marin JJ.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Spain.
Effect of bile acids on DNA synthesis by the regenerating liver was investigated in mice in vivo after partial hepatectomy (PH). Radioactivity incorporation into DNA after [14C]thymidine intraperitoneal administration peaked at 48 h after PH. At this time a significant taurocholate-induced dose-dependent reduction in DNA synthesis without changes in total liver radioactivity content was found (half-maximal effect at approximately 0.1 mumol/g body wt). Effect of taurocholate (0.5 mumol/g body wt) was mimicked by chocolate, ursodeoxycholate, deoxycholate, dehydrocholate, tauroursodeoxycholate, taurochenodeoxycholate, and taurodeoxycholate. In contrast, chenodeoxycholate, glycocholate, glycochenodeoxycholate, glycoursodeoxycholate, glycodeoxycholate, 5 beta-cholestane, bromosulfophthalein, and free taurine lacked this effect. No relationship between hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance and inhibitory effect was observed. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography indicated that inhibition of thymidine incorporation into DNA was not accompanied by an accumulation of phosphorylated DNA precursors in the liver but rather by a parallel increase in nucleotide catabolism. Bile acid-induced modifications in DNA synthesis were observed in vivo even in the absence of changes in toxicity tests, which suggests that the inhibitory effect shared by most unconjugated and tauroconjugated bile acids but not by glycoconjugated bile acids should be accounted for by mechanisms other than nonselective liver cell injury.
PMID: 7611405
Lipids. 2006 Sep;41(9):835-43
Deoxycholic acid formation in gnotobiotic mice associated with human intestinal bacteria.
Narushima S, Itoha K, Miyamoto Y, Park SH, Nagata K, Kuruma K, Uchida K.
Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
In humans and animals, intestinal flora is indispensable for bile acid transformation. The goal of our study was to establish gnotobiotic mice with intestinal bacteria of human origin in order to examine the role of intestinal bacteria in the transformation of bile acids in vivo using the technique of gnotobiology. Eight strains of bile acid-deconjugating bacteria were isolated from ex-germ-free mice inoculated with a human fecal dilution of 10(-6), and five strains of 7alpha-dehydroxylating bacteria were isolated from the intestine of limited human flora mice inoculated only with clostridia. The results of biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that seven out of eight bile acid-deconjugating strains belong to a bacteroides cluster (Bacteroides vulgatus, B. distasonis, and B. uniformis), and one strain had high similarity with Bilophila wadsworthia. All five strains that converted cholic acid to deoxycholic acid had greatest similarity with Clostridium hylemonae. A combination of 10 isolated strains converted taurocholic acid into deoxycholic acid both in vitro and in the mouse intestine. These results indicate that the predominant bacteria, mainly Bacteroides, in human feces comprise one of the main bacterial groups for the deconjugation of bile acids, and clostridia may play an important role in 7aplha-dehydroxylation of free-form primary bile acids in the intestine although these strains are not predominant. The gnotobiotic mouse with bacteria of human origin could be a useful model in studies of bile acid metabolism by human intestinal bacteria in vivo.
PMID: 17152920
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cabi/bjn/1989/00000062/00000003/art00005;jsessionid=2e953w9ke2hvh.alice?
Bile acid conjugation and hepatic taurine concentration in rats fed on pectin
Authors: Ide, T.1; Horii, M.1; Kawashima, K.1; Yamamoto, T.1
Source: British Journal of Nutrition, Volume 62, Number 3, November 1989 , pp. 539-550(12)
Publisher: CABI Publishing
A relationship between bile acid conjugation and hepatic taurine concentration was investigated in rats fed on citrus pectin. When rats were fed on the diets containing varying amounts of pectin (10, 30, 60 and 100 g/kg dietary levels), biliary excretion of bile acids increased as the dietary levels of pectin increased. The increase was entirely due to the glycine-conjugated bile acids. The biliary excretion of taurine-conjugated bile acid was somewhat decreased as the dietary level of the fibre increased. Consequently, most of the bile acids were conjugated with glycine in rats fed on the diet containing 100 g pectin/kg. On the other hand, dietary cellulose (60 and 100 g/kg) did not affect the biliary bile acid excretions. The major proportion of bile acids in rats receiving a fibre-free diet and the diets containing cellulose were conjugated with taurine. Hepatic taurine concentrations decreased as the dietary levels of pectin, but not of cellulose, increased. Although dietary pectin (100 g/kg) also slightly decreased the taurine concentration in the kidney, those concentrations in other non-hepatic tissues examined (heart, brain and serum) were unaffected by the dietary fibre. Supplementation of the diet containing 100 g pectin/kg with methionine (10 g/kg) and taurine (10 and 50 g/kg) strikingly increased hepatic taurine concentrations. In this situation, the conjugation of bile acid with glycine was almost abolished and taurine conjugates became abundant in the bile of these animals. It is suggested that dietary pectin mediated an increase in the biliary bile acid excretion which may have depleted the hepatic pool of taurine available for bile acid conjugation and, thus, increased glycine conjugation of bile acids.
