Bees, neurons, elections. PBS's Nova Science Now has a fascinating show on "What are animals thinking?" http://video.pbs.org/video/2299746925/

The portion on bees deciding to move to a new hive makes the point that the neurons in our brains work in something of a similar manner. 
http://video.pbs.org/video/2300846183

A combination of positive allurements and negatives about the other choice.

The positives among bees are, in a waggle dance -- a signaling in a ritualized way of turning -- express "New yellow hive! New yellow hive! New yellow hive!" by means of 3 turns or waggles, say. Bee-proponents of the other would have 2 waggles that signal "Blue hive! Blue hive!"

But the yellow supporters add a negative. A yellow-stumping bee will also physically push a bluie, a movement scientists interpret as communicating: "Stop promoting a blue hive!"

You can see that combo reflected in our just completed national presidential campaign. "Obama! Obama! Obama!" vs. "Romney! Romney!" and... "Obama good, Romney bad...Obama good, Romney bad...Obama good, Romney bad."

Good thing that physical shoving hasn't been taken up by the superpacs or there'd be a lot more bruises and dislocated shoulders among the politicos.

The interesting insight for our stroll in the Glucose Garden -- the place where we try to determine the healthiest eating for people with or near diabetes and all of its suffering -- is the parallel that Nova Science Now draws to the neurons in our brains trying to decide between a piece of cake and broccoli.

If my tastebuds ruled the world, it's no contest.

Cake hands down.

But I'm very fond of my remaining 9.5 toes.

And practically speaking, it is important to have had a balanced meal or mini-meal -- vegetables, protein, fruit, no processed food, no quickly metabolizing carbohydrates like white bread, rice, or pasta, and certainly no sweets -- not long before considering this choice.

Don't try this on an empty stomach.

So some neurons in our human brains, faced with a choice of cake or broccoli, engage in a bee-like waggle dance, says NSN. Some signal: "Cake! Cake! Cake!" while the broccolyites are going "Broccoli, broccoli." 

When the cakers add a negative command like "Stop pushing broccoli" to their appeal, oh, big trouble. How can the innocent broccoli neurons withstand "Cake and stop talking about broccoli! "Cake and stop talking about broccoli! "Cake and stop talking about broccoli!"

The negative signalling is called cross inhibition.

You gotta get up early to resist harmful food.  And even better to take a run or at least a nice walk.

And...let's dress up the broccoli. Steam it, mince some shallot and whisk it in olive oil and fresh lemon juice...dress.

The brain and the gut are intimately connected.

We thank you, Lord, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)