Do you have an addiction to food?

• May 3, 2024

New research with brain scans maintains that some people have "addiction" to food, and that foods like white bread or potatoes contribute to increase their cravings.

The researchers used functional MRIs (in real time) to observe the brain activity of 12 overweight or obese men during the crucial four hours after they ate, a period that, according to experts, influences the way they eat. during the next meal.

At the same time, participants' glycemia and meal-eating levels were also measured.

The "meals" of the men were two smoothies that had the same calories, flavor and sweetness. The only difference was that one shake contained carbohydrates with a high glycemic index and the other had a low index.

Carbohydrates with a high glycemic index (which quickly change to sugar in the blood) are found in highly processed foods, such as white bread and white rice. Carbohydrates with a low glycemic index are found in products such as whole grains and sweet potatoes.

The researchers found that consuming carbohydrates such as those found in processed foods can lead to excess hunger and stimulate brain areas that participate in reward and cravings, regions that also play a role in addiction, according to the study published on 26 June in the magazine American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The study may have implications for weight control, according to the researchers.

"Limiting the consumption of carbohydrates with a high glycemic index, such as white bread and potatoes, could help obese individuals reduce their cravings and control the tendency to eat too much," said the study's author.David Ludwig, director of the Children's Hospital of Boston, in a press release from the hospital.

Video Medicine: Break Your Sugar Addiction in 10 Days (May 2024).