Brain Imaging Study Proves Food Addiction To Be True!
On June 26, 2013 the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study that investigated how the foods you eat are regulated by the dopamine containing “pleasure” centers of your brain. The same area of the brain linked to substance abuse and dependency.Foods such as sugar and refined grains can be as addictive as cocaine
Blood sugar levels were measured while undergoing a functional MRI to observe brain activity. This was done in a crucial four hour post-meal period that influences eating behaviors for the next meal.
After tests subjects drank a high glycemic index (high sugar) milkshake they experienced an initial surge in blood sugar levels with a drastic crash four hours later. This crash is associated with excessive hunger and intense activation of a critical region of the brain that is involved in addictive behaviors.
David Ludwig MD, PhD, who authored the study suggest that limiting high-glycemic carbs like white bread and potatoes could help reduce cravings and control the urge to over eat.
Having supervised and run a 21-day nutrition purification and weight loss program over the past 5 years I’ve seen people break their “sugar addiction” over and over again. I always knew the “detox” headaches & body aches were more than just your body getting rid of toxins. My hunch was that detox headaches and body aches had more to do with a dopamine withdrawal from a sugar addition (sugar, refined & non-refined carbs) seems to prove me correct.
There was a time not too long ago (and some unfortunately, still think this way) that the food you eat doesn’t affect the brain. Nothing could be further from the truth. The general population is way too consumed with diabetes, cancer & heart disease without any thought to eating for the health of your brain. With degenerative brain condition such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Turns out, if all we did was eat for the health of our brains, the rest would take care of itself.
Sugar, refined carbs (and I’ll go so far as to say all gluten and non-gluten grains) are harsh on the body and especially harsh on the brain. As bad as they are on your brain, they’re worse for the developing brains of our children. So keep them far away from those sugary refined grain breakfast cereals!!! A diet rich in vegetables, lower glycemic fruits and clean sources of animal protein such as wild fish, free range poultry and grassfed meats are what our bodies are designed for. Study after study continues to prove it true.
Sugar, refined carbs, cocaine, all bad and addictive for your brain.
’nuff said
Dr. Todd Narson
Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians
Dr. Narson is a 2-term past president of the Florida Chiropractic Association’s Council on Sports Injuries, Physical Fitness & Rehabilitation and was honored as the recipient of the coveted Chiropractic Sports Physician of the Year Award in 1999-2000. He practices in Miami Beach, Florida at the Miami Beach Family & Sports Chiropractic Center; A Facility for Natural Sports Medicine.
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