Sugary and fatty diet can addict the brain
Sugary and fatty diet can addict the brain
Excessive consumption of sugar and fat can alter the brain's reward system, leading to a preference for these flavors.
A recent study conducted by Yale University and the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research showed that food can actually influence our behavior.
For eight weeks, two groups of healthy volunteers with ideal weight were monitored by the researchers.
Both groups followed their normal diets, but one group started consuming high-sugar and high-fat yogurts twice a day,
while the other group opted for low-calorie yogurts.
At the end of the period, those who consumed the higher-calorie yogurts could not appreciate foods with less sugar and fat.
Important to Know
Next, all volunteers underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans while consuming milkshakes.
Participants in the group that consumed the higher-calorie yogurts showed different brain activity,
highlighting the activation of the dopamine system, which provides a sense of reward.
Excessive consumption of sugary foods can pose health risks.
The study demonstrates how food can alter our behavior in the short term, even without weight gain or immediate health impacts,
increasing the risk of overeating and developing obesity.
Nutritionist Paula Victória Félix, a doctoral student at the School of Public Health at the University of São Paulo (USP),
explains that humans have a preference for calorie-dense foods due to evolutionary reasons, when it was necessary to store fat and energy.
However, nowadays, this preference is no longer necessary, and we are increasingly exposed to these foods,
resulting in excessive consumption.
One solution is dietary reeducation, which allows us to retrain our palate and develop the habit of consuming
smaller portions of these ingredients, opting for a healthier diet.
It is even easier to undergo this process in children, as they require less sugar to feel satisfied.
Therefore, it is recommended to avoid early exposure to sweets, especially before the age of two.
