Are sweets and fats drugs?

It all depends on who you ask, though many scientists are amazed at the almost junkie-like reaction associated with some foods.

One scientist, in fact, flatly describes some foods as addictive substances. Writing in a recent book “Breaking the Food Seduction,” Dr. Neal Barnard of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine maintains that certain foods -- chocolates and cheese, for example – are addictive.

No, they’re not as powerful as narcotics, but they do “stimulate the release of chemicals in the brain’s pleasure center that keep you hooked.”

Other scientists aren’t convinced, though most concede that fats and sugars pack a powerful punch. Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have shown that merely glancing at favorite, fatty foods results in the brain releasing dopamine, a chemical associated with reward and craving. Fat and sugar also have been shown to calm the brain, lowering levels of stress hormones. That’s why they’re often called comfort foods.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at February 17, 2004 08:19 AM | TrackBack