讀後心得

After a busy day, many people head home craving dessert to relax. Dr. Li Bo-Hsien warns that according to research, five days of binge eating may affect the metabolism of the brain and liver, and certain effects may persist even after returning to a normal diet. Studies indicate that the consumption of high-calorie foods can lead to an increase in liver fat and abnormal insulin responses in the brain, which may impact appetite and memory. Therefore, Li Bo-Hsien suggests occasional indulgence, but recommends choosing natural, unprocessed foods, and maintaining regular exercise and adequate sleep to restore normal conditions.

After a busy day, people always want to enjoy some desserts or snacks to heal themselves when they return home. Many believe that due to high stress, consuming large amounts of high-calorie junk food in a short period will only slightly increase weight, and then returning to a normal diet will put them back on track. However, gastroenterologists point out that recent research shows that just five days of binge eating can affect the functions of the "brain" and "liver metabolism," and that certain changes may persist even after returning to a normal diet.

Researchers invited 29 young healthy men to participate in the experiment, with 18 assigned to consume an extra 1500 calories of high-calorie ultra-processed foods, such as chocolate bars, brownies, and potato chips, daily for five consecutive days, followed by a return to normal eating for seven days. The results indicated a significant increase in liver fat within just five days, the insulin sensitivity in the brain exhibited a "rise and then fall" change, and the brain's "reward and punishment system" was also affected.

Why do these changes occur? Doctors explain that insulin signals in the brain not only influence blood sugar but also play a role in appetite control, reward responses, and learning and memory. When consuming large amounts of high-calorie fats and sugars, the brain's insulin response may become abnormal, reducing sensitivity to satiety, affecting self-control, and interfering with memory and emotional regulation, ultimately leading to reduced pleasure from food and making it harder to feel satisfied or more inclined to eat.

As for how to mitigate these effects to save the brain and metabolism, doctors recommend avoiding frequent binge eating of junk food. Occasional indulgence is fine but should not become a daily habit. One should choose more natural, unprocessed foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and proteins to help the brain restore its normal signals, along with maintaining regular exercise and adequate sleep.