Keywords: Bile acid conjugation; Pectin; Taurine; Rat
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1079/BJN19890056
Affiliations: 1: Laboratory of Nutrition Chemistry, National Food Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tsukuba Science City, 305, Japan
Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2006;51(4):306-8
Effect of chitosan on the growth of human colonic bacteria.Simůnek J, Tishchenko G, Hodrová B, Bartonová H.Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia. simunek@iapg.cas.cz
Growth of 6 bacterial strains representing dominant members of the human colonic microflora was measured in the presence of 0.025, 0.05 and 0.5 % chitosan (from shrimp shells, with a 97 % final degree of deacetylation). The effect of chitosan was variable and dependent on bacterial species. The most susceptible to chitosan were bacteria belonging to genera Bacteroides and Clostridium (91-97% growth inhibition). On the other hand, Roseburia sp., Eubacterium sp. and Faecalibacterium sp. were more resistant (63-83 % inhibition of growth). Chitosan can thus be considered as one of the means for influencing the bacterial population in the human colon.PMID: 17007432
Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2003 Jun;54(5-6):381-6Influence of ethinyloestradiol propanolsulphonate on serum bile acids in healthy volunteers.
Barth A, Klinger G, Rost M.Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany. Astrid.Barth@mti-n.uni-jena.de
The present work was done to clarify the relevance of altered serum bile acid (BA) profile in healthy women after the administration of the depot oestrogen ethinyloestradiol propanolsulphonate (EES). In the serum of 20 healthy women before and two times after oral EES application, 11 free and 14 taurine- and glycine-conjugated BA were analysed by HPLC with postcolumn derivatisation and fluorescence detection. EES significantly enhanced the total serum BA concentration and that of taurine-conjugated BAs, more pronounced the secondary BAs taurodeoxycholic, tauroursodeoxycholic and taurolithocholic acid. These secondary BAs are produced in the intestine by bacteria due to 7alpha-dehydroxylation of the primary BAs cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid. Because of unchanged free BAs, also produced by intestinal bacteria due to deconjugation, the results were interpreted as a sign of disturbed transport of BAs into the liver. Inhibition of the liver Na(+)-bile salt co-transporter (Ntcp) in the sinusoidal membrane by ethinyloestradiol, formed from the prodrug EES, may be responsible for the altered BA profile in serum.
PMID: 12877349
Res Microbiol. 2006 Nov;157(9):876-84
Effect of tea phenolics and their aromatic fecal bacterial metabolites on intestinal microbiota.
Lee HC, Jenner AM, Low CS, Lee YK.Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117597, Republic of Singapore.
Tea is rich in polyphenols and other phenolics that have been widely reported to have beneficial health effects. However, dietary polyphenols are not completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and are metabolized by the gut microflora so that they and their metabolites may accumulate to exert physiological effects. In this study, we investigated the influence of the phenolic components of a tea extract and their aromatic metabolites upon bacterial growth. Fecal homogenates containing bacteria significantly catalyzed tea phenolics, including epicatechin, catechin, 3-O-methyl gallic acid, gallic acid and caffeic acid to generate aromatic metabolites dependent on bacterial species. Different strains of intestinal bacteria had varying degrees of growth sensitivity to tea phenolics and metabolites. Growth of certain pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile and Bacteroides spp. was significantly repressed by tea phenolics and their derivatives, while commensal anaerobes like Clostridium spp., Bifidobacterium spp. and probiotics such as Lactobacillus sp. were less severely affected. This indicates that tea phenolics exert significant effects on the intestinal environment by modulation of the intestinal bacterial population, probably by acting as metabolic prebiotics. Our observations provide further evidence for the importance of colonic bacteria in the metabolism, absorption and potential activity of phenolics in human health and disease. The bioactivity of different phenolics may play an important role in the maintenance of gastrointestinal health.
PMID: 16962743
Nerissa
By seeing the relationship of taurine and glycine in chocolate cravers (taurine high in non-cravers and glycine high in cravers) and knowing that only these two amino acids conjugate with bile it is fairly easy to determine the bacteria that bile salts are involved.
PMID 7611405, below, points out the amazing fact that chocolate is a mimic for the taurine conjugated type of bile salt. PMID 17152920, also below, takes this information and indicates the bacteria that consume this type of bile salt. These bacteria, mostly of the bacteriodes type, should be the ones that induce a chocolate craving.
What to do? Simple - increase the bacteria that consume glycine conjugated bile. These will out-compete the ones that induce chocolate cravings. Consuming a high pectin diet will do this. Citrus fruit and in particular grapefruit is sky high in pectin.
Another thing that might help is to consume chitosan. This substance selectively inhibits bacteriodes bacteria. It is extracted from the shells of shrimp and other sea crustaceans.
Also, consider regular consumption of tea. PMID 16962743 indicates this lowers bacteroides.
Grapefruit, chitosan and tea are already commonly used in weight reduction programs. While they may not help any particular person drop excess body weight they should at least lower their chocolate craving which might be a start to a better diet.
Special note for the ladies and my male to female transsexual friends - PMID 12877349, below, indicates that estrogen increases taurine bile salt and furthermore that the bacterial activity on the bile salt is elevated. Can it be a surprise that estrogen increases chocolate craving? My experience in transitioning from male physiology to female physiology supports this idea.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071012/ap_on_he_me/diet_chocolate_craving
Scientists explain chocolate cravings
By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer
Fri Oct 12, 4:34 AM ET
WASHINGTON - If that craving for chocolate sometimes feels like it is coming from deep in your gut, that's because maybe it is.
A small study links the type of bacteria living in people's digestive system to a desire for chocolate. Everyone has a vast community of microbes in their guts. But people who crave daily chocolate show signs of having different colonies of bacteria than people who are immune to chocolate's allure.
That may be the case for other foods, too. The idea could eventually lead to treating some types of obesity by changing the composition of the trillions of bacteria occupying the intestines and stomach, said Sunil Kochhar, co-author of the study. It appears Friday in the peer-reviewed Journal of Proteome Research.
