So in the first article I discussed how we can easily eat a value meal from our favorite fast food restaurant. However, we would really have a difficult time eating 6 turkey sandwiches even though both meals have almost the same number of calories. So now the question is WHY??
There’s a section in your brain that monitors your blood stream for all the nutrients in your blood called the apastat. The apastat controls the cravings and hunger. Keep in mind that we have only had refined sugar and salt for about 50 to 60 years. Prior to that, when we consumed sugar that meant we were eating natural, unprocessed sugar and the body knew that good vitamins, minerals, and fiber would soon be following. Scientists have also found that by adding these nutrients (salt and sugar) they can manipulate the apastats response to these foods. For example you will find one of the main ingredients in almost all fast items is salt. This is because salt stimulates hydrochloric acid production and any time you stimulate hydrochloric acid production you’re going to stimulate appetite.
When salt is in its natural form it contains a lot of minerals, trace minerals, and elements from the ocean. The salt you have on your table has almost no nutritional value at all. In fact it is not even salt. It is has been stripped of any nutritional value and all that is left is mostly sodium chloride. What the salt companies do is they extract the trace minerals from natural salt and then sell it to vitamin companies so they can make a double profit on one item. So now when you consume salt your brain is looking for those trace minerals. Your brain tastes salt but the apastat is monitoring your blood and saying “Where are all my trace minerals?” Have you ever said “Oh I’ll just have a few chips and before you know it the bag is gone? Don’t feel bad. Unless you are eating organic food there is some real science behind your inability to stop at just one. This is called the “can’t eat just one” syndrome. So, you eat a potato chip. The brain gets excited and prepares the body to receive some good nutrition. When the body has a chance to assess that potato chip the apastat realizes you’ve been tricked and tells you to keep eating in hopes of getting some nutrition and since you’ve got chips in front of you, that is what you will typically go for. Food manufacturers know this which is why all junk food is loaded with sugar and salt. They know how addictive it is and how it tricks your body into thinking it is getting nutrition. As the potato chip slogan goes, they know “You can’t eat just one!” That’s right. It’s not just a catchy slogan, it is manipulated science designed to poison you and fill their pockets with money. The same is true with sugar. You eat an oreo cookie. Your brain tastes sugar and taste salt but says “There’s no nutrition here. There is no trace minerals.” So it tells you to eat another one. Maybe in the next one you will find some nutrition . Before you know it your gut is distended but you still feel the need to keep eating. Have you ever felt full, but at the same time felt a need to continue eating?
This is why today, we have so many obese-malnourished people in society. Scientists have found that there are 51 different nutrients in their natural form that allow you to experience complete satiety. Satiety means a sense of fullness or satisfaction. If you want to read a great book on this subject I recommend “Beating the food giants” by Paul A. Stitt. Paul Stitt was a food scientist for quaker oats and in his book he describes exactly what type of scientific games these food companies play with your food to get you addicted to them so you will eat more. In this article I am only talking about the sugar and salt scam but you can get a lot more disturbing information that will prepare you to not be suckered by these greedy food companies that will slowly kill you to make money. If you take a look around us at all the obesity in our society I would say it is safe to say they are very successful.
Now that you understand these concepts let’s go back to the 6 turkey sandwiches vs. the number 4 value meal. Just so you know, fast food companies have a rule that every item on their menu must contain high amounts of sugar or salt and many times, both. They are also aware of the trickery and addictive properties of salt and sugar. The reason you are able to eat all 1800 calories of the value meal is that the apastat is constantly telling you to keep eating that cheeseburger in hopes of eventually getting nutrition. When you are eating the turkey sandwich you are getting good vitamins and minerals from the meat, bread, and vegetables as well as protein and fiber. Therefore you get the feeling of being satisfied at around 300 to 500 calories instead of 1800.
Now go eat a sandwich and be satisfied.
