About a year ago I applied for a 'ghostwriter' job with a New York City based fitness website run by a well known Fitness Trainer who also blogs for the Huffington Post. The Huffington Post is the world's number 1 ranked bog site so if selected I would be part of an elite fitness company. The hiring coordinator liked my submitted blog samples and writing style.
She gave me the task of writing about something with this title;
"Oxylicious"The Oxytocin Cookbook that Makes You Lose Weight and be Happy. I am not a dietitian or nutritionist but I do believe in the health benefits of sensible eating habits. However I am not a big believer in magic super foods or heal - everything diets. My forte is to write about current sports conditioning or fitness training fads and facts with the occasional dart projected towards fitness phonies. This title would stretch me past my comfort level but I decided to go for it. Here is the article that I submitted.
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“OXYLICIOUS” - The
Oxytocin Cookbook that Makes You Lose Weight and Be Happy
Finally, we have
what you want. That dream ingredient that will lead to weight loss and happiness.
Unfortunately, there is a downside. Your teeth will fall out
and you will need to break into houses to support your habit. Oh, wait – my
mistake. That's Oxycontin, a much abused pharmaceutical painkiller
that is extremely addictive. Oxycontin is also known as
'Hillbilly Heroin' since it has been used by the low rental crowd as a
substitute for certain illegal narcotics. For that you need need to go to
the 'Breaking Bad' website. Hopefully you don't feel the need
to do that.
The substance that I
meant to discuss is Oxytocin. This
is also an extraordinary substance.
• Oxytocin
is a hormone that is produced by the Hypothalmus
• It
is secreted by the Posterior Pituitary Gland by way of neural stimulation.
• Oxytocin
is known as the 'cuddle hormone' and the 'happiness hormone' because it creates
feelings of intimacy, trust, bonding and supposedly fidelity. Could a shortage
of this hormone be a factor (or an excuse) for a cheating spouse?
• Oxytocin
may lessen the reaction of fear as a response to a threatening stimulus.
• Oxytocin
is released during childbirth to aid in the contraction of the uterus.
• This
hormone stimulates lactation after birth.
• Oxytocin
increases the bonding of a mother to her newborn. Could a lack of oxytocin
production be a factor in postpartum depression?
• Oxytocin
as a medication can be used during childbirth to induce greater contractions of
the uterus for problem births.
• Oxytocin
may have some anti-inflammatory properties and act as an agent in healing
wounds.
• This
hormone can increase arousal during orgasm!
It would seem as though Oxytocin is
something that is good to have in abundance. Why not
create a diet that will ensure a constant supply of this
happiness hormone? Hence my title
“Oxylicious – The Oxytocin Cookbook that Makes You Lose
Weight and be Happy”.
It would only make sense to eat foods that would keep this
chemical circulating throughout your body.
It sounds great, doesn't it? “What's for dinner? I want to
juice up the neurotransmitters of my brain.”
Now for the diet.
What are the best foods to increase my oxytocin levels? After much research I
then realized “Houston, we have a problem!” There are no foods that
contain oxytocin. There are also no known supplements that affect how much
oxytocin is released by the posterior pituitary gland.
As for weight loss, there has been no strong connection
proven between this hormone and weight loss.
It is also unknown and not yet proven as to whether or not
exercise has an effect on Oxytocin production.
“Why the misleading title?” you might ask. Well I
wanted to get the your attention before you
fall for one of the many extreme or crazy food fads that
are out there! People will try many useless and possibly dangerous diets in
the hopes of getting healthy, losing weight or to magically pump up some
naturally produced hormone.
However, all is
not lost! Even though foods do not
contain oxytocin, there still may be a way to modify the diet to affect
oxytocin secretion.
• Eating
enjoyable foods activates the vagal afferent nerves which stimulates the glands
to release oxytocin into the system. This would imply that the meal should be a
source of pleasure and joy. Some healthy foods such as Brussels Sprouts just
may not make the cut in this case.
• A
diet of bland, boring food may also fail to do the job. How many happy people
are there in jail?
•
Some people find eating junk food to be
pleasurable. Binge eating during depression could be a search for some
temporary oxytocin fix.
• There
is a possible link between a healthy gut environment and oxytocin secretion.