Kochhar is in charge of metabolism research at the Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. The food conglomerate Nestle SA paid for the study. But this isn't part of an effort to convert a few to the dark side (or even milk) side of cocoa, Kocchar said.
In fact, the study was delayed because it took a year for the researchers to find 11 men who don't eat chocolate.
Kochhar compared the blood and urine of those 11 men, who he jokingly called "weird" for their indifference to chocolate, to 11 similar men who ate chocolate daily. They were all healthy, not obese, and were fed the same food for five days.
The researchers examined the byproducts of metabolism in their blood and urine and found that a dozen substances were significantly different between the two groups. For example, the amino acid glycine was higher in chocolate lovers, while taurine (an active ingredient in energy drinks) was higher in people who didn't eat chocolate. Also chocolate lovers had lower levels of the bad cholesterol, LDL.
The levels of several of the specific substances that were different in the two groups are known to be linked to different types of bacteria, Kochhar said.
Still to be determined is if the bacteria cause the craving, or if early in life people's diets changed the bacteria, which then reinforced food choices.
How gut bacteria affect people is a hot field of scientific research.
Past studies have shown that intestinal bacteria change when people lose weight, said Dr. Sam Klein, an obesity expert and professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis.
Since bacteria interact with what you eat, it is logical to think that there is a connection between those microbes and desires for certain foods, said Klein, who wasn't part of Kochhar's study.
Kochhar's research makes so much sense that people should have thought of it earlier, said J. Bruce German, professor of food chemistry at the University of California Davis. While five outside scientists thought the study was intriguing, Dr. Richard Bergman at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, had concerns about the accuracy of the initial division of the men into groups that wanted chocolate or were indifferent to it.
What matters to Kochhar is where the research could lead.
Kochhar said the relationship between food, people and what grows in their gut is important for the future: "If we understand the relationship, then we can find ways to nudge it in the right direction."
Am J Physiol. 1995 Jun;268(6 Pt 1):G1051-9.
Role of amidation in bile acid effect on DNA synthesis by regenerating mouse liver.
Barbero ER, Herrera MC, Monte MJ, Serrano MA, Marin JJ.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Spain.
Effect of bile acids on DNA synthesis by the regenerating liver was investigated in mice in vivo after partial hepatectomy (PH). Radioactivity incorporation into DNA after [14C]thymidine intraperitoneal administration peaked at 48 h after PH. At this time a significant taurocholate-induced dose-dependent reduction in DNA synthesis without changes in total liver radioactivity content was found (half-maximal effect at approximately 0.1 mumol/g body wt). Effect of taurocholate (0.5 mumol/g body wt) was mimicked by chocolate, ursodeoxycholate, deoxycholate, dehydrocholate, tauroursodeoxycholate, taurochenodeoxycholate, and taurodeoxycholate. In contrast, chenodeoxycholate, glycocholate, glycochenodeoxycholate, glycoursodeoxycholate, glycodeoxycholate, 5 beta-cholestane, bromosulfophthalein, and free taurine lacked this effect. No relationship between hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance and inhibitory effect was observed. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography indicated that inhibition of thymidine incorporation into DNA was not accompanied by an accumulation of phosphorylated DNA precursors in the liver but rather by a parallel increase in nucleotide catabolism. Bile acid-induced modifications in DNA synthesis were observed in vivo even in the absence of changes in toxicity tests, which suggests that the inhibitory effect shared by most unconjugated and tauroconjugated bile acids but not by glycoconjugated bile acids should be accounted for by mechanisms other than nonselective liver cell injury.
PMID: 7611405
Lipids. 2006 Sep;41(9):835-43
Deoxycholic acid formation in gnotobiotic mice associated with human intestinal bacteria.
Narushima S, Itoha K, Miyamoto Y, Park SH, Nagata K, Kuruma K, Uchida K.
Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
In humans and animals, intestinal flora is indispensable for bile acid transformation. The goal of our study was to establish gnotobiotic mice with intestinal bacteria of human origin in order to examine the role of intestinal bacteria in the transformation of bile acids in vivo using the technique of gnotobiology. Eight strains of bile acid-deconjugating bacteria were isolated from ex-germ-free mice inoculated with a human fecal dilution of 10(-6), and five strains of 7alpha-dehydroxylating bacteria were isolated from the intestine of limited human flora mice inoculated only with clostridia. The results of biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that seven out of eight bile acid-deconjugating strains belong to a bacteroides cluster (Bacteroides vulgatus, B. distasonis, and B. uniformis), and one strain had high similarity with Bilophila wadsworthia. All five strains that converted cholic acid to deoxycholic acid had greatest similarity with Clostridium hylemonae. A combination of 10 isolated strains converted taurocholic acid into deoxycholic acid both in vitro and in the mouse intestine. These results indicate that the predominant bacteria, mainly Bacteroides, in human feces comprise one of the main bacterial groups for the deconjugation of bile acids, and clostridia may play an important role in 7aplha-dehydroxylation of free-form primary bile acids in the intestine although these strains are not predominant. The gnotobiotic mouse with bacteria of human origin could be a useful model in studies of bile acid metabolism by human intestinal bacteria in vivo.
PMID: 17152920
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cabi/bjn/1989/00000062/00000003/art00005;jsessionid=2e953w9ke2hvh.alice?
