In my new book Change Your Brain, Change Your Body I write about how your brain affects your weight. When I asked you to send me your questions about the brain and weight loss so I could answer them in a video post, you sent me more than 500 questions. I have decided to do a whole series of videos to answer as many of them as I can.
I have spent a lot of time going through your questions and found that many of them deal with food cravings, sugar cravings, salt cravings and how to control them. Because you asked so many questions about cravings, I decided to give you two videos with my answers. Here is Video #1. Be sure to check back next week when I will be showing you Video #2.
UPDATE: Part 2 of Controlling Your Food Cravings is now available
If you are having trouble seeing the video, please watch 6 Tips to Control Your Food Cravings directly on YouTube.
Please share your experiences in the comments.
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Question for Dr. Amen;
I completed chemotherapy in 2008 for colon cancer and am experiencing a substantial increase in short term memory loss. What can I do to regain my memory? Thank you
Ron V
Can you recommend a colleague in South Jersey that has a practice as yours?
Thank you Dr. Amen. Great information. I’ll be posting your video on my blog and sending my readers to yours!
I have worked with this for years. I have kept 70 pounds off for 20 years. I find Magnesium helps with chocolate cravings. About 400 mg a day unless the bowel tolerates a little more.
Hi, Dr. Amen,
I’ve identified over time what I’m really craving when I crave some unhealthy choices. Often I just need water! Current favorite flavoring is nettle/spearmint tea, cold or hot as preferred. For me, salt is a common desire, and when I crave salt, I figure I’m low on minerals (yes, I probably had adrenal fatigue a while back, for most of a year). Love those salt alternatives made from dried and ground veggies! I like seaweed so I eat more seaweed, parsley (blender drink with apple and citrus), take supplements and so on. I’ve learned to recognize when I am craving oil or fat rather than just craving fast foods, so have healthy oils and fats when I want them (flax seed oil on salads, avo, nut butters). When I crave sugar, I’m probably low on sleep and/or B vitamins. When i get sad or overwhelmed/depressed briefly, most likely blood sugar is low, I forgot to eat. Carry some nuts and dried fruit in my bag or purse. Sometimes, in NW winters, I cheer up by taking a bit more vit D. now if I can just quit coffee…a mentor suggested capsules of cayenne and ginger with breakfast…does seem to have help with mental clarity that is also very calming/balancing. She told me later that one stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, the other the parasympathetic system. Have you ever heard of research on this? (Duh, I should ask for her sources). Oh, here’s a treat at our house…mix plain yogurt with a little berry jam or flavoring of your choice, serve in ice cream cones. Another is to mix psyllium seed powder in a glass with part juice, part water; wait five minutes and eat with a spoon for a jello-type texture and coolness. experiment for your favorite thickness.
I stopped drinking in 1988 and immediately lost 25 lbs. I was told that when alcohol reaches the stomach it combines with the hydrochoric acid in the stomach and becomes sugar and makes people fat. Hence, the term: “beer belly.” Why don’t you mention to stop drinking alcoholic beverages as a good way to lose weight? Dr. Oz never mentions it either. Also, after I stopped drinking, my colesterol dropped back to normal. The Dr. told me it was because my liver was now working correctly and removing the colesterol. Before, while I was drinking, my liver spent all its effort removing the alcohol and didn’t have time to remove the colesterol, my doctor told me.
