"I'm So Effing Hungry: Why We Crave What We Crave — and What to Do About It" by Amy Shah
Nov 14, 2023
11:37
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Dr. Amy Shah, a scientist specializing in health and cravings, discusses understanding and controlling cravings, including the role of dopamine and the influence of gut bacteria on cravings and behavior. She also explains the power of gut bacteria in changing cravings, happiness, and decision-making, and introduces the concept of psychobiotics to alter the gut microbiome for mental state and behavior influence.
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Quick takeaways
Cravings are driven by dopamine, a neurochemical produced in the gut, and can be retrained based on diet and actions.
Gut bacteria have the ability to hijack our brain, but can be positively transformed through a healthy diet and outdoor activities.
Deep dives
Understanding and Controlling Cravings
In her book, 'I'm So Effing Hungry', Dr. Amy Shaw explores the reasons behind our cravings and how to manage them. She shares her personal journey with her family's struggle with type 2 diabetes and explains how cravings are driven by dopamine, a neurochemical produced in the gut. Dr. Shaw emphasizes that we can retrain our cravings based on our diet and actions, leading to greater satisfaction, happiness, and control over our behavior.
The Power of the Gut Microbiome
Dr. Shaw highlights the significant role of gut bacteria in influencing our cravings and overall well-being. She reveals that gut bacteria have the ability to hijack our brain, creating peptides and chemicals that override our own craving signals and happiness chemicals. However, Dr. Shaw explains that we can positively transform our gut microbiome within just three days by adopting a healthy diet rich in unprocessed vegetables. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of exercises, especially outdoor activities, in promoting the production of anti-inflammatory compounds by gut bacteria, benefiting our mood, cravings, and overall health.