Bile acid conjugation and hepatic taurine concentration in rats fed on pectin
Authors: Ide, T.1; Horii, M.1; Kawashima, K.1; Yamamoto, T.1
Source: British Journal of Nutrition, Volume 62, Number 3, November 1989 , pp. 539-550(12)
Publisher: CABI Publishing
A relationship between bile acid conjugation and hepatic taurine concentration was investigated in rats fed on citrus pectin. When rats were fed on the diets containing varying amounts of pectin (10, 30, 60 and 100 g/kg dietary levels), biliary excretion of bile acids increased as the dietary levels of pectin increased. The increase was entirely due to the glycine-conjugated bile acids. The biliary excretion of taurine-conjugated bile acid was somewhat decreased as the dietary level of the fibre increased. Consequently, most of the bile acids were conjugated with glycine in rats fed on the diet containing 100 g pectin/kg. On the other hand, dietary cellulose (60 and 100 g/kg) did not affect the biliary bile acid excretions. The major proportion of bile acids in rats receiving a fibre-free diet and the diets containing cellulose were conjugated with taurine. Hepatic taurine concentrations decreased as the dietary levels of pectin, but not of cellulose, increased. Although dietary pectin (100 g/kg) also slightly decreased the taurine concentration in the kidney, those concentrations in other non-hepatic tissues examined (heart, brain and serum) were unaffected by the dietary fibre. Supplementation of the diet containing 100 g pectin/kg with methionine (10 g/kg) and taurine (10 and 50 g/kg) strikingly increased hepatic taurine concentrations. In this situation, the conjugation of bile acid with glycine was almost abolished and taurine conjugates became abundant in the bile of these animals. It is suggested that dietary pectin mediated an increase in the biliary bile acid excretion which may have depleted the hepatic pool of taurine available for bile acid conjugation and, thus, increased glycine conjugation of bile acids.
Keywords: Bile acid conjugation; Pectin; Taurine; Rat
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1079/BJN19890056
Affiliations: 1: Laboratory of Nutrition Chemistry, National Food Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tsukuba Science City, 305, Japan
Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2006;51(4):306-8
Effect of chitosan on the growth of human colonic bacteria.Simůnek J, Tishchenko G, Hodrová B, Bartonová H.Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia. simunek@iapg.cas.cz
Growth of 6 bacterial strains representing dominant members of the human colonic microflora was measured in the presence of 0.025, 0.05 and 0.5 % chitosan (from shrimp shells, with a 97 % final degree of deacetylation). The effect of chitosan was variable and dependent on bacterial species. The most susceptible to chitosan were bacteria belonging to genera Bacteroides and Clostridium (91-97% growth inhibition). On the other hand, Roseburia sp., Eubacterium sp. and Faecalibacterium sp. were more resistant (63-83 % inhibition of growth). Chitosan can thus be considered as one of the means for influencing the bacterial population in the human colon.PMID: 17007432
Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2003 Jun;54(5-6):381-6Influence of ethinyloestradiol propanolsulphonate on serum bile acids in healthy volunteers.
Barth A, Klinger G, Rost M.Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany. Astrid.Barth@mti-n.uni-jena.de
The present work was done to clarify the relevance of altered serum bile acid (BA) profile in healthy women after the administration of the depot oestrogen ethinyloestradiol propanolsulphonate (EES). In the serum of 20 healthy women before and two times after oral EES application, 11 free and 14 taurine- and glycine-conjugated BA were analysed by HPLC with postcolumn derivatisation and fluorescence detection. EES significantly enhanced the total serum BA concentration and that of taurine-conjugated BAs, more pronounced the secondary BAs taurodeoxycholic, tauroursodeoxycholic and taurolithocholic acid. These secondary BAs are produced in the intestine by bacteria due to 7alpha-dehydroxylation of the primary BAs cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid. Because of unchanged free BAs, also produced by intestinal bacteria due to deconjugation, the results were interpreted as a sign of disturbed transport of BAs into the liver. Inhibition of the liver Na(+)-bile salt co-transporter (Ntcp) in the sinusoidal membrane by ethinyloestradiol, formed from the prodrug EES, may be responsible for the altered BA profile in serum.
PMID: 12877349
Res Microbiol. 2006 Nov;157(9):876-84
Effect of tea phenolics and their aromatic fecal bacterial metabolites on intestinal microbiota.
Lee HC, Jenner AM, Low CS, Lee YK.Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117597, Republic of Singapore.
Tea is rich in polyphenols and other phenolics that have been widely reported to have beneficial health effects. However, dietary polyphenols are not completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and are metabolized by the gut microflora so that they and their metabolites may accumulate to exert physiological effects. In this study, we investigated the influence of the phenolic components of a tea extract and their aromatic metabolites upon bacterial growth. Fecal homogenates containing bacteria significantly catalyzed tea phenolics, including epicatechin, catechin, 3-O-methyl gallic acid, gallic acid and caffeic acid to generate aromatic metabolites dependent on bacterial species. Different strains of intestinal bacteria had varying degrees of growth sensitivity to tea phenolics and metabolites. Growth of certain pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile and Bacteroides spp. was significantly repressed by tea phenolics and their derivatives, while commensal anaerobes like Clostridium spp., Bifidobacterium spp. and probiotics such as Lactobacillus sp. were less severely affected. This indicates that tea phenolics exert significant effects on the intestinal environment by modulation of the intestinal bacterial population, probably by acting as metabolic prebiotics. Our observations provide further evidence for the importance of colonic bacteria in the metabolism, absorption and potential activity of phenolics in human health and disease. The bioactivity of different phenolics may play an important role in the maintenance of gastrointestinal health.
