讀後心得

After a busy day, many people want to indulge in some desserts to comfort themselves when they get home. However, Dr. Li Bo-Hsien warns that just five days of binge eating could affect metabolism in the brain and liver. According to a study from Germany, an experiment involving 29 young men showed that after consuming 1,500 calories of high-calorie snacks, there was a significant increase in liver fat, which affected insulin sensitivity in the brain, thereby interfering with appetite control and mood. To mitigate these effects, Li Bo-Hsien recommends avoiding frequent binge eating, choosing natural unprocessed foods, and maintaining exercise and good sleep.

After a busy workday, returning home often makes one want to enjoy some desserts or snacks to heal oneself. Many people believe that binge eating high-calorie junk food due to stress in the short term might only slightly increase their weight, and then it will be fine once they return to their normal diet. However, gastrointestinal and liver specialists remind us that the latest research shows that just 5 days of overeating can affect the functions of the "brain" and "liver metabolism". Moreover, even after returning to a normal diet, certain changes may persist.

The study pointed out that scientists from Germany invited 29 young healthy men to participate in the research, among which 18 were arranged to consume an additional 1500 calories of high-calorie ultra-processed snacks daily, such as chocolate bars, brownies, and potato chips, for 5 consecutive days, followed by a return to a normal diet for 7 days. The research results found that within just 5 days, liver fat significantly increased, and the brain's insulin sensitivity exhibited a phenomenon of "first increasing and then decreasing," while the brain's "reward and punishment system" was also affected.

The reason for this change lies in that the brain's insulin signaling not only affects blood sugar but also participates in appetite control, reward response, as well as learning and memory. When a large amount of high-calorie, fatty, and sugary foods is consumed in a short period, the brain's insulin response may become abnormal, leading to insulin resistance, affecting feelings of fullness and self-control, and potentially interfering with memory and emotional regulation. This results in a decreased pleasure from food, making it harder to feel satisfied and even increasing the desire to eat.

To minimize these effects, experts recommend avoiding continuous binge eating of junk food; occasional indulgence is fine, but it should not become a daily habit. It is advisable to choose more natural unprocessed foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins, to help the brain restore normal signaling. Additionally, regular exercise and getting enough sleep are also very important.