This is how sweets change our brains

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Fatty and sugary foods strongly activate the brain’s reward system. According to a study published Wednesday, the brain subconsciously learns to prefer such foods. That’s why it’s hard to say no to chocolate, chips and fries.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Materials Research in Cologne (D) gave a group of normal-weight subjects a high-fat, high-sugar pudding twice a day for eight weeks in addition to their normal diet for a study published in the journal Cell Metabolism on Wednesday. The other group received a pudding with the same number of calories but less fat and sugar.

Before and during the eight weeks, the team measured the subjects’ brain activity. These measurements showed that the fat and sugar-rich pudding activated the so-called dopaminergic system of the test subjects particularly strongly. This part of the brain is responsible for motivation and reward. “Our measurements of brain activity have shown that the brain rewires itself through the consumption of fries and the like. It unconsciously learns to prefer rewarding foods,” said study leader Marc Tittgemeyer, according to a statement from the Max Planck Institute.

Connections don’t dissolve that quickly

Changes in weight and blood values ​​were not found in the subjects. The researchers assume that the learned preference will also persist after the study. “New connections are made in the brain, which also don’t dissolve that quickly. The point of learning is that you don’t forget things you learned so quickly,” Tittgemeyer explains.

The research was carried out in collaboration with researchers from Yale University in New Haven (USA). The team points out that the analysis only provides initial indications, but no certainties, partly due to the relatively small number of subjects (57). The result may also be different for underweight or overweight people. The same applies to other types of snacks and a different test duration. (SDA)

Source: Blick