The routine intake of high-sugar and high-fat foods alters our brain’s circuitry, prompting a subconscious preference for these unhealthy options due to modifications in the brain’s dopamine-driven system, which governs motivation and reward.
What makes chocolate bars and similar treats so irresistible?
What explains our struggle to resist treats like chocolate bars, chips, and fries when we are grocery shopping? Research conducted by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Cologne and Yale University offers some answers. They found that the consumption of high-fat and high-sugar foods can effectively change our brains. Even occasional consumption can condition the brain to develop cravings for these unhealthy foods.
Why are we so drawn to unhealthy and fattening foods, and how does the brain develop this preference? “Our penchant for high-sugar and high-fat foods, known as the Western diet, may be innate or emerge as a consequence of being overweight. However, we believe that the brain learns this preference,” elucidates Sharmili Edwin Thanarajah, the study’s lead author.
To examine this theory, the scientists provided one group of volunteers with a small pudding packed with fat and sugar every day for eight weeks, in addition to their usual diet. Another group received a pudding that contained the same caloric content but less fat. Brain activity of the volunteers was monitored before and throughout the experiment.
Our brain unknowingly develops a preference for high-fat snacks
The brain’s reaction to high-fat and high-sugar foods significantly heightened in the group that consumed the high-fat, high-sugar pudding after eight weeks. This change notably triggered the dopaminergic system, the brain area controlling motivation and reward. “Our brain activity measurements demonstrated that the brain restructures itself through the consumption of such foods. It subconsciously learns to favor rewarding food. As a result of these brain changes, we will subconsciously always lean towards foods rich in fat and sugar,” explains Marc Tittgemeyer, who spearheaded the study.
Despite the experimental diet, the participants did not gain more weight than the control group, and their blood indicators such as blood sugar or cholesterol remained unchanged. Nonetheless, the researchers anticipate that the preference for sugary foods will persist beyond the study’s duration. “New neural connections are formed in the brain, and they don’t dissolve quickly. After all, the essence of learning is that once you acquire something, it isn’t easily forgotten,” Tittgemeyer adds.
Source: “Habitual daily intake of a sweet and fatty snack modulates reward processing in humans” by Sharmili Edwin Thanarajah, Alexandra G. DiFeliceantonio, Kerstin Albus, Bojana Kuzmanovic, Lionel Rigoux, Sandra Iglesias, Ruth Hanßen, Marc Schlamann, Oliver A. Cornely, Jens C. Brüning, Marc Tittgemeyer and Dana M. Small, 22 March 2023, Cell Metabolism. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.02.015
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Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Brain Changes from High-Sugar Foods
What makes us crave unhealthy foods like chocolate bars and chips?
According to research by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research and Yale University, consuming foods high in fat and sugar can effectively alter our brains. Even occasional consumption can condition the brain to develop cravings for these foods.
How does our brain develop a preference for unhealthy foods?
Our penchant for high-sugar and high-fat foods, often referred to as the Western diet, may be innate or emerge as a consequence of being overweight. However, scientists believe that the brain learns this preference. Consuming such foods can trigger the dopaminergic system, the brain area controlling motivation and reward, thus teaching the brain to favor rewarding food.
Will the preference for sugary and fatty foods persist even after reducing their intake?
Researchers anticipate that the preference for sugary foods will persist even beyond reducing their intake. They suggest that new neural connections formed in the brain during the period of regular consumption of high-fat, high-sugar foods do not dissolve quickly. This persistence is due to the nature of learning – once you learn something, it isn’t easily forgotten.
Did the participants gain weight during the study?
Despite the experimental diet, the participants did not gain more weight than the control group, and their blood indicators such as blood sugar or cholesterol remained unchanged.
What can be done to prevent the brain from developing this unhealthy preference?
The study does not provide specific recommendations on how to prevent this from happening. However, it is generally advisable to maintain a balanced and healthy diet, and limit the consumption of high-sugar and high-fat foods to prevent this subconscious preference from developing.
More about Brain Changes from High-Sugar Foods
- Habitual daily intake of a sweet and fatty snack modulates reward processing in humans
- Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research
- Yale University
- The Impact of Sugar on the Brain
- The Dopaminergic System and Food Intake
5 comments
This is crazy! Never knew a chocolate bar could do that to your brain. Gonna think twice now.
well, that explains a lot. our brains trick us into eating unhealthy stuff. good to know…
so…my brain’s to blame for my sweet tooth, huh? Interesting read tho!
Fascinating research. It’s amazing how the brain can rewire itself in response to diet.
If this is true, I need to change my kids’ snacks ASAP. Can’t let their brains get messed up by sugar!