We prefer sweet snacks most of the time. Too much sugar in our diet, on the other hand, can lead to weight gain and obesity. It has the potential to cause diabetes and tooth decay. Sugar ice cream, cookies, cakes, and sugary sodas; we know what not to eat, but it can be difficult to avoid at times. ‘Our brains appear to crave these foods,’ says a neuroscientist who has studied how modern ‘obesity,’ or diets that promote obesity, affect the brain.
What we eat can help us understand how we can change our behavior and reduce other lifestyle changes through brain changes. Our bodies control blood sugar levels. The word glucose comes from the Greek word glukos, which means “sweet.” Glucose fuels all of our body’s cells, including brain cells (neurons). Sugar, according to evolution, can harm dopamine. Sugary foods have become an excellent source of energy for our ancestors, and we are looking for foods that are particularly sweet.
Unpleasant Bitter and sour foods can be harmful to one’s health. Poisoning and illness can occur as a result of it. As a result, we all have a brain system that is predisposed to prefer sweet foods. When we consume sugary foods, the brain’s reward system, known as the mesolimbic dopamine system, is activated. Dopamine is a brain chemical that is released by nerves and can indicate a positive event. Dopamine promotes rapid learning to prioritize sugary foods as a result of sugar.
In today’s world, we have a wide variety of sweet and savory foods. As a result, we no longer need to concentrate on sugary foods. Sweet food is widely available. Unfortunately, our brains are still very similar to those of our ancestors, and we love sugar. So, what happens in the brain when you consume an excessive amount of sugar? Is it possible for sugar to rejuvenate the brain? Through a process known as neuroplasticity, the brain constantly repairs and rebuilds itself.
The rewards system can be rebuilt in this way. Excessive drug or sugary food consumption causes the brain to adapt to frequent stimuli and develop cravings. Because sweet foods are a characteristic of addiction, the more we eat, the more we reap the same benefits. Food addiction is a hotly debated topic among scientists and doctors.
True, some drugs are physically addictive, but there is also debate about the possibility of food addiction when it is required to live a basic life. The brain desires sugar. As a result, the sugar level rises. Most people, in particular, find that their sweet tooth causes stress and anxiety.
This can happen when you’re hungry or in a coffee shop when you’re presented with appealing cakes. To combat cravings, we must suppress our natural reactions when we eat delicious foods. Controlling behavior requires a network of inhibitory neurons. These neurons are in charge of decision-making. It is a critical area of the brain involved in controlling passion and delaying satisfaction.
Eating a high-sugar diet has been shown in mice studies to change blocked nerves. High-sugar mice had a harder time controlling their behavior and making decisions. According to a recent study, people are more likely to eat high-calorie snacks when they are hungry. People who regularly consume a high-fat, high-sugar diet have a much higher appetite for food until they are not hungry. Sugar has been shown to interfere with memory formation.
The hippocampus, the main memory center, is another area of the brain affected by high-sugar foods. Mice fed a high-sugar diet were more likely to stay in specific areas. According to studies, they have a lower ability to remember objects. Sugar changes in the hippocampus are caused by a decrease in the number of neonatal nerves important for memory coding and an increase in inflammation-related issues.