The Today show interviewed an author this morning who is a dermatologist (Dr. Nicholas Perricone, The Perricone Principle). The discussion was how to look younger via diet. I clipped an excerpt from his article which is quite lenghty. The whole text is on MSNBC Today Show website. Basically, he recounts an experience with a patient, a 40 something former model, who came to him for anti-aging advice.

His comment:

"Though carbohydrates do rapidly raise serotonin levels, once the blood sugar goes up and an insulin response occurs, the serotonin levels crash again, as I will explain in detail in Chapter Three. In order to limit their daily caloric intake, women tend to exclude protein in favor of carbohydrates, many of which have high glycemic indexes, that is, the body can rapidly convert them into sugar — such as pasta, potatoes, bagels, and so on. These carbohydrates are also directly responsible for loss of skin tone and increased body fat. Yet, with a proper diet composed of adequate protein, low glycemic carbohydrates, and the all-important essential fatty acids, serotonin levels can be elevated to much higher levels. Such a diet sustains these higher levels, keeping mood elevated and eliminating the continual craving for the unhealthy carbohydrates."

So, is the mainstream medical profession listening?

Susan