DR. Amen…..My name is Daniel, I just turned thirty years old…and my life is a mess! I have been wanting to get treatment from one of your centers since I saw you on the public broadcast station in New Jersey two years ago. I received some information about the clinics and pricing …but even now after two years I still can’t afford to have myself admitted. All Of my life since child hood I realized I have been suffering with anxiety problems ….mainly social…This led to a very rough adolescents….a lot of pear problems ….in a nut shell this also led to heavy alcohol use and some drug use over the years….and I am still battling these deamons on occasion. I don’t want to live this way anymore……the reason I think you could help me more than anyone else is that even with all these other problems aside I always felt like something was missing in me ….like apart of my brain wasn’t working correctly. I have a lot of different talents….I’ve taught myself to play instruments…..I am an artist…..I am or was almost a professional pool player…and even though I am very good at these things and know I am something always stopped me from excelling …at any of these arts..stopped me from going to the next level like there was some sort of block. Sometimes I feel very smart and clear in thought, but most of the time I am very clouded and can’t focus or concentrate ..I feel like a part of my brain is either overworking…or perhaps not working hard enough!!!I am afraid that I will never live a normal life and the years are passing by quickly..and I haven’t accomplished anything yet. I know for a fact that I have some sort of an imbalance ….and I need help. So my question to you is ..where do you find your patients to do your studies on …and if it is at all possible I would like to volunteer in order to have treatment at your clinic…If some kind of an arrangement can be made I would be eternally grateful to you and your staff!! One of my sisters is in the medical field working with Cancer patients..she is a PET technician…and If I am not mistaken that is the type of scan you use to see what parts of the brain are working correctly and what parts are now…If I was told what type of scan I need for you to make a diagnosis maybe I could have that do here and bring the results…I’m only mentioning this to perhaps save time or money I don’t have or anything to make it easier for you.. to be able to help me….I would appreciate any feed back that is possible!!! Thank You, and with Hope, Daniel R Santosusso
Mention was made that for people who are unknowingly gluten intolerant consuming gluten can reduce blood flow to the brain and thus to poor decision making. Would this poor decision making extend beyond food cravings to other aspects of life?
I most certainly agree with you. I learn from experience as I use myself as the guinea pig. Before telling other people, I always try things myself first. That way I can have ideas on what to advice others when problem arise.
Pleased to know you dr. Amen. I would like to hear more.
What is amazing to me is how familiar these stories were to me from this video. It’s almost as if I could have written them myself. I have fought overweight all my life and have kept my weight down but now that I am in my 50’s I seem to be losing the battle-the same things I used in the past no longer work. Is there some chemical loss associated with aging that would affect the ability to lose weight? I know the metabolism slows down but I am seeing not only more weight, but also weight redistribution that is very upsetting to me and my health. Would hormone replacement help?
Thank you so much for providing excellent information in regard to choices an individual can make dealing with food cravings. Understanding some of the physiological reasons behind food cravings can provide another avenue of learning for everyone.
Thanks, Katharine T. O., M.A.
If we should stay away from table salt and use sea salt, where can we get our iodine and if we need to have it, why?
Don’t be embarrassed, but I love you Dr. Amen! Such great information, you are a boon to all.
How wonderful to open this email and discover your video! Many thanks. I look forward to future talks.
Hi
I have been eagerly awaiting Dr Amen’s video… but I don’t seem to be able to get it to open. I’ve tried several times but still no video. Is there an alternative way to access it/ I am hoping that he will address “stress eating” as well as cravings. Thanks, Penny
Dr. Amen thank you so much for this recent email. I eagerly await your missives and books, reading every one and doing my best to put into practice the gems you offer.
I found most interesting the information about food allergies=slowing blood flow=poor decisions.
I believe I have sensitivities to wheat/gluten and will certainly be more vigilant in avoiding these substances.
Once again, thank you.
Hi, you are right also going to a complusive Overeaters Anonymous Meeting with your suppliments also help a a person who has a complsive problem or challenge, they face every day. They have an anonymouse sponcer who takes them away from Foods that cause over eating just like yo say. Adding your supplements will be another way to jelp them. They want better seitone levels. They do not want to take a medication that causes them to have side effects that they have to take more medication for the side effects.
And some even cause heart attacks.
Would you consider doing a video or quesiton answer session on insomnia? It seems so prevelant these days.
Also, would love to get a brain scan done Is there anything comprable to your clinic in Colorado, preferably with a collegue of yours? You have helped me so much from your video, PBS and books I’ve read of yours.
Dr Amen, my three year old wakes up craving sugar, heavy sugar. Why? And what can you suggest.
I have Sleep Apnea. Itf not treated it can lead to your death via a heart attack . It causes many other problems . U can be misdiagnosed and told u r depressed etc. I have it and it drives me crazy especially getting on the right setting
Regarding Chemo and memory loss–Brain Gym by the Dennisons is a great little book that may very possibly help us avoid Alzheimers among other things! I use it in my Special Education classroom every day–it helps my students think more clearly. It increases their levels of thinking and logic!
How much saffron do you recomend as a supplement?
I have been working out so hard, but yesterday I weighed myself on the scale and it said that I gained 20 pounds!? Can you believe it? HELP ME!!!!
I am a little confused. You said we should get rid of artificial sweeteners because they trick the brain. Yet, there is mention of Stevia as an alternative. Even though it is plant based it has zero calories. Won’t this effectively be doing the same thing Aspartame does?