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deborahjrossWe tend to use the term, "addictive" to mean any undesirable habit or repeated behavior, but only recently have scientists imaged those parts of the brain that "light up" during physiological addiction. Here's some (warning - PRELIMINARY) evidence that high glycemic-index foods might cause the same brain activity as addictive drugs.
"Participants who drank the high-glycemic milkshakes saw their blood sugar levels surge, only to sharply crash four hours later. When their blood sugar dropped, not only did they feel excessive hunger, but the fMRIs showed "intense" activation in the nucleus accumbens, a region of the brain involved in addiction.
The researchers pointed out previous studies comparing eating vegetables or high-calorie cheesecakes also showed different brain reactions. But, this study showed that when calories and sweetness are equal, glycemic index could still trigger brain changes that might lead to overeating."
Processed carbohydrates are addictive, brain study suggests - CBS News
"Participants who drank the high-glycemic milkshakes saw their blood sugar levels surge, only to sharply crash four hours later. When their blood sugar dropped, not only did they feel excessive hunger, but the fMRIs showed "intense" activation in the nucleus accumbens, a region of the brain involved in addiction.
The researchers pointed out previous studies comparing eating vegetables or high-calorie cheesecakes also showed different brain reactions. But, this study showed that when calories and sweetness are equal, glycemic index could still trigger brain changes that might lead to overeating."
Processed carbohydrates are addictive, brain study suggests - CBS News
