The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr. Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Current Biology. He is a regular member of several National Institutes of Health review panels and a Fellow of the McKnight Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Huberman regularly consults for technology development companies, professional athletic organizations, and various units of U.S. and Canadian Special Operations.
Healthy Eating & Eating Disorders - Anorexia, Bulimia, Binging | Episode 36
In this episode, I discuss what drives hunger and satiety, and the role our brain, stomach, fat and hormones play in regulating hunger and turning off the desire to eat more. I also address how protein is assimilated better early in the day than it is later in the day, and why those using intermittent fasting might want to shift their feeding window to earlier in the day.
Then I delve into the topic of disorders of eating: Anorexia Nervosa, where people starve themselves and Bulimia Nervosa where people binge and purge their food. I discuss some common myths about Anorexia such as the role of media images increasing the rates of anorexia and the myth of the "perfectionist" anorexic. I also review the symptoms, and the brain and chemical systems disrupted in this condition. I explain how anorexics become hyperaware of the fat content of foods and develop reflexive habits of fat-hyperawareness. Then I discuss the most effective treatments ranging from family-based models to those that target the habitual nature of low-fat/calorie food choices. I also discuss new more experimental clinical trials on MDMA, Psilocybin and Ibogaine for Anorexia, and both their promise and risks
I review the latest work on binge eating disorder and brain stimulation, drug treatments and thyroid disruption in Bulimia and why the treatments for Bulimia are so similar to those for ADHD. Finally, I discuss "cheat days," body dysmorphia and the growing list of novel forms of eating disorders start to finish. As always, science and science-based tools are discussed.
Thank you to our sponsors:
- Belcampo - https://www.belcampo.com/huberman -- code "huberman"
- Headspace - https://www.headspace.com/specialoffer
- Athletic Greens - https://www.athleticgreens.com/huberman
Our Patreon page:
Supplements from Thorne:
Links:
- Ingesting Protein in the Morning Supports Muscle Maintenance & Growth:
- https://bit.ly/3DPlms7
- Studies Using Virtual Reality to Explore Eating & Hunger & Body Image:
- https://bit.ly/3BGaDya
- https://bit.ly/2WWGRq8
Timestamps:
- 00:00:00 Introduction: Fasting, & Defining Healthy Eating
- 00:08:55 Morning Protein Is Important
- 00:22:04 Sponsors
- 00:26:29 Defining & Diagnosing Eating Disorders
- 00:29:00 Anorexia Nervosa (Overview & Myths)
- 00:33:44 Bulimia (Overview & Myths)
- 00:37:35 Binge Eating Disorders, EDNOS, OSFEDS, Pica
- 00:39:44 What is Hunger? What is Satiety?
- 00:42:00 Neuronal & Hormonal “Accelerators & Brakes” on Eating
- 00:46:17 Fat, Leptin & Fertility & Metabolic Dysfunctions in Obesity
- 00:50:30 Why We Overeat
- 00:55:30 Homeostasis & Reward Systems/Decisions
- 00:59:58 Anorexia
- 01:04:28 The Cholesterol Paradox
- 01:06:13 Psychological vs. Biological/Genetic Factors in Anorexia
- 01:09:44 Chemical Imbalances, Serotonergic Treatments
- 01:12:56 Altered Habits & Rewards in Anorexia: Hyperacuity for Fat Content
- 01:18:28 Brain Areas for Reward Based Decision Making vs. Habits
- 01:24:06 Habit-Reward Circuits Are Flipped in Anorexics: Reward for Deprivation
- 01:28:30 How Do You Break a Habit?
- 01:33:23 Family Based Models, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- 01:35:39 MDMA, Psilocybin, Clinical Trials, Ibogaine
- 01:40:35 Anabolic vs. Catabolic Exercise, Spontaneous Movements, NEAT
- 01:43:23 Distorted Self Image in Anorexia
- 01:47:54 Bulimia & Binge-Eating, “Cheat Days”, Thyroid Hormone
- 01:53:05 Inhibitory Control, Impulsivity, Adderall, Wellbutrin
- 01:58:00 Direct Brain Stimulation: Nucleus Accumbens
- 02:04:28 Anorexia/Reward. vs Bulimia/Binging
- 02:05:45 Healthy Eating Revisited
- 02:10:55 Synthesis, Body Dysmorphias
- 02:14:15 Support: Podcast, & Research Studies