Sugar
​In a 2013, a study at a student-faculty research at the Connecticut College found their research supported the theory that “high-fat/high-sugar foods stimulate the brain in the same way that drugs do.” To figure this out they conducted an experiment on lab rats by giving them Oreos and rice cakes or cocaine and morphine. From this they found that the rats spent as much time eating sweets as getting high. However, the rats given sweets had their genes express for the protein called c-Fos. This protein is a marker for the neuronal activation in the brain that controls the feeling of pleasure. The results from this test shows that feeding rats Oreos had a much higher margin of effect than both cocaine and morphine.
​That’s right high sugar foods have a similar effect on the brain as many illegal drugs and they could be more dangerous due to their accessibility and affordability! Unlike drugs our craving for sugar is more deeply rooted in our biological need. This is because several millions years ago, our primate ancestors developed a taste for ripe fruits because it had a higher sugar content than unripe fruits and supplied more energy. Not only does sugar supply us with energy, but it also helps us store fat as well. In the past, food was scarce and meals were inconsistent, having fat was more of an advantage than a health risk. However, as we have evolved, food has been more obtainable and we have developed a less active lifestyle. This means that having layers of fat is no longer needed.
Aside from the biological need for sugar, sugar also stimulates the chemical dopamine. Which as we have said before on previous pages, it produces a euphoric feeling that is addictive. Historically this was a good thing because if you didn’t like sugar and didn’t consume it than you wouldn’t have enough energy or have children. If you didn’t have energy than they would have less of a chance at survival and passing off their gene. Of course, in the past, our ancestors consumed natural sugar, while humans today have the ability to consume refined sugar and starchy foods.