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The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instinct That Makes Us Overeat – Book Review

The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instincts That Make Us Overeat

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Rating: 4 out of 5
Pros

The more you know about why you are hungry, the easier it is to find ways to overcome your appetite without making bad decisions.

Cons

No matter how much you know, controlling your appetite can be difficult. Most diets fail, and this can be very discouraging.

Bottom Line

The Hungry Brain gives good insights into why people overeat, and what you can do to overcome these urges. I enjoyed reading the book, and I have found it very helpful in my life. The more you know, the easier a task becomes.

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Stephan Guyenet and the Secrets of Hunger

The last decade has seen enormous advances in neuroscience that have helped people better understand their relationships with food. Reading The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instinct that Makes Us Overeat book review will show you how this book can help you gain self-mastery. The short answer is, the more you understand why you get hungry, the easier it will be to take control.  

Close up portrait of a hungry young woman eating burger in need to read The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting The Instinct That Makes Us Overeat.
The More You Understand, The Easier For You To Take Control (Image Source: Shutterstock)

The relationship between the brain, environment and physiological signals is complex. Understanding these interactions is the key to unraveling the nutritional dilemmas that face you every day so that you can achieve optimum health and happiness.  

Knowledge is power, and The Hungry Brain provides more information about what causes people to overeat. It explores the mechanisms that make the body feel satisfied and explains how evolution and environmental changes have played their part. In the modern world, marketing, food additives, and new agricultural practices have unintentionally shaped the brain to crave certain foods.

This book has more than just theory. The author, Stephan Guyenet, has also included practical tips on snacking, how to act at a buffet, and how to control cravings. These skills overlap with other areas like sleep and stress management, making it easier for people to manage their total wellness.

Keep reading to learn more about what makes you hungry, and what you can do about it.

Effects of Obesity

Losing excess weight can add years to your life expectancy and make your life healthier and more enjoyable. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of getting health problems at any age. It can lead to joint issues, heart problems, type 2 diabetes, strokes, and even some kinds of cancers. It can even cause or exacerbate mental health issues. Obesity can cause depression. It can negatively affect your self-esteem and sense of self. Obesity can also be a symptom of mental issues. 

Overweight man sitting on stairs after jogging losing motivation.
Being Overweight Or Obese Increases Your Risk Of Getting Health Problems (Image Source: Shutterstock)

Eating a delicious snack that gives your brain a rush of happy chemicals can make you feel better. If you’re not careful, this can quickly become unhealthy. In obese persons, food often becomes a replacement for real coping mechanisms and can lead to the inability to deal with stressors. 

Many people who suffer from obesity want to adopt healthier ways to live. It’s important to remember that you can overcome an overeating disorder. You can have a healthy relationship with food, and it starts by making small and simple changes. One of the easiest changes you can make is to learn more about the human body and how people evolved into their present form. 

How to Not Overeat

Easy changes can be made to swap out bad habits and bad foods for better habits and better foods. Preventing overeating can be simple. Replacing high-calorie snacks with healthier options that are still tasty is a great way to start. Swapping chips for seasoned popcorn is one popular method. I really love munching on carrots, but you may find sugar snap peas, broccoli, or cauliflower a delicious way to get that crunch. Drinking more water can also help you reduce cravings and feel more full throughout the day.

A person holding a healthy breakfast bowl over work table background.
(Image Source: Shutterstock)

Another step to take that’s very simple is to just ask yourself, “Why am I having these thoughts?” when you are hungry. You know yourself better than anyone else, so ask yourself, “Why do I overeat?” Is it because you’re really hungry and need food? Are you simply dehydrated? Just bored and looking for something to do? Having that conversation with yourself may be the secret that unlocks the doorway to a better way to live.

Reading The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instinct That Makes Us Overeat may help you find your best diet to lose weight. Health and fitness are not about the destination; they’re about the journey. So it’s important to find a method that keeps you happy and entertained. That is the most effective way to approach your weight loss journey.

I am always looking for new fat loss tips and other ways to fine-tune my diet. The earlier you learn healthy techniques to deal with temptation, the easier it will be to avoid holiday weight gain. As you build strong, healthy habits, you’ll find you can enjoy all the parties and celebrations you want while staying aligned with your diet and fitness goals. 

The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instinct that Makes Us Overeat Book Review

A majority of most animals’ time in the wild is spent looking for food or running from danger. It fills up the entire day. Even human ancestors, until recently, spent most of their time getting enough calories in one way or another. It’s only recently that humans have had the luxury of a caloric surplus. Our brains just haven’t gotten with the program quite yet. The brain still tells the body that, in order to survive, it has to eat, eat, eat. In a world where cheap, fast, easy food is practically on every street corner, it’s easy to consume way more food than you need to—even so much that you have health problems because of it. But today, there is more to life than just eating.

Binge Eating: Signs, Symptoms & Tips | How To Stop Binge Eating – Mona Vand, Pharm. D

Obviously, you can’t get rid of an evolutionary instinct like that easily. Don’t even bother trying to rewrite millions of year’s worth of evolutionary instincts. It’s a lost cause. You can, however, outsmart them. You can make your brain work for you. When you understand how and why those instincts work, you can take full advantage of them.

I recommend you pick up a copy of The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instinct That Makes Us Overeat and start reading it today. The future is bright, and you deserve the best things in life.