Health101.org
presents
Food
and Behavior
Book Review
by
Don Bennett, DAS
Can
what people eat really affect the way they behave? The evidence
says 'yes'. In the book Food and Behavior, author Barbara
Reed Stitt, a former Chief Probation Officer and creator of a nutritional
program that has helped thousands to lead healthy and productive
lives, shows the link between food and behavior.
The
connection between food and behavior is so basic that it is being
overlooked by parents, the school system, counselors, and most of
the medical professionals. Ask any hyperactive child, depressed,
angry teenager, violent adult, or criminal what they eat, and you'll
find they "live" on junk food sweetened boxed cereals, candy,
carbonated drinks, potato chips, and fast food. Junk food abuses
the mind, undernourishes the body, and negatively affects behavior.
Food
and Behavior is a book for people in trouble with their health
and behavior and for all of you who don't want members of
your family to get in trouble. Barbara's message is both enlightening
and encouraging.
Barbara
Reed Stitt worked with the municipal court as a probation officer
in Ohio for 20 years as Chief Probation Officer for 12 of
these years. The relationship of diet and behavior was carefully
studied. Over and over it became apparent that when the diet improved,
attitude, personal appearance, and self-esteem improved. Barbara's
years of experience with correcting behavior by correcting the diet
led her to seek higher education in nutrition. Her thesis on "The
Biochemistry of Crime" and dissertation on "Healing the Delinquent
Mind" helped earn her a Ph.D. in nutrition.
*
Scientific trials have shown that low levels of brain serotonin
are associated with higher levels of aggression, suicide and
homicide. While high levels of brain serotonin are associated
with increased feelings of peace and well being.
*
High-protein/low-carbohydrate intake is associated with significantly
lowered brain serotonin.
*
Low-protein/high-carbohydrate intake is associated with an
increase in brain serotonin. (When you eat
a "low protein" diet, you are reducing your intake
of animal products and thus reducing your intake of hormones,
which humans are not designed to consume. Hormones affect
behavior and also "feed" cancer.)
|
I
can personally attest to the effect "clean living" has
on ones emotional state. The Mind-Body Connection gets a lot of
press (how your emotional state can affect your physical health),
but the Body-Mind Connection has more of an effect on people than
you'd imagine (how your physical health affects your emotional wellbeing).
Living in harmony with Nature allows you to experience emotional
equanimity. The air smells sweeter, things look more beautiful,
and spontaneous joy becomes second nature. It becomes easier to
smile and easier to laugh. Little things that once aggravated you,
now don't. And you can appreciate the expression, "The Best
Things in Life Are Free". If you've been unknowingly abusing
your body for any length of time with a sub-par diet and lifestyle
practices such as not enough sleep/sunshine/water/exercise etc.,
this change in demeanor won't happen overnight. But it does happen,
and is something to look forward to.
Junk
Food Diets Promote Youth Violence and Aggression
The American Journal of Psychiatry has published a new study
connecting nutrient deficiencies to aggressive behavior in children.
Children who suffered deficiencies of zinc, iron, and B vitamins
demonstrated a surprising 41% increase in aggression at age
eight, and by age 17, they demonstrated a 51% increase in violent
and antisocial behaviors. The study noted that 80% of the U.S.
population now has deficiencies in one or more of these nutrients,
due in major part to increasing consumption of junk foods and
beverages. And since hormones affect behavior, this explains
why kids who are vegan (consume no animal products) tend to
be better behaved than their animal-eating counterparts. And
since dairy products contain casomorphine and grain products
contain opioids, kids who don't eat things like pizza are less
likely to suffer from behavioral disorders. Sorry Papa John's,
you can't argue with biology. |
To
read a great in-depth review of "Food and Behavior",
and for some related reading material, click here.
|