More than half of the population in America has become addicted to eating ultra-processed food. This type of food is high in sugar and fat, which directly affect our brains. Due to this, the level of hormones in the brain becomes unbalanced. At the same time, the risk of memory loss is also high.
Recent research at the University of Michigan revealed that eating sweets can also be a habit. When a person eats sweets of his choice, a hormone called dopamine is released in his body. This further increases our habit of eating sweets.
Sugar-fat addiction in America
People often associate addiction with smoking and drinking, but 14% of adults and 12% of children in the US are addicted to sugar and fat-rich foods. especially during the holidays. Ashley Gerhardt, associate professor at the University of Michigan, says that the release of dopamine from foods high in sugar and fat does not increase pleasure. It encourages us to repeat those behaviors.
Fat-sugar increases dopamine by 200%
The more dopamine that is released, the more likely we are to repeat that behavior. Millions of people are affected, says Alexandra DiFelicantonio, assistant professor at Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Fat and sugar increase dopamine by up to 200% of normal levels. Therefore, we should often eat healthy food with the advice of doctors.
Dopamine increases by 140% from sugar and 160% from fat
Sugar increases dopamine levels in the body by 135 to 140%. Wherein 160% is from fat. Cocaine can increase normal dopamine levels by three times, while methamphetamine can increase normal dopamine levels by 10 times.
