Oreos as 'addictive' as cocaine? / Arlesia McGowan Period 4

     Article by: Jacque Wilson
  October 16, 2013                                                



        So I know that ya'll aren't ready to hear this and I wasn't ready to read this article, being that my ALL TIME favorite sweet is the well known Oreo. Anyone who has ever tried an Oreo knows how hard it is to eat only one. One might at least 4, or to our Oreo-lovers out there like me, 6 or the whole row...um...maybe the whole pack?;) Previously, studies have shown in rodents and humans, the same area in the brain lights up on scans when people use drugs, also shows increased activity when study participants consume, or even look at high fat foods or sugars, like ice cream or bacon...ahem...and even Oreos. New research from students at Connecticut College adds to the growing evidence that food can be addictive. This contributes to the understanding of America's obesity epidemic and how junk food is easily affordable and available. When the study to prove this theory was tested, the results showed that the lab rats conditioned with the cookies spent just as much time on the "drug" side as they did the cocaine or morphine. This is not all that surprising, but the wow factor of this experiment was that the rats eating Oreos experienced more pleasure than the ones who were injected with the drugs, as measured by the activation changes in the nucleus accumbens. So overall, this study was helpful because the scientists proved the fact of the trouble that people have when controlling their food intake. Moral of the story? Follow the Golden rule of Nutrition; Eat everything in moderation.
       I thought I was finished when I stated the moral. Nope. Well, here' s my spiel. I agree. As a matter of fact, being that I strongly favor Oreos, I don't eat them all the time, and half of the time they aren't even in my house. LOL. But when I see them I just have to have one. I feel like part of this is a matter of self control, and it does make me feel better that there is something besides drugs that is ultimately pleasurable. See guys? You don't always have to take drugs, eat Oreos instead!;) Anyways, being that I do exercise everyday, I have to watch what I eat, considering the goody goodies like the carbs and sweets and what have you. They are addictive, but seriously though, you can only help yourself; people can motivate you, but its all on you. My solution? Eat protein, then you won't crave so much sugary foods. That's all I can say. I'm out.

     Love,
         Arlesia :)

Want to know more? Click on it! :) http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/16/oreos-as-addictive-as-cocaine-in-lab-rat-study/?hpt=he_t5