PMID: 16962743
Nerissa
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Naturally lean women have it all
In (1) middle aged women who remain lean, as compared to those who do not, are reported to have a higher "female" estrogen to "male" androgen ratio. These women have a high activity of P450 aromatase which converts their androgens to estrogens. The study also reports that naturally lean women "indicated higher education and socioeconomic status, frequent sports activities, and better psychosocial adaptation and psychological health."
OTOH women who do not convert androgens well tend to become obese and unhealthy both physically and emotionally.
Not only do the naturally lean women have less androgen in their body but the receptors they have for androgen are less sensitive than the other women per the article. It appears that excessive activity of male androgens in a female are the kiss of death for her health.
Bonus health points to the women with active love lives. Semen has P450 aromatase in it (2). You can figure out how a woman might get more P450 aromatase activity in her body. :)
1. http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/reprint/10/2/115.pdf
The Lean Woman
Fariba Baghaei...
Obes Res. 2002;10: 115–121.
2. Hum Reprod. 2003 Aug;18(8):1650-9
Towards a physiological role for cytochrome P450 aromatase in ejaculated human sperm.
PMID: 12871877
Nerissa
OTOH women who do not convert androgens well tend to become obese and unhealthy both physically and emotionally.
Not only do the naturally lean women have less androgen in their body but the receptors they have for androgen are less sensitive than the other women per the article. It appears that excessive activity of male androgens in a female are the kiss of death for her health.
Bonus health points to the women with active love lives. Semen has P450 aromatase in it (2). You can figure out how a woman might get more P450 aromatase activity in her body. :)
1. http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/reprint/10/2/115.pdf
The Lean Woman
Fariba Baghaei...
Obes Res. 2002;10: 115–121.
2. Hum Reprod. 2003 Aug;18(8):1650-9
Towards a physiological role for cytochrome P450 aromatase in ejaculated human sperm.
PMID: 12871877
Nerissa
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Ladies: SAMe/whey or hot love making - you decide!
Hi everyone,
The male brain stinks! I'm not speaking figuratively. Males literally have brains that smell like rotten eggs. The rotten egg smell is hydrogen sulfide (H2S). (1) indicates that testosterone increases the production of H2S in the brain.
This topic is the most under-researched of any topic I've ever reviewed. We're talking Nobel prize winning material is still out there waiting to be studied. Brain H2S may account for many of the differences between men and women.
Yet, there is very little in the literature about the significance of this difference. But, from what little is available it appears that low H2S harms our ability to learn and makes us prone to depression. It also leads to a sensitivity to glutamate as in MSG which I've observed.
H2S may be elevated in the feminized brain by consuming more cysteine which is most available in undentatured whey protein. Cysteine will also elevate the level of glutathione in the brain leading to one having more psychological energy. Elevating glutathione is also useful for people with chronic fatigue (http://www.dfwcfids.org/medical/whey.html) and related problems like fibromyalgia. Warning - some sources mention a brief worsening of symptoms may happen after taking whey. Ride these through and whey may help.
Some companies selling "undenatured whey" products are misleading the public and are not doing so. Two undenatured whey products which appear to be legitimate are the following:
ProPeptide by CNP - available many places. http://www.affordablesupplements.com/propeptide.asp has a good price.
Beyond a Century brand - the 90% whey seems the best bang for our buck. See http://www.easycart.net/BeyondACenturyInc./Protein_Meal_Replacement.html .
A reputable health food store can provide similar products. I advise avoiding the health food chain stores due to the questionable quality of their products and lack of knowledge of their staffs.
H2S may also be increased by taking the natural anti-depressant S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe).
SAMe effects join my increasingly long list of female beneficial substances which involve semen. (3) points out that SAMe works in part by elevating spermidine and spermine in the brain. You can tell by the names of these compounds that they are associated with semen. Putrescine, also elevated by SAMe, is in semen also. So, semen provides all these beneficial compounds and elevates H2S too.
Research in this and other areas over-whelmingly supports my contention that biogals and male to female transsexuals on feminizing drug treatment function best if they have regular unprotected sex with men. Obviously, this only the case if we avoid catching a serious disease we'd be best off without.
(4) agrees with me about the value of semen when it comes to relieving depression. My contention is the woman who is not into having unprotected sex with men, or who couldn't get a man if she payed one, can compensate by taking SAMe and consuming undenatured whey protein.
1. J Neurochem. 2002 Oct;83(1):80-6 The production of hydrogen sulfide is regulated by testosterone and S-adenosyl-L-methionine in mouse brain. Eto K, Kimura H. National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is endogenously produced in the brain from L-cysteine by the enzyme cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) and functions as a neuromodulator in the brain. H2S selectively enhances NMDA receptor-mediated responses and alters hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). The production of H2S is regulated by Ca2+/calmodulin-mediated pathways and is enhanced in response to neuronal excitation. In addition to this fast regulation, we describe here a slower form of the regulation of H2S production by testosterone and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), a CBS activator. Endogenous H2S in the mouse brain increases after birth, reaches a maximum level at 8 weeks and then decreases. Female brain contains less H2S than male brain at each age. A single administration of testosterone to female mice increases the endogenous H2S and SAM, which reach levels similar to those of male mice. In contrast, castration of male mice decreases the levels of testosterone, SAM and H2S in the brain. Administration of SAM once a day for 3 days increases the brain H2S without significantly changing the testosterone level. These observations suggest that testosterone can regulate the brain H2S level via changing the level of SAM. PMID: 12358731
2. http://www.cassmd.com/library/SAMe.support.html SAMe for Depression...and Arthritis and Liver Support ... What is SAMe? SAMe, or s-adenosyl-methionine is a naturally occurring substance in the body, with the following uses:
It is used in the production of the feel-good neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers in the brain that mediate our mood. These include dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. ... SAMe has also been shown to protect the liver and body from the effects of excess and unbalanced estrogen levels, seen in some estrogen replacement therapy, oral contraceptive use, and premenstrual syndrome. ... SAMe's antidepressant activity may lead to the manic phase in individuals with bipolar (manic) depression.
