Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/U5Y1T5rCICY   Pulling that all-nighter test cramming or finishing your PowerPoint will drive you to those chips, cookies, and donuts.  Neurologists at Northwestern University studied 29 subjects and their food choices after only 4 hours of sleep versus a complete night’s rest.   The studies showed that sleep-deprived persons craved energy dense foods chock full of carbs and fats.  Blood tests showed they had higher levels of the endocannabinoid 2-OG, and MRI imaging showed reduced connectivity to the brain’s smell center.  This combination leads to a desire for strongly sweet flavored foods yet a reduced sense of feeling full after eating.   If you are low on sleep, realize your brain’s faulty willpower and avoid those convenience stores.   Surabhi Bhutani, James D Howard, Rachel Reynolds, Phyllis C Zee, Jay Gottfried, Thorsten Kahnt. Olfactory connectivity mediates sleep-dependent food choices in humans. eLife, 2019; 8 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.49053   #Carbs #fats #sleep