Many of us have a sweet tooth. That said, sugar addiction research is being conducted to take a deeper look. So far, here's what I learned during the webinar "The Science of Fat & Sugar".
Researchers are finding that obese individuals have an excessive sugar intake. Sadly, sugar habituation, that is a diet rich in sugar, has been associated with shortened life expectancy. So, why are people consuming so much sugar in the first place?
Did you know that there are separate neural circuits that control sugar cravings and healthy eating? That means the brain is harmed when we eat sugar because sugar hijacks the brain with natural reward-processing that takes place in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). If you can believe it sugar is similar to cocaine, and creates a desire for more stimulation, which means you need more sugar to get that same pleasant feeling.
A neural circuit in the brain controls sugar consumption. When this is activated it increases sugar cravings. That is why impulsive people have a difficult time with sugar and sugary drinks. Lastly, it has been found that sugar is no less addictive then other VTA affecting substances like cocaine.
Then to make things even more challenging is hyperpalatable food. This is food that is saturated, calorie dense, and high in fat, sugar, for salt. The result of consuming this type of food tends to be weight gain because we tend to overconsume this food - meaning beyond satisfaction. This happens in three steps - Step 1. We crave the food, Step 2. A reward is in place due to anticipation, and Step 3. is Reward by consuming despite the negative consequences. These steps in many cases wind up becoming a new habit. Then, we become more sensitive to cues like smell and sight, and that affects anticipation which increases our consumption. Yikes!
Then to make things even more challenging is hyperpalatable food. This is food that is saturated, calorie dense, and high in fat, sugar, for salt. The result of consuming this type of food tends to be weight gain because we tend to overconsume this food - meaning beyond satisfaction. This happens in three steps - Step 1. We crave the food, Step 2. A reward is in place due to anticipation, and Step 3. is Reward by consuming despite the negative consequences. These steps in many cases wind up becoming a new habit. Then, we become more sensitive to cues like smell and sight, and that affects anticipation which increases our consumption. Yikes!
More research needs to be done. So, stay tuned!
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