By Nicole Avena
Interesting video explains why we are craving for desserts and why we should stop doing it.
When we consume something sweet, the sweet buds activate the sweet taste receptors. These receptors send a signal to the brain stems and reaches cerebral cortex. At there, the signal activates the brain's reward system. Other examples of things and experiences that activate the reward system are socializing, sexual behavior, and drugs. Over-activating the reward system indicates that the body is started lost of control, craving, and increased tolerant to sugar.
In fact, these signals activates the secretion of dopamine. When a new food is consumed, the dopamine level spike up higher than usual. After a few time of repeating the same food, dopamine level spike less and less, and eventually leveling out. This is because our brain is evolved to consume different nutrients from variety of food source.
When we keep on consuming the sugar, the dopamine level constantly spike up and the reward system has been activated all the time. In other words, eat more sugar activate the reward system and we continue feel awarding. In this way, sugar is behave as a drug and we are addicting to it. And yes, we will then overly consume more sugar.
Reference:
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-sugar-affects-the-brain-nicole-avena#watch
Comments
Post a Comment