This is a pet theory of mine. That, vastly simplifying, our bodies try to make us eat until we have a sufficient amount of whatever number of elements they need to function. The more varied you eat, the less you need to eat, conversely, the more homogeneous your sources of food (bread, rice...), the more you'll need to eat to try to get what is hardly there.
I have no idea whether this idea is mainstream between researchers but it always seemed to me as feasible as a satiety mechanism as just counting calories, and it explained quite well the observations I've made about myself. Anybody here could point to the current state of the art in the field ?
This is a really interesting idea, but I think equally valid is the notion that a hunter gatherer really is only seeking out short term gain. I think people are very drawn towards immediate, stark energy, which is why sugar and simple carbs are such an epidemic. Overeating seems like a byproduct of avoiding scarcity.
I definitely believe that people crave certain things given certain nutritional deficiencies, though.
* Your stomach contains a functional brain with ~25% of the neurons of the one in your head * Gut microbiomes have widespread impact on physical and mental health
We need ~20 amino acids and some micro-nutrients to meet our nutrition needs (to our current knowledge). The microbiome adapts to break down different food sources into these nutrients and the body will adapt if it lacks certain nutrients but functionally wont work as well.
The idea that there's a signaling mechanism between all of these systems to encourage the right type of consumption is rationally sound.
"The enteric nervous system in humans consists of some 500 million neurons[6] (including the various types of Dogiel cells),[1][7] one two-hundredth of the number of neurons in the brain, five times as many as the one hundred million neurons in the human spinal cord,[8] and about 2/3 as many as in the whole nervous system of a cat."[1]
I'm on board with this pet theory too. For example, we know that the micronutrient Chromium is required in the range of 50 - 200 micrograms per day, and that it is essential for sugar and fat metabolism and that most people ingest less than 60% of the minimum recommended (less than 50mcg) per day.[2]
It makes sense to me that the body would induce hunger in an effort to take in enough food to meet a micronutrient deficiency > that this mechanism is derailed by the SAD (Standard Affluent Diet) > a negative feedback loop is induced.
The fasting method I'm employing: 3 24-hr fasts a week (from dinner to dinner Sun, Tue and Thu, so I skip breakfast and lunch M/W/F).
Another, as you said, is our craving for sugary/fatty/salty things and the means to control this type of hunger are completely different (for example fasting).
As for OPs theory, it's strange to think of such a thing happening during an obesity epidemic, but many people do seem to be lacking basic nutrients in their diet. I'm not sure how much we can trust our own guts when it comes to seeking out nutritious foods; the majority of people go for sugar and fats when they're hungry, instead of the fruits and vegetables that contain the nutrients they're lacking. It seems our stomachs are not looking out for our best interests.
[1] https://hub.jhu.edu/2013/12/17/vitamins-might-be-harmful/
If you don't have calories your hunger wont be satiated because of energy needs.
Vitamins don't absorb as well as nutrients found in foods (they have a low gut surface area and may not contain the easiest molecules for your body/gut to breakdown into nutrients).
In my personal experience a complete protein powder (like PlantFusion products) has a strong effect on general satiety as well as health unlike vitamins.
and you're not likely to get the best version in that multi vitamin.
I also have a 23andMe account and looked up to see if I have the FGF21 gene?
I found that I have 2 SNP's on gene FGF21.
http://i.imgur.com/qnRD5M4.png
Any idea what this means relative to the study?
[1] http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/factor-v-leide...
"This revealed statistically significant associations between FGF21 rs838133 and increased consumption of candy, as well as nominal associations with increased alcohol intake and daily smoking."
rs838133 is the first one in the table shown in image I linked to.
