Cupcakes and cocaine just as addictive research claims
- Published: 07 November, 2011
New research has revealed that cupcakes could be just as addictive as drugs and cigarettes.
Findings from 28 studies in the past year, conducted by US scientists, discovered that food sweetened with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup can affect the brains of obese people and compulsive eaters.
In one study, individuals were shown pictures of food such as cake and reacted in a way that the chemical dopamine would hit the decision-making area of the brain called the orbital frontal cortex. The same reaction was found when cocaine addicts were shown a bag of the Class A drug.
A study on rats also revealed that those fed on syrup developed brain and behaviour changes similar to rodents hooked on morphine.
Ann Ashworth, spokesperson and research expert at the British Dietetic Association, said: “It is well accepted that the brain needs glucose, which is obtained mainly from carbohydrates in foods, to work well. This comes from things such as added sugar in cakes, pastries and biscuits.
full article: http://www.bakeryinfo.co.uk/news/fu...ocaine_just_as_addictive_research_claims.html
- Published: 07 November, 2011
New research has revealed that cupcakes could be just as addictive as drugs and cigarettes.
Findings from 28 studies in the past year, conducted by US scientists, discovered that food sweetened with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup can affect the brains of obese people and compulsive eaters.
In one study, individuals were shown pictures of food such as cake and reacted in a way that the chemical dopamine would hit the decision-making area of the brain called the orbital frontal cortex. The same reaction was found when cocaine addicts were shown a bag of the Class A drug.
A study on rats also revealed that those fed on syrup developed brain and behaviour changes similar to rodents hooked on morphine.
Ann Ashworth, spokesperson and research expert at the British Dietetic Association, said: “It is well accepted that the brain needs glucose, which is obtained mainly from carbohydrates in foods, to work well. This comes from things such as added sugar in cakes, pastries and biscuits.
full article: http://www.bakeryinfo.co.uk/news/fu...ocaine_just_as_addictive_research_claims.html