Endorphins & Food Cravings

Our bodies produce thousands of chemicals that control impulses necessary for everyday function and sensory navigation. Endorphins, a multi-functional chemical, are emitted to counteract and deal with sensations by transmitting electrical impulses through the body to the nervous system. One of their duties is to help combat pain, much in the same way as morphine or codeine does. Endorphins are also responsible for producing the euphoric feeling one usually experiences after sex, or after an intense work out (often referred to as “runners-high”). Rigorous work outs not only keep us in shape, but also decrease our stress level due to the endorphins released into the body during the exercise. Other ways to trigger the release of these hormones is through the practice of meditation, acupuncture, and massage therapy.

Food and Endorphins
Certain foods have a direct effect on one’s mood. Like exercise and meditation, food such as cookies, cake, chocolate, candy (known as pleasure foods) can bring a person out of the worst mood. This occurrence is not simply due to the delightful sensation of dessert on the tongue together with the awakening of our taste buds. It is largely due to the chemical reaction that occurs in our brain when we eat sugar. The signal causes the body to release endorphins and dopamine giving the consumer a sense of exhilaration, otherwise known as a “sugar rush”. The addiction felt by those who eat these types of foods regularly is the result of the body craving not only the sugar, but also the wonderful euphoric feeling that is brought on by the brain’s reaction to the sugar being consumed.
Low endorphin levels make us crave fatty foods and or sweet foods.
High concentrations of endorphins in the brain produce a sense of euphoria, enhance pleasure, and suppress pain, both emotionally and physically. When endorphins are low, people feel anxious; they are also more aware of pain. They have an appetite for fat and fatty foods, such as fries, cheese, creamy sauces, margarine, butter, fried chicken, potato chips, and chocolate, to name some of the most popular examples. Upon eating some fat, they will notice a change in mood, feeling more pleasure. This feeling is related to a higher concentration of endorphin. Exercise, by releasing fat from within the body, raises endorphins and causes the same mood changes.

When we have cravings for potato chips and chocolate, it may mean that we need an endorphin pill rather than all the empty calories from chips. Well, there’s a problem. We don’t have an endorphin pill. But we have something even better; knowledge of how to deal with these specific types of cravings.
Low serotonin levels make us crave sugar

Similarly, another hormone, serotonin and sometimes Dopamine makes us feel calm, poised, confident, and relaxed. When our serotonin/dopamine levels are low, we feel nervous, irritable and stressed. We don’t crave fat, now we crave sugar.

When we have cravings for sugar, we can use frozen yogurt or popcorn may help raise serotonin/dopamine levels with far less calories.
Low dopamine make us feel foggy. Mentally “foggy” at times? This just may be caused by low dopamine levels. When we don’t get adequate protein, dopamine levels drop and this makes us mentally sluggish. When we feel mentally sluggish, we crave sugar and fat.

The best way to raise dopamine levels, get plenty of lean protein in you diet, with moderate fat and carbohydrates
It’s a mistake to think that exercising without adequate carbs in your system will help you lose body fat.

Many people mistakenly believe that if they limit their carbohydrate intake, and then exercise, their body fat will be broken down. What happens, in fact, is that they are lowering their capacity to burn fat, and will lower their metabolism. The reason for this is that the body will break down muscle to form carbohydrate. In addition, the muscle breakdown raises stress hormone levels and causes carbohydrate cravings.

Studies show that gluten contains certain proteins called opioid peptides or “exorphins.” And just like opium, these peptides can interfere with brain function. Also, in sensitive people, gluten causes inflammation, which also can irritate the brain and cause it to malfunction. But as the results of this study show, the brain fog that gluten causes does not actually damage the brain. All you have to do is to stop eating gluten and you’re good as gold.
As one of the authors of the study put it, “People who promote an anti-grain or anti-gluten agenda sometimes cite our work in celiac disease, drawing far-ranging conclusions that extend well beyond evidence-based medicine. We know brain fog’ is a serious symptom commonly reported by our patients, and it’s understandable that people have been worried about a possible connection to dementia. Fortunately, our work with Dr. Ludvigsson provides concrete evidence that this particular worry can be laid to rest.”
So if you’re suffering from the symptoms of brain fog, it’s not a bad idea to stop eating gluten for a month to see if the symptoms get better

Dr. George Grant, Ph.D. | LinkedIn
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/academyofwellness
View Dr. George Grant, Ph.D.’s professional profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is … Research related to Beta Endorphins, Stress Management, Biofeedback. Authors:.
About Prof. Dr. George Grant [The Caring Doctor/Teacher …
www.academyofwellness.com/about
He pioneered the research on Beta Endorphins at the faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sask. in 1981. Dr. Grant organized and presented at the International …
Endorphins & Integrative Medicine
www.selfgrowth.com … Medical Advice and Resources
Dr. George Grant participated in early research[1981] in isolating Beta Endorphins in neonates at the faculty pharmacy, University of Sask. and the neonatal unit …
Academy of Wellness[ www.academyofwellness.com]
https://www.facebook.com/academyofwellness/info
Dr. George Grant ~ Proper nutrition and a… … He pioneered the research on Beta Endorphins at the faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sask. in 1981. Dr. Grant …
Beta Endorphins & Wellness
medcraveonline.com/MOJCR/MOJCR-02-00033.php
Jul 30, 2015 – Citation: Grant G (2015) Beta Endorphins & Wellness. … different endorphins with possible benefits and uses that researchers are investigating.

