Summary: Running is known
to have many benefits on one’s health.
For example, it reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart
disease. It can also help the dorsolateral
prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) which is the part of the brain that controls thoughts
and actions. A recent study was done in to
test what the DLPFC was used for. The
result was people had more cravings for unhealthy foods when it wasn’t working
properly. Therefore, if running helps
the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex function, then it also stops cravings for
junk food.
Connection with Health Class: This article ties together the brain and
nutrition. It explains how each part of
the brain has a function. One of the
functions of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is to tell the body what it
should eat and depending on how well that part of the brain is working, we eat
different things.
Discussion Questions: Do you feel drawn
to certain foods after exercising? Do you always eat the same things to
replenish your energy? Do you think the
dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may have more than one function?
On a personal basis, I don't feel drawn to any foods after exercise of any sort. I tend to feel exhausted and a yearning for water, but not anything else. I usually eat around the same style of food, not the same thing exactly, and the variety works pretty well with replenishing my energy. Perhaps the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may also control cravings in general?
ReplyDeleteAfter exercising, I tend to indulge myself in unhealthy foods. I will eat very sugary items, like ice cream or cookies. I do not eat the same things to replenish my energy. If I intend to exercise or use my energy for anything later in the day, I will eat healthier. For example, I will eat a banana or drink some water or Gatorade before I exercise.
ReplyDeleteAfter water polo, I don't really care what food I eat, as long as I like it. My main things is that I just need /something/. That's why I usually have something like snap pea crisps, where you don't really need to think about eating it, if that makes sense, or you can eat almost as much as you want.
ReplyDeleteI experience the same thing, I have to eat but don't mind what it is. Usually I have starch, like leftover pasta or rice from the night before, I think this was an interesting article because it shows that we are still learning things about the brain.
ReplyDelete