Friday, February 1, 2008

Keeping blood sugar in control by chewing and spitting

Let's admit it: dieting, starvation and anorexia makes it hard to think and concentrate.
My brain would do a lot better if it was fed consistent but small amounts of carbohydrates, because the brain runs on glucose (end product of carbohydrates) only. Eating protein or fat won't help you think - at least not productive, non-food related thoughts.

Why not just spend some of my day's calorie budget on carbohydrates, you might ask? Any dieter or anorexic can tell you that eating carbs makes you vulnerable to uncontrollable binges, especially on more carbs. My fear for carbohydrates goes beyond its calorie value itself.

Ever since I started chewing and spitting bread or crackers, I've notice my brain can work very efficiently. This is a really great thing, because finally I can read, study, think critically... and actually be a useful person thinking useful thoughts without being distracted by useless thoughts of food, or just plain old hunger. I've figured out why: tiny doses of carbohydrate are being eaten during chewing and spitting. It's never enough to gain weight (at least not for me, because I chew and spit as a form of meal replacement whenever I can), yet my taste buds feels satisfied, my stomach feels satisfied - a nice "empty and flat" stomach yet not feeling hungry, and best of all, I feel almost like a normal person, being able to use my brain for some good. Chewing and spitting actually dulls food cravings.

Right now I'm looking over some particularly complex data (I started graduate school in clinical sciences research!) and chewing and spitting. How wonderful it is!