Guest guest Posted February 5, 2003 Report Share Posted February 5, 2003 I thought this was interesting... Misty http://www..com Fast Food Addictive as Heroin Scientists now think fast food and sweets are as addictive as heroin, because they set off hormonal changes in the body which make it hard to stop eating them. According to New Scientist magazine, " New and potentially explosive findings on the biological effects of fast food suggest that eating yourself into obesity isn't simply down to a lack of self- control. " Researchers think eating lots of foods that are high in fat and sugar causes the same changes in the brain as drug addiction. As people eat more high-calorie fast food and become obese, they become more resistant to the hormone leptin, which is linked to weight and appetite, as well as a brain peptide called galanin, that stimulates eating. " Their brain loses its ability to respond to these hormones as body fat increases, " says endocrinologist Michael Schwatz. Young rats that are fed a high fat diet early in life grew up to be obese adults— the same thing that's happening to the young humans all around us. You may feel good about staying off drugs, but if you eat a lot of sweets and can't wait for your next fast food " fix, " your brain may be in the same state as the brain of a heroin addict. Psychologist John Hoebel says, " Highly palatable foods and highly potent sexual stimuli are the only stimuli capable of activating the dopamine system with anywhere near the potency of addictive drugs. " http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/?id=2352 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2003 Report Share Posted February 5, 2003 Thanks, Misty. This comes as no surprise to me since I have been teaching this fact for more than 25 years. Of course I got a lot of flack for teaching it and it is gratifying to see the facts finally coming out into the public eye. Namaste` Walt - <mistytrepke Tuesday, February 04, 2003 9:58 PM Fast Food Addictive as Heroin? I thought this was interesting... Misty http://www..com Fast Food Addictive as Heroin Scientists now think fast food and sweets are as addictive as heroin, because they set off hormonal changes in the body which make it hard to stop eating them. According to New Scientist magazine, " New and potentially explosive findings on the biological effects of fast food suggest that eating yourself into obesity isn't simply down to a lack of self- control. " Researchers think eating lots of foods that are high in fat and sugar causes the same changes in the brain as drug addiction. As people eat more high-calorie fast food and become obese, they become more resistant to the hormone leptin, which is linked to weight and appetite, as well as a brain peptide called galanin, that stimulates eating. " Their brain loses its ability to respond to these hormones as body fat increases, " says endocrinologist Michael Schwatz. Young rats that are fed a high fat diet early in life grew up to be obese adults- the same thing that's happening to the young humans all around us. You may feel good about staying off drugs, but if you eat a lot of sweets and can't wait for your next fast food " fix, " your brain may be in the same state as the brain of a heroin addict. Psychologist John Hoebel says, " Highly palatable foods and highly potent sexual stimuli are the only stimuli capable of activating the dopamine system with anywhere near the potency of addictive drugs. " http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/?id=2352 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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