Cupcakes as addictive as drugs

[gosu_smurf]

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

 

[gosu_smurf]

Are cupcakes as addictive as cocaine? How high-sugar processed food can have same effect on the brain as drugs

'We are finding tremendous overlap between drugs in the brain and food in the brain.'
The findings are so significant that scientists are already working on drugs that could help binge eaters alter their food preferences.

Mark Gold, of the University of Florida in Gainesville, revealed: 'We are trying to develop treatments that interfere with pathological food preferences.

'Let's say you are addicted to ice cream, you might come up with a treatment that blocked your interest in ice cream, but doesn't affect your interest in meat.'

'The data is so overwhelming the field has to accept it. We are finding tremendous overlap between drugs in the brain and food in the brain'

Industry experts say this knowledge about the effects of processed food on the brain could even 'change the legal landscape'.

Kelly Brownell, director of Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity explained: 'People knew for a long time cigarettes were killing people, but it was only later they learned about nicotine and the intentional manipulation of it.'

full article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...ine-How-sugar-fat-laden-foods-like-drugs.html

 

[monsterific]

Thanks for sharing, although, I'm not really sure whether I'm glad I have learnt of this. LOL. I immediately searched the internet for more information, but I think most articles got their information from the same source. I love cupcakes, I'm into pastries. I went to cooking school and I was more into learning how to bake than prepare for main dish menus.

 

[gosu_smurf]

I love cupcakes, I'm into pastries. I went to cooking school and I was more into learning how to bake than prepare for main dish menus.

Nice! So do you feel is behind all these cupcakes that is making them so addictive? The sugarary content or...?

 

[monsterific]

Nice! So do you feel is behind all these cupcakes that is making them so addictive? The sugarary content or...?

Well, besides sugar, cupcake also needs milk and flavors like vanilla or chocolate. Although I must admit that if cupcakes doesn't have sugar it would taste rather plain like bread. But I'd rather give credits to the baker for creating delicious cup cakes. If you don't have the talent, you're friends or any other person might not want to eat your cupcakes at all. LOL.

 

[gosu_smurf]

Hahhahaa it all pretty much boils down to talent after all

 

[Alli]

Haha...definitely not something I want to learn...I love a good cupcake.
I'm not sure I'm convinced, though. I've never heard of someone resorting to a life of crime to keep themselves flush in cupcakes... (even people with true psychological addictions, like to gambling, do sometimes resort to crime to continue the addiction)

 

[LLuDawg]

I like a cupcake once in a while but after eating a few, I get really bored of them. I prefer variety so if their are a bunch of different types of cupcakes, I will definitely get addicted!

 

[roxanne_101]

I make the best cupcakes. I especially love the icing. I think I prefer cake over cupcakes. This makes me want to go to the bakery down the street and buy a half dozen cupcakes. However, I don't think I'm addicted. I can say no if I wanted to.

 

[SashaJ]

I LOVE cupcakes. I don't get to eat them all the time but when I do, they are like chips to me. I can't stop after just one. I like cupcakes better than cake and I am not sure if it's the convenience of the cup that makes them so easy to consume but give me a cupcake and you will be a friend for life.

 

[mika]

I never thought that cupcakes are compared to some addictive drugs already.
I also love eating cup cakes specially chocolate cup cakes but can still control myself from eating too much. It really tastes good for me and think that taste makes it addictive. Lol
But self control would make you just consume it once in a while.