Too much sweets can trigger addiction

US researchers confirm the addiction to sweets based on a study

27/12/2010

Sweets are addictive. US researchers have found that over-consumption of sweets is compulsive addictive, such as drug addicts. „Too much very high calorie food is addictive to a certain extent“, Paul Johnson of the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter (Florida / USA) stressed.

Compulsive eating similar to an addiction
Paul Johnson and Paul Kenny from the Scripps Research Institute served treats to normal and overweight rats, but at the same time gave the animals an unpleasant stimulus during consumption. „We have studied how much good-tasting food to consume in obese and normal-weight rats, when they have to endure an unpleasant stimulus at the same time“, Johnson explained the approach of the scientists. As part of their investigation, the researchers found that in the brain of overweight rats certain receptors were less active, which compulsively fed on the animals while the other rats due to the unpleasant stimuli on the tasty food waived. Obsessive feeding of the overweight rats was accompanied by lower activity of the dopamine D2 receptors which constitute the signal receiving unit through the neurotransmitter dopamine and belong to the reward system of the brain. The response of D2 receptors to sweets consumption is similar to the processes occurring in brain drug addicts, the US researchers reported. Her research has shown that over-consumption of sweets is in some ways addictive over time, Johnson pointed out.

Liking and Wanting as regulators of sweets addiction
Health scientist Erika Clark from the University of Buffalo came to similar conclusions as Johnson and Kenny in a study of 53 women who were overweight, obese or obese. Erika Clark and her team spent over 14 days exploring how daily consumption of high-calorie snacks, such as chips or candy bars, has an impact on participants' preference for these foods. The researchers came to the conclusion that the women, if they consumed daily the high-calorie snacks, the corresponding foods tasted less and less. However, the craving for chips or candy bars did not go down as well as the taste preferences. In particular, overweight participants showed a contrary development: the desire for the high-calorie snacks increased significantly. „All stimuli that promise pleasure or pleasurable effects, such as alcohol, drugs, sexuality or food, are amplified by neuronal reactions in the brain“, Martina de Zwaan, head of the psychosomatic and psychotherapeutic department at the University of Erlangen, explained the results of the study. The expert also stated that „in the first place (...) the enjoyment - the so-called Liking - (...) motivates us.“ But there are also some „the Wanting, which is not about the joy itself, but the motivation to get something“, emphasized de Zwaan.

Restraint offered with candy consumption
Liking and Wanting are two sides of the same coin, which usually go hand in hand, said the specialist of the University Hospital Erlangen on. In this way, the consumption of chocolate or cookies over the reduction of Liking after some time usually by itself leads to the decline in the consumption of high-calorie snacks. However, for some people, masturbation seems to have become independent and to have played such a dominant role that it is quite comparable to the effects of (drug) addiction, de Zwaan explained. Therefore, when consuming sweets and other high-calorie snacks, a certain amount of restraint should always be maintained, so as not to completely ruin the sweets.

If the consumption is not exaggerated or a reasonably normal eating behavior is observed, the corresponding control circuits do not even jump on, explained de Zwaan and also advised not every additional gram of body weight immediately with a diet to combat. Because such diets unnecessarily increase the desire or the Wanting because the accumulated over the holidays extra pounds would often disappear over time anyway with time, so the view of the expert of the University Hospital Erlangen.

Diet change against food cravings
In the long term, the cravings for sweets can best be controlled from the point of view of naturopathy through a targeted diet change and an improved self-perception. However, according to the experts, the psychologically motivated cravings, ie eating to reduce or avoid negative feelings, should be taken into account. The psychologically motivated cravings expressed in irresistible appetite of regularly in situations of loneliness, fear, sadness and so on. The subsequent intake of food, for example, gives a feeling of comfort, safety or protection. A thorough (laboratory) examination by the alternative practitioner or a naturopathic doctor on the compulsive eating habits of the patient therefore first of all looks at the possible causes of the recurring cravings. Subsequently, a specific treatment is initiated, which can start in naturopathy, for example, with a detoxification treatment to reduce the candy's appetite.

Causes of cravings
However, the causes of cravings can be very different. Thus, the excessive colonization of the intestine with yeast fungi, especially with Candida albicans can lead to appropriate eating behavior. Therefore, in the case of persistent binge eating a doctor should be consulted, which sheds more light on the causes. By changing the eating habits with the aim of stabilizing the blood sugar level, however, those affected can already achieve quite a lot in self-therapy. We recommend regular meals, preferably without snacks based on wholesome cereals, fruits and vegetables, as these do not unnecessarily boost blood sugar levels, are rich in nutrients and in turn stimulate the metabolism. As healthy food, the need for „sweet“ cover in naturopathy e.g. Carrots, cucumbers, Jerusalem artichokes, wholemeal bread, ginger tea and (small amounts) called honey. (Fp)

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Cravings for sweets - cravings
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Image: Benjamin Klack