3. Neuroreport. 2001 Dec 21;12(18):3939-42 Influence of SAMe on the modifications of brain polyamine levels in an animal model of depression. Genedani S, Saltini S, Benelli A, Filaferro M, Bertolini A. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41100 Modena, Italy. The mechanism(s) of the antidepressant activity of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) have not yet been elucidated. SAMe is essential for the synthesis of polyamines, which have a key role in protein synthesis, cell proliferation, and neuronal plasticity. On the other hand, accumulating data indicate that depression is associated with a reduction in regional brain volume and that antidepressants increase neurogenesis in defined brain regions and also influence neuronal plasticity. Here we show that in a validated rat model of depression (chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced anhedonia) there is a significant reduction of putrescine, spermidine and spermine in the hippocampus, and of only putrescine in the nucleus accumbens septi. SAMe, at a fully antidepressant dose (300 mg/kg i.m., daily for 7 days), completely restores the levels of putrescine in the nucleus accumbens, and restores in part the levels of both spermidine and spermine in the hippocampus. These results may suggest (i) a role for brain polyamines in depression and in reward processes, and (ii) that the antidepressant effect of SAMe may be due, at least in part, to a normalization of putrescine levels in the nucleus accumbens septi. PMID: 11742215
4. http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20021002-000009.html Crying Over Spilled Semen Why women who don't use condoms feel happier. By:Tiffany Kary The finding that women who do not use condoms during sex are less depressed and less likely to attempt suicide than are women who have sex with condoms and women who are not sexually active, leads one researcher to conclude that semen contains powerful—and potentially addictive—mood-altering chemicals.
Study author Gordon G. Gallup, Ph.D., a psychologist at the State University of New York in Albany, also found that women who routinely had intercourse without condoms became increasingly depressed as more time elapsed since their last sexual encounter. There was no such correlation for women whose partners regularly used condoms.
Nerissa
The male brain stinks! I'm not speaking figuratively. Males literally have brains that smell like rotten eggs. The rotten egg smell is hydrogen sulfide (H2S). (1) indicates that testosterone increases the production of H2S in the brain.
This topic is the most under-researched of any topic I've ever reviewed. We're talking Nobel prize winning material is still out there waiting to be studied. Brain H2S may account for many of the differences between men and women.
Yet, there is very little in the literature about the significance of this difference. But, from what little is available it appears that low H2S harms our ability to learn and makes us prone to depression. It also leads to a sensitivity to glutamate as in MSG which I've observed.
H2S may be elevated in the feminized brain by consuming more cysteine which is most available in undentatured whey protein. Cysteine will also elevate the level of glutathione in the brain leading to one having more psychological energy. Elevating glutathione is also useful for people with chronic fatigue (http://www.dfwcfids.org/medical/whey.html) and related problems like fibromyalgia. Warning - some sources mention a brief worsening of symptoms may happen after taking whey. Ride these through and whey may help.
Some companies selling "undenatured whey" products are misleading the public and are not doing so. Two undenatured whey products which appear to be legitimate are the following:
ProPeptide by CNP - available many places. http://www.affordablesupplements.com/propeptide.asp has a good price.
Beyond a Century brand - the 90% whey seems the best bang for our buck. See http://www.easycart.net/BeyondACenturyInc./Protein_Meal_Replacement.html .
A reputable health food store can provide similar products. I advise avoiding the health food chain stores due to the questionable quality of their products and lack of knowledge of their staffs.
H2S may also be increased by taking the natural anti-depressant S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe).
SAMe effects join my increasingly long list of female beneficial substances which involve semen. (3) points out that SAMe works in part by elevating spermidine and spermine in the brain. You can tell by the names of these compounds that they are associated with semen. Putrescine, also elevated by SAMe, is in semen also. So, semen provides all these beneficial compounds and elevates H2S too.
Research in this and other areas over-whelmingly supports my contention that biogals and male to female transsexuals on feminizing drug treatment function best if they have regular unprotected sex with men. Obviously, this only the case if we avoid catching a serious disease we'd be best off without.
(4) agrees with me about the value of semen when it comes to relieving depression. My contention is the woman who is not into having unprotected sex with men, or who couldn't get a man if she payed one, can compensate by taking SAMe and consuming undenatured whey protein.
