Hard Times and the Shangri-La Diet
Life in Cuba:
In 1991, Mr. Castro declared a “special period” of drastic reductions in food and other rations. Average daily caloric intake fell by 40%. . . . When friends got together during those times, Ms. Sánchez recalls, a single topic dominated conversation: food. To stave off hunger pangs, Ms. Sánchez gobbled spoonfuls of sugar.
If there were several cheap foods to chose from this suggests that sugar reduced hunger more than other foods. From an excellent WSJ article about a Cuban blogger.
Thanks to Santosh Anagol.
December 23rd, 2007 at 11:30 am
Seth,
Not on-topic for this post, but this fits in nicely with your interest in the aquatic ape hypothesis:
http://www.drmccleary.com/2007/12/21/BecomingABrain.aspx
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:53 pm
the first time i heard of ‘the special period’ was in this video, which is very good:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5350731284170267256
December 24th, 2007 at 9:37 am
I don’t think this implies that sugar is more hunger reducing. Sugar may just have been a very cheap or easily available source of calories.
December 24th, 2007 at 11:12 am
David, good point. I have added that qualification.
December 26th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Perhaps off topic, but I recall reading years ago that said traditionally Chinese use honey to help with dieting and weight loss. Now I have always loved honey and have never found that it diminished my appetite in the least. But then I put it on top of toast. I find the SLD matches my observations and anecdotal experiences over the years. Our Western diet patterns clearly increase our appetites. The oil approach decreases my appetite and that is all I ask for. I’m reluctant to try the sugar water approach just yet. Honey may also work just fine if it’s used in an SLD pattern, but I’m going to stay with what’s working for the moment.
December 27th, 2007 at 3:08 am
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