Ransy Reynis

Greasy Food Can Cause Similar Addiction As Cocaine



Posted: Thursday, May 27, 2010

by Ransy Reynis
http://www.coachransy.com

Researchers have finally confirmed what many of us have suspected: Bacon, cheesecake, and other fattening foods can be addictive. A new study on rats suggests that the high content of fat and calories affects the brain as cocaine and heroin. When rats eat these foods in large enough quantities, it leads to eating habits similar to drug addiction, according to Health.com.

The dopamine appears to be responsible for over eating. The happy substance secreted in to the brain by pleasurable activity, and fatty food may therefore be considered as a drug to become addicted to.

Both those who are using substances such as cocaine and who eat too much "junk food", are gradually overloading the so-called pleasure centers of the brain, according to Paul J. Kenny, a professor at Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida.

Finally the pleasure centers "crashes". To achieve the same pleasure or just to feel normal required increasing amounts of the substance or food, says Paul J. Kenny, who is lead author of the study.

The study is published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, Kenny and his collaborators studied three groups of test rats for 40 days.



One of the groups had normal rat food.

Another had bacon, sausage, cheesecake and other fattening and calorie-dense foods but only for one hour each day.

The third group was allowed to indulging in unhealthy foods for up to 23 hours a day.

Ate more

By monitoring the implanted electrodes, brain, researchers found that rats of the third group gradually changed the tolerance for the food that gave them pleasure.

So they had to eat more to experience a high level of enjoyment.

When the researchers applied an electric shock on rats' feet when they were located near the food, the rats in the first two groups of frightened away from eating. The overweight was not.

Their attention was only focused on the food, "says Kenny.

Previous studies on rats have shown that the brain changes when they get unlimited access to cocaine or heroin.

Heggen Eli, a physician at the Section of Preventive Cardiology at Oslo University, points out that the research is not directly transferable to humans.

This is an exciting study and in line with other research in this field, and important piece to the puzzle to obesity research.

Ransy Reynis was born and raised in Iceland, She moved to Norway with her family in 1993. She lives in Kristiansand Norway and Puerto Rico Gran Canaria Islands.
Ransy graduated from The Computer Technology School of Reykjavik, in Iceland , with a degree in Accounting and Office Administration in 1990 and obtained a degree as a Tourist Coordinator  from Trade Academia in Kristiansand Norway in 1997. She has many years experience in the tourist industry and communication. Ransy has pursued a career in Professional Health Coaching because it is a perfect fit with her passion and background experience. She obtained a degree as a Professional Health Coach from MLM University of Florida in February 2009.
 
www.coachransy.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Jennifer Stewart
 1 year 344 days ago.
152 fans.
I guess if we substitute any substance for what we need at a core level it's only going to work for a short while, and then become not enough. I love that science is supportive of the idea. I'd love to see what happens when people are addicted to money - only problem is, can't use rats for the experiments!
 
Thanks for an interesting article.
» left by Ransy Reynis 1 year 334 days ago.
5 fans. Follow Ransy Reynis on twitter!
I guess we have people addicted to money too :-)

Thanks Ransy
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