1. J Neurochem. 2002 Oct;83(1):80-6 The production of hydrogen sulfide is regulated by testosterone and S-adenosyl-L-methionine in mouse brain. Eto K, Kimura H. National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is endogenously produced in the brain from L-cysteine by the enzyme cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) and functions as a neuromodulator in the brain. H2S selectively enhances NMDA receptor-mediated responses and alters hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). The production of H2S is regulated by Ca2+/calmodulin-mediated pathways and is enhanced in response to neuronal excitation. In addition to this fast regulation, we describe here a slower form of the regulation of H2S production by testosterone and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), a CBS activator. Endogenous H2S in the mouse brain increases after birth, reaches a maximum level at 8 weeks and then decreases. Female brain contains less H2S than male brain at each age. A single administration of testosterone to female mice increases the endogenous H2S and SAM, which reach levels similar to those of male mice. In contrast, castration of male mice decreases the levels of testosterone, SAM and H2S in the brain. Administration of SAM once a day for 3 days increases the brain H2S without significantly changing the testosterone level. These observations suggest that testosterone can regulate the brain H2S level via changing the level of SAM. PMID: 12358731
2. http://www.cassmd.com/library/SAMe.support.html SAMe for Depression...and Arthritis and Liver Support ... What is SAMe? SAMe, or s-adenosyl-methionine is a naturally occurring substance in the body, with the following uses:
It is used in the production of the feel-good neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers in the brain that mediate our mood. These include dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. ... SAMe has also been shown to protect the liver and body from the effects of excess and unbalanced estrogen levels, seen in some estrogen replacement therapy, oral contraceptive use, and premenstrual syndrome. ... SAMe's antidepressant activity may lead to the manic phase in individuals with bipolar (manic) depression.
3. Neuroreport. 2001 Dec 21;12(18):3939-42 Influence of SAMe on the modifications of brain polyamine levels in an animal model of depression. Genedani S, Saltini S, Benelli A, Filaferro M, Bertolini A. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41100 Modena, Italy. The mechanism(s) of the antidepressant activity of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) have not yet been elucidated. SAMe is essential for the synthesis of polyamines, which have a key role in protein synthesis, cell proliferation, and neuronal plasticity. On the other hand, accumulating data indicate that depression is associated with a reduction in regional brain volume and that antidepressants increase neurogenesis in defined brain regions and also influence neuronal plasticity. Here we show that in a validated rat model of depression (chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced anhedonia) there is a significant reduction of putrescine, spermidine and spermine in the hippocampus, and of only putrescine in the nucleus accumbens septi. SAMe, at a fully antidepressant dose (300 mg/kg i.m., daily for 7 days), completely restores the levels of putrescine in the nucleus accumbens, and restores in part the levels of both spermidine and spermine in the hippocampus. These results may suggest (i) a role for brain polyamines in depression and in reward processes, and (ii) that the antidepressant effect of SAMe may be due, at least in part, to a normalization of putrescine levels in the nucleus accumbens septi. PMID: 11742215
4. http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20021002-000009.html Crying Over Spilled Semen Why women who don't use condoms feel happier. By:Tiffany Kary The finding that women who do not use condoms during sex are less depressed and less likely to attempt suicide than are women who have sex with condoms and women who are not sexually active, leads one researcher to conclude that semen contains powerful—and potentially addictive—mood-altering chemicals.
Study author Gordon G. Gallup, Ph.D., a psychologist at the State University of New York in Albany, also found that women who routinely had intercourse without condoms became increasingly depressed as more time elapsed since their last sexual encounter. There was no such correlation for women whose partners regularly used condoms.
Nerissa
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Nerissa's Romantic Love Diet
The Romantic Love Diet (RLD) is the easiest way to practice calorie restriction. While possible for men it is much easier for women to the point that an alternative name for the diet is the Amazon Diet. Unfortunately that name is taken so the "Romantic Love Diet" will have to do.
To be fair using the term "my" with the RLD is a bit misleading. It turns out the RLD was perfected by a man well known to most of us - Jesus. Doubt this? When is the last time you ever saw a picture of a fat disciple?
Flashing back 2000 years see http://www.reuniting.info/node . Early Christianity encouraged nonsexual but sensuous relationships known as "agape." Agape is defined as "spiritual, selfless, chaste love."
http://www.reuniting.info/wisdom/agapetae goes into more detail. An agape type relationship was characterized by sensous activity such as sleeping together. It was non-sexual in the sense that the relationship did not lead to orgasm.
http://www.reuniting.info/wisdom/samael_aun_weor_sex_secret_gate_to_eden explains that this type of love has been encouraged by various religions over time.
Least you think I'm kidding you, to take this to the scientific plane consider http://www.reuniting.info/science/prolactin_sex_libido which points out that prolactin surges after having an orgasm. Bad news! This increases appetite leading to a tendency for weight gain.
However, sensous but non-orgasmic love increases dopamine which is a natural narcotic which lowers appetite. The RLD also encourages strong friendships even without the sensuality. As you can see from (1) modern research suggests that being in a sensous physical relationship (i.e. increases dopamine which is like morphine and which has the normal narcotic effect of lowering appetite immediately) leads to a long term increase in appetite BUT the desire for being sociable increases even more. Fullfilling that desire eliminates the long term appetite stimulation effects of sensous relationships.
So, how hard can my RLD be? Have a handful of physically sensous relationships that do not involve orgasms and a lot of close friends one socializes with regularly.
Of course if you know men you'll realize that a RLD is going to be difficult if they are on the receiving end of romance! Most men will not avoid trying to have sex with you for long!
So, a woman on the RLD is best off practicing agape type romance with other women. From http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb07/lovesnot.html we see that romantic partners best have the following qualities: "kindness, warmth, a sense of humor, sociability, trustworthiness and a stable personality."
Compare and make your own decision -
Tradional diet - count calories and exercise fanatically - FOREVER!
The Romantic Love Diet - have a few non-orgasmic yet physically sensous relationships with women who are kind, amusing, dependable, etc. and have a lot of close friends of both genders that one socializes with regularly.
