Dec 04 2008
Does the Brain Know Food Calorie Count
Ivan de Araujo and his team of researchers altered mice as to their ability to taste sweetness in foods. They conducted a test with mice that had normal taste abilities and those with out the ability to taste sweetness. Both groups of mice chose the high calorie sweet water or the non-caloric sweet water. While analyzing the mice brains during the experiment, the researchers found that the mouse reward circuit turned on while drinking the sugar water. Neurons in the reward section of the brain activated with the sugar water. (I wonder if they just didn’t like the taste of the sugar-free solution).
The researchers believe they have found the answer to the human calorie-sensing system. They further believe that eliminating high fructose corn syrup from the diet of obese people would curb their need for the foods containing this product.
What are your thoughts on this study? I came out with a lot of questions that seemed unanswered. Mice may have an animal instinct that humans no longer or just do not possess regarding the ability to know which water had higher calories - a survival instinct. Secondly, we know that white sugar as well as high fructose corn syrup are both highly addictive to some people. Not only that, but those with a propensity towards diabetes may turn simple carbs readily into simple sugars within their body - acting as though they had just eaten sugar. This means that more and more foods on the market feed the sugar addiction in many people who are overweight.
In any sense, addiction of any kind is not easily put to rest. In my opinion, Araujo and his researchers have over simplified their findings.