Could a diet that includes probiotics be a part of the link?
Ideally, you want to
find healthy foods that are also pleasurable to eat rather than eat fun junk
food to stimulate oxytocin production. Forget the food fads! Try this real 'Oxylicious
Diet'
•
Eat sensibly but strive for tasty meals.
•
Any
diet that is not enjoyable is not sustainable over time. It is doomed to fail!
• Many
effective diets allow for a 'cheat' day, usually a Sunday' in which you can eat
anything you want. This way you don't have to deprive yourself of family
gatherings and holiday feasts.
• Strive
for a variety of vegetables and fruits in each meal plan.
• Yogurt
helps gut chemistry which may have a connection to oxytocin release.
• Processed
food should be kept to a minimum.
• Snack
on veggies instead of chips and candies.
• Grandma's
cookies are allowed but only on occasion.
• If
you are dining on healthy but tasty cuisine, you will have higher oxytocin
levels and therefore less likely to binge eat on junk out of depression or
despondency.
• An
active lifestyle including exercise with lots of time spent in the great
outdoors is a necessary complement to the healthy eating if gradual weight
loss is also a goal.
There are some non
nutritional elements that can be used as seasoning. As stated earlier
neural stimulation also causes oxytocin to be release
into the system. This can be caused by some possible joy inducing events such
as:
1.
Hugging someone you love
2.
Cuddling someone
3.
Cuddling a pet animal
4.
Getting a massage
5.
Relaxing in a hot tub
6.
Being pregnant???? However the distress
of an unplanned pregnancy may cause stress that counteracts with the happiness
produced by the greater oxytocin release.
Could it also be possible that other positive actions such
as;
• Scoring
a goal in hockey or soccer
• A
super golf shot
• Someone
laughing at your jokes (I have trouble relating to this one. It rarely
happens)
• A
super muscle pump after a weight training set,
also cause oxytocin to be released and add to the good
feeling that results? As stated previously there has been no real scientific
evidence linking exercise to oxytocin release. However the joy of a successful
physical action could stimulate the release of this happiness hormone.
Yes, Oxylicious
does exist. However it is not a quick fix, extreme diet.
It is a lifestyle of eating well, eating food that tastes
good, and is best combined with an active lifestyle.
Oxylicious works best when seasoned with the company
of people that love and enjoy your company.
Living well is the best natural hormone.
References
1.
Exercise Physiology -Energy, Nutrition and
Human Performance 4th Edition McArdle, Katch, Katch 1966 William
and Wilkins
2.
Mind Boosters – A Guide to Natural
Supplements that Enhance Your Mind, Memory and Mood Ray Sahelian M.D. 2000 St. Martins Griffin
N.Y.
3.
Nutrient Power : Heal Your Biochemistry
and Heal Your Brain William J. Walsh PhD 2004 Skyhorse Publishing
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The hiring coordinator gave me positive feedback for the article but they never published it. It would have been my first paid work for them if they had. Since they didn't publish it, the article is now my property.
I think what froze my article was the obvious theme that I am a reluctant believer in super foods, fitness supplements and magic diets! I believe in sensible eating. Supplements are best used if the person has some condition that causes a deficiency of some vitamin, mineral or has a medically recognized food issue. Otherwise they can cause nutritional imbalances. There is also little scientific support for the concept of magic diets that cure certain ailments or eliminate baldness or attract the perfect mate. I wish that it were all true!
I do believe that we should eat sensibly, drink water and keep junk foods to a minimum without totally depriving ourselves. Some supplements such as creatine phosphate can aid in strength training but more protein powder than the body needs is counterproductive. There is little evidence of natural foods that boost our ability to produce hormones. Health and fitness is a marathon - not a sprint!
My reluctance to espouse the total power of the 'Oxylicious' diet may have been why my submitted article was left in the dust bin. The mandate of this company is more accommodating to the belief in super foods and supplements. It is also possible that they didn't like my attempt to interject some humor. Either way, we are probably unlikely collaborators.
Check out Ben Greenfield Fitness. They seem to have a pulse on the message that people want to hear. You can't argue with their success. You just probably won't read anything 'ghostly' from me.
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| Sensible diets are healthy but can they really manipulate hormone levels? |
Until next time.
Keep Fit