Keep in mind that I've been in relationships like this with my transgendered and bisexual friends in Houston. These being the same friends who often smoke lots of pot while staying quite slim. The power of the lifestyle easily overcomes the appetite stimulating aspect of marijuana. How did the RLD work for me? I lost about 30 pounds without counting calories and with very little exercise.
1. Behav Brain Res.
2007 Apr 20
Prior morphine experience induces long-term increases in social interest and in appetitive behavior for natural reward.
Nocjar C, Panksepp J.
Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Brecksville, OH 44141, United States.
Brain opioids regulate social emotional responsivity. One neuro-evolutionary theory of addiction suggests that exogenous opiates may induce addiction via opioid-controlled emotional changes; with the drug eventually fulfilling the need for social comfort that is normally provided by endogenous opioids. This view predicts that past opiate experience may enduringly alter social responsivity. Although the acute social effects of opiates are well known, little evidence is available concerning the enduring effects of past opiate experience on social motivation aside from copulatory behaviors. This study evaluated the long-term effects of 10 daily morphine (10mg/kg/day) or saline injections on social and non-social motivated behaviors. Following 3 days or 2 weeks drug abstinence, social interest, food-seeking, and sexual pursuit were assessed. After 2-weeks opiate withdrawal, sexual pursuit and food-seeking behaviors were significantly increased. After a shorter 3-day withdrawal, these effects were not seen. Importantly, social interest was consistently magnified, even after short-term 3-day opiate withdrawal, and it was magnified more than sexual or food pursuit. These findings indicate that the incentive for social and non-social natural rewards were increased following withdrawal from intermittent opiate treatment, but that different morphine-induced neuroadaptations may regulate their expression.
PMID: 17512616
Nerissa
To be fair using the term "my" with the RLD is a bit misleading. It turns out the RLD was perfected by a man well known to most of us - Jesus. Doubt this? When is the last time you ever saw a picture of a fat disciple?
Flashing back 2000 years see http://www.reuniting.info/node . Early Christianity encouraged nonsexual but sensuous relationships known as "agape." Agape is defined as "spiritual, selfless, chaste love."
http://www.reuniting.info/wisdom/agapetae goes into more detail. An agape type relationship was characterized by sensous activity such as sleeping together. It was non-sexual in the sense that the relationship did not lead to orgasm.
http://www.reuniting.info/wisdom/samael_aun_weor_sex_secret_gate_to_eden explains that this type of love has been encouraged by various religions over time.
Least you think I'm kidding you, to take this to the scientific plane consider http://www.reuniting.info/science/prolactin_sex_libido which points out that prolactin surges after having an orgasm. Bad news! This increases appetite leading to a tendency for weight gain.
However, sensous but non-orgasmic love increases dopamine which is a natural narcotic which lowers appetite. The RLD also encourages strong friendships even without the sensuality. As you can see from (1) modern research suggests that being in a sensous physical relationship (i.e. increases dopamine which is like morphine and which has the normal narcotic effect of lowering appetite immediately) leads to a long term increase in appetite BUT the desire for being sociable increases even more. Fullfilling that desire eliminates the long term appetite stimulation effects of sensous relationships.
So, how hard can my RLD be? Have a handful of physically sensous relationships that do not involve orgasms and a lot of close friends one socializes with regularly.
Of course if you know men you'll realize that a RLD is going to be difficult if they are on the receiving end of romance! Most men will not avoid trying to have sex with you for long!
So, a woman on the RLD is best off practicing agape type romance with other women. From http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb07/lovesnot.html we see that romantic partners best have the following qualities: "kindness, warmth, a sense of humor, sociability, trustworthiness and a stable personality."
Compare and make your own decision -
Tradional diet - count calories and exercise fanatically - FOREVER!
The Romantic Love Diet - have a few non-orgasmic yet physically sensous relationships with women who are kind, amusing, dependable, etc. and have a lot of close friends of both genders that one socializes with regularly.
Keep in mind that I've been in relationships like this with my transgendered and bisexual friends in Houston. These being the same friends who often smoke lots of pot while staying quite slim. The power of the lifestyle easily overcomes the appetite stimulating aspect of marijuana. How did the RLD work for me? I lost about 30 pounds without counting calories and with very little exercise.
1. Behav Brain Res.
2007 Apr 20
Prior morphine experience induces long-term increases in social interest and in appetitive behavior for natural reward.
Nocjar C, Panksepp J.
Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Brecksville, OH 44141, United States.
Brain opioids regulate social emotional responsivity. One neuro-evolutionary theory of addiction suggests that exogenous opiates may induce addiction via opioid-controlled emotional changes; with the drug eventually fulfilling the need for social comfort that is normally provided by endogenous opioids. This view predicts that past opiate experience may enduringly alter social responsivity. Although the acute social effects of opiates are well known, little evidence is available concerning the enduring effects of past opiate experience on social motivation aside from copulatory behaviors. This study evaluated the long-term effects of 10 daily morphine (10mg/kg/day) or saline injections on social and non-social motivated behaviors. Following 3 days or 2 weeks drug abstinence, social interest, food-seeking, and sexual pursuit were assessed. After 2-weeks opiate withdrawal, sexual pursuit and food-seeking behaviors were significantly increased. After a shorter 3-day withdrawal, these effects were not seen. Importantly, social interest was consistently magnified, even after short-term 3-day opiate withdrawal, and it was magnified more than sexual or food pursuit. These findings indicate that the incentive for social and non-social natural rewards were increased following withdrawal from intermittent opiate treatment, but that different morphine-induced neuroadaptations may regulate their expression.
PMID: 17512616
Nerissa
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