The Serotonin Power Diet: Use Your Brain's Natural Chemistry to Cut Cravings, Curb Emotional Overeating, and Lose Weight

Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, and, Nina Frusztajer Marquis, MD
Rodale Inc. (2006)
ISBN 1594863466
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (2/07)

In a world full of various “diets” for our overweight society, it is often hard to decide which one works best without trying each new dieting fad that comes along. And, often we find that it doesn’t work because…it’s too expensive, it’s too rigid, it’s too…whatever excuse we come up with. Understanding what happens with one’s own body is the key to successful weight loss as well as maintenance. The authors, Wurtman and Marquis, give us that understanding in their recently published book “The Serotonin Power Diet.”

In the past few years we have been bombarded with no/low carb diets. Wurtman and Marquis give another angle by explaining that “carbohydrates are as essential for weight loss as gas is to a car.” They further explain “…[carbohydrates] not only drive the system that controls appetite, they also control emotional eating and mood.” Carb-conscious dieters may defuse this statement; however, the authors provide documented scientific research to prove the concept, and the importance of carbohydrates in sustenance as well as brain function.

Furthermore, the authors explain that carbohydrates are necessary for serotonin production. (In the central nervous system, serotonin is believed to play an important role in the regulation of body temperature, mood, sleep, vomiting, sexuality, and appetite.) Research shows that just eating proteins prohibited production of serotonin therefore setting the body off-balance. Wurtman and Marquis contend that eating carbohydrates before a meal will produce serotonin that will automatically suppress the appetite and make you feel full. They give the example of eating bread at a restaurant before the meal comes, and, when the meal does come, you feel full and not hungry.

“The Serotonin Power Diet” not only gives a thorough explanation, but also self-tests and case studies. As with all diets, Wurtman and Marquis insist on a “plan” that will work for you. Chapter Five is just that, however, not as the usual diet plan, but with a “snack plan,” the most important component of the diet. After successfully implementing the snacks into one’s eating regimen, they then suggest a 12-week weight loss program. In their book, the authors spell out the program, week-by-week. They also have a section called “basic meals and quick kitchen tricks” which also includes recipes to help along the way.

I commend Wurtman and Marquis for providing this concise and informative alternative to other dieting regimens. Their knowledge of the subject and the proven scientific facts give the reader an opportunity to change their lifestyle in a healthy, informed plan. Personally, I found the concept a challenge at first because I am insulin resistant and carbohydrates create havoc in my body. However, as I perused the book further, I understood the regimen and know that it will work for me (without creating havoc.) The bottom line? Understanding how our bodies work, why they work that way, and what fuels the brain to provide a healthy body. “The Serotonin Power Diet” by Judith J. Wurtman and Nina Frusztajer Marquis contains necessary information for all of us to know. I encourage anyone wanting to understand how important the production of serotonin is, to read this book.

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