Bulimia has been scientifically linked to serotonin, therefore, bulimics are often treated with SSRI's (antidepressants of the Prozac nation). I was. Ten years on Zoloft to be exact. In the time that I've spent researching bulimia and food addiction, I've learned that although serotonin plays an important role in the anatomy of a binge, so do beta-endorphins, triptophan and galnin. Please bear with me, I have a scientific schooling background but I do not have a degree in neuro-chemical nutrition or anything like that. I've gathered the information that has helped me and will try to present it as best I can in this section.

There are several books available on the subject of brain chemistry and overeating (see the recommended reading list section). The information that I have found in each book overwhelmingly supports a general theory that what you eat effects your brain chemistry, and your brain chemistry then effects your cravings and your ability to deal with your cravings.

I read a couple of books that went into extreme detail about the chain of reactions that food has in our brains and what it means for us humans, especially the bulimic or sugar sensitive ones.

Brain Chemicals

Your brain needs serotonin. We all know serotonin as the "mood" chemical. Serotonin is produced when you eat carbohydrates. As Serotonin levels deplete, your brain tells your body to increase the levels. The most logical way to do this is to eat a carbohydrate so you begin to crave carbs.

This is fine except for two things:

1. It takes between 20-30 minutes for the serotonin levels to rise and sate the craving. The amount of food I can consume while I'm craving carbs in the 20 minutes while my brain computes my serotonin levels is both amazing and horrific.
2. If you eat the carb alone, you are setting yourself up for a blood sugar crash that will bring you back around to the craving for carbs again soon.

Eating a little or a moderate amount of protein with every meal prolongs the effect of the Serotonin in your brain and blood stream and therefore reduces the chances of having a craving for serotonin later. It took several weeks for my body and cravings to even out, but they eventually did.

It also helps to eat less - more often. The serotonin cycles about every 3 to 4 hours in your brain. If you eat nothing for more than 4 hours can set yourself up for cravings and a binge. Also - remember - fruits and veggies are carbohydrates too. Carbohydrate does not automatically equal starch.

An added benefit to protein is that it raises your satiation level. Some foods make you feel fuller than others and you are more satiated. These foods have a higher satiation level. Protein is a higher satiation food, especially when eaten with carbohydrates, so even if you do still have cravings, like I did, you feel so full that it less appealing to go enable those cravings.

Another thing that helps carbohydrate cravings is Chromium Picolinate. Chromium Picolinate helps to regulate insulin function in the liver reducing cravings. The recommended dosage seems to be between 50 - 200 mcg - never to exceed 400 mcg without medical supervision. As always, always check with your physician before taking any supplements.

The anatomy of binge:

Lack of Coping Skills + Improper Brain Chemicals + Stressor = Binge

There are several things that contribute to the continuation of the binge cycle. Many bulimics lack healthy coping skills and at some point have turned to food as a coping mechanism. When our diet and eating patterns are mixed with our lack of coping skills and a stressor is thrown in, it will eventually, inevitably lead to a binge, or the thought of a binge.

Out of the three ingredients in a binge cycle, we can control two of them, and if two of them are removed or controlled, then the third is easier to deal with. We can't always remove the stressor or trigger, however, if we develop and practice coping skills and even out our bodies chemistry, then it's a hell of a lot easier to cope when something does happen that would normally send us into a tailspin.

Additional information on the brain chemical, Galanin:

Galanin is a brain chemical produced when we eat fat. It competes with serotonin and can keep it from doing its job in our brain. The effect galanin has on our body is to numb us. It makes decision making harder because it makes our minds sluggish.

Cravings happen for basically 2 reasons:

1. Our bodies or brains need serotonin or sugar because we have waited too long to eat.
2. We have mouth hunger due to an emotional trigger.

Fat is not the answer because it will leave you unable to think and it keeps the serotonin from doing it's job, so once the galanin wears off, you will be back in the same boat you were in before you ate it.

I found that when I was able to eat something with protein, usually in the form of a chocolate protein bar to sate my sweet-mouth-hunger, it was much more beneficial than eating a donut or something more fatty.