Apparently we don’t get heavy because of our stomach – it’s our brain chemistry. Stress alters the balance of neurotransmitters, or chemicals. in the brain.

If we really want to lose weight and keep it off, this is important information to have.

Each day this week I’m going to post some symptoms of gaba, serotonin, acetylcholine, or dopamine (neurotransmitter) deficiency and then some foods that might help balance this out. Most of the information is coming from Dr. Eric Braverman’s book, Younger (Thinner) You Diet. I highly recommend you get a copy of this book!

I’ve been changing my diet in very small ways in keeping with his suggestions, and my cravings for salty foods- crackers and cheese were my weakness- is gone!

Last week the most stressed neurotransmitter in the Be Thin Within group was GABA, so here’s some information.

Gaba is your brain’s calming agent. It’s your electrical “off” switch. (Remember, we’re electric)

Too little gaba can make you feel anxious, overwhelmed, unwell and even shaky. Migraines, mood swings, sleep problems, anxiety and panic attacks may all be related to gaba imbalance.

Gaba deficiency  can “warp” your recognition of the consequences of an action.  ( You know, when you eat certain foods even though you know you’ll feel sick later) . 

 Binge eating is linked to gaba deficiency.

Gaba boosting foods are complex, high-fiber carbohydrates

A few examples are beans, bran, brown rice, lentils, oatmeal, root vegetables, or sweet potatoes.

Also high vitamin B foods boost gaba- bananas, liver, beets, broccoli, cantaloupe, figs, grapefruit, halibut, kale, nuts, oranges, spinach.

Dr. Braverman also says that spices are powerful neurotransmitter balancing agents, and that we should carry them with us so that even if we eat out we can add them to our food.( he suggests 3 spices with each meal.) Some gaba boosting spices are caraway, cardamom, cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, lemongrass, oregano, paprika and poppy seeds.

Am on my way now for my favorite Sunday morning biscuit.  At least I eat at the health food store and they say the biscuit is organic. Whatever. Who knows, maybe down the line I won’t want that biscuit, but I enjoy it so much! That has to be stress management, right?

 Anyway, I’ll stock up on a few recommended foods for the rest of the week  to balance our my personal neurotransmitter deficiency- which is not gaba but another one. More on that another day.

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