That was always my challenge. Food was  my drug of choice.

Science says the #1 reason for this could be that our brain chemistry is whacked.  Another way to put it: we may have neurotransmitter deficiencies. Neurotransmitters control the electricity in the brain.

There’s lots of reasons for neurotransmitters not to work at an optimal level.  High stress, not enough sleep, too many processed foods, and too much sugar.( Sugar is one of the major stressors and it’s in everything -even bread- check out your bread label.)

This week in the Be Thin Within group we indicated, energetically, that ”dopamine” was our most stressed neurotransmitter. Here’s some info on how stress from a dopamine deficiency might effect your life. This is just the tip of the iceberg,  to get you thinking. Also, there’s no special order to the list.

Procrastination, remaining in abusive relationships, unkempt appearance, few close friends, forgets obligations, resents suggestions and/or authority, rejects help to avoid being a burden, feels undeserving, pessimistic, sabotages one’s own goals, turns down opportunities for pleasure.

Dopamine works like a natural amphetamine, so it’s  tied into addiction. There’s plenty of information  if you to go www.google.com or www.youtube.com  I saw an interesting video on compulsive gambling related to dopamine deficiency.

Also, dopamine is responsible for our metabolism, and the larger we get, the lower the number of dopamine receptors- in other words, the more our metabolism slows.

Finally, dopamine is responsible for “big belly fat”. That’s because when dopamine is low, cortisol takes its place. Cortisol is the back-up energy hormone. Unfortunately it’s also known as the obesity hormone.

Here are a few foods that help increase dopamine naturally. First of all, protein rich meats, poultry, and fish are rich in the amino acids that we need. Then cottage cheese, oat flakes, ricotta cheese, wheat germ, granola,and yogurt are recommended.

In the book  “Younger(Thinner) You” by Eric Braverman, he recommends eating plain yogurt every day. I’m doing this, and have gotten to enjoy it. It’s especially good mixed with granola (non-sugar). He also recommends drinking tea at every meal to raise dopamine level.

Some spices to boost dopamine are basil, bay leaves, black pepper, cayenne, cumin, fennel, flaxseed, garlic, ginger, mustard seed, rosemary, savory, sesame seeds, tarragon, and tumeric.

Bet if we started writing down what we really eat each day there wouldn’t be much real food at all.  That’s because when we’re deficient in dopamine we tend to choose high sugar, fast-digesting carbohydrate foods, trying to feel energized.

Just a small change, like drinking tea with every meal, or adding a couple of spices, can make a major difference.

Your brain may be crying for help. Can you hear it?  No? Well, the cry comes in the form of your excess weight.

If you are literally hearing your brain speak,  that’s another topic.

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