Mediation of β‐endorphin in exercise‐induced improvement in insulin resistance in obese Zucker rats

CF Su, YY Chang, HH Pai, IM Liu… – … research and reviews, 2005 – Wiley Online LibraryBackground Aerobic exercise including treadmill running has long been used to
successfully treat and/or prevent insulin resistance and type‐2 diabetes. Increase of plasma
β‐endorphin is observed with exercise. The present study was designed to clarify the role of …Cited by 47Related articlesAll 8 versions

Infusion of β–endorphin improves insulin resistance in fructose-fed rats

CF Su, YY Chang, HH Pai, IM Liu… – Hormone and …, 2004 – thieme-connect.comIn an attempt to probe the effect of β–endorphin on insulin resistance, we used Wistar rats
that were fed fructose-rich chow to induce insulin resistance. Insulin action on glucose
disposal rate (GDR) was measured using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp …Cited by 31Related articlesAll 4 versions[PDF] hindawi.com

Myricetin ameliorates defective post-receptor insulin signaling via β–endorphin signaling in the skeletal muscles of fructose-fed rats

TF Tzeng, SS Liou, IM Liu – Evidence-Based Complementary and …, 2011 – hindawi.com… View at PubMed · View at Scopus; CF Su, YY Chang, HH Pai, IM Liu, CY Lo, and JT Cheng,
“Mediation of beta–endorphin in exercise … C.-F. Su, Y.-Y. Chang, H.-H. Pai, I.-M. Liu, C.-Y. Lo, and
J.-T. Cheng, “Infusion of β–endorphin improves insulinresistance in fructose-fed …Cited by 36Related articlesAll 13 versions

Metformin increases insulin sensitivity and plasma β–endorphin in human subjects

HY Ou, JT Cheng, EH Yu, TJ Wu – Hormone and metabolic …, 2006 – thieme-connect.com… Y Y, Pai H H, Liu I M, Lo C Y, Cheng J T. Infusion of β–endorphin improves insulin … Y Y, Pai H H,
Liu I M, Lo C Y, Cheng J T. Mediation of beta–endorphin in exercise … Rudenski A S, Naylor B A,
Treacher D F, Turner R C. Homeostasis model assessment: insulinresistance and betaCited by 36Related articlesAll 6 versions

Insulin, C-peptide, androgens, and beta–endorphin response to oral glucose in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

G Tropeano, A Lucisano, I Liberale… – The Journal of …, 1994 – academic.oup.com… based on the observation of elevated fasting and glucose-stimulated P-endorphin (PEP) levels …
a glucose challenge would allow us to document and quantitate insulinresistance and that …
associated with an increase in androgens and PEP levels in insulin–resistant women with …Cited by 39Related articlesAll 7 versions

Reduction of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance by opiate receptor blockade in the polycystic ovary syndrome with acanthosis nigricans

JR GIVENS, BR KURTZ, AE KITABCHI… – The Journal of …, 1987 – academic.oup.com… (8) sug- gested that the hyperglycemic action of endorphins is mediated at … J Clin Endocrinol Metab
52:592 8. Feldman M, Riser RS, Unger RH, Li CH 1983 Beta–endorphin and the … Aleem FA,
Mclntosh T 1984 Elevated plasma levels of/8-endorphin in a group of women with …Cited by 48Related articlesAll 5 versions[HTML] fertstert.org

Insulin resistance influences central opioid activity in polycystic ovary syndrome

A Berent-Spillson, T Love, R Pop-Busui, MF Sowers… – Fertility and sterility, 2011 – Elsevier… emission tomography. glucose regulation. μ-opioid receptors. neuroimaging. β–endorphins. PCOS.
insulin … are expressed in proopiomelanocortin-containing neurons, the precursor of β–endorphin
RC TurnerHomeostasis model assessment: insulinresistance and beta-cell function …Cited by 13Related articlesAll 16 versions

Opioid μ-receptors as new target for insulin resistance

KC Cheng, A Asakawa, YX Li, IM Liu, H Amitani… – Pharmacology & …, 2013 – Elsevier… of insulinresistance was associated with an elevation of circulating β–endorphin to ameliorate
the post-receptor insulin signaling cascade, including downstream effectors of the
phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) signaling pathway. In insulinresistant rats, Loperamide …Cited by 17Related articlesAll 8 versions

Activation of I2-imidazoline receptors by agmatine improved insulin sensitivity through two mechanisms in type-2 diabetic rats

CH Su, IM Liu, HH Chung, JT Cheng – Neuroscience letters, 2009 – Elsevier… oxidase and the I 3 -imidazoline receptor which regulates insulin secretion from pancreatic beta
cells [9 … Otherwise, it has been shown that β–endorphin possess the ability to reverse the impaired
insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in rats with insulinresistance [16], [17] …Cited by 45Related articlesAll 8 versions

Body fat distribution, insulin resistance, and metabolic diseases

PER Björntorp – Nutrition, 1997 – Elsevier… P BjörntorpFatty acids, hyperinsulinemia and insulinresistance: which comes first … Vague, P Vague,
J Boyer, MC CloixAnthropometry of obesity, diabetes, adrenal and beta-cell functions … R Pasquali,
F Casimirri, S Cantobelli, et al.β–endorphin response to exogenous corticotropin …Cited by 578Related articlesAll 8 versi