Sugar and the Nervous System
Photo Courtesy of Lauren Gary
|
Photo Courtesy of Lauren Gary
|
Photo Courtesy of Lauren Gary
|
Although it is widely known that diets high in sugar of any kind can lead to diabetes and obesity, its effects on the brain are much lesser known. A study at UCLA examined the effects on rats. The rats learned a maze, and then were given high-sugar diets, and after 6 weeks of this diet, could no longer perform the maze as well as they could, while the rats that had a high-sugar diet offset by omega-3 fatty acids could still perform at the same level. The rats who performed at a lower level were DHA deprived and had become insulin resistant. This caused their synapses to become damaged and react much slower than normal, and it also caused problems with signaling that hindered the ability to process current events. Being insulin resistant also means that the insulin, which normally regulates the synapses in the brain, is not working correctly either. The implication of this study is that diets high in sugar harm your long term memory, as memories you previously made will no longer be as strong or clear. It can also make it harder to learn as your synapses will struggle to send signals to each other in order for you to process your new information. (4)
|
Diets high in sugar continue to wreak havoc on your nervous system in ways you never knew about, including having similar effects as drugs. As examined earlier, the intake of sugar activates an area of the brain that has been coined the "reward system" which in turn releases dopamine. This same reward system, according to Dr. Nicole Avena at the University of Florida College of Medicine, is activated during the use of drugs such as cocaine, except in the case of drugs, an influx of dopamine comes in, so much that it makes you feel "high". Just like with drugs, people who find themselves drawn to this feeling will eat lots of sugar which will, eventually, have that same "high" effect because dopamine receptors in the brain don't even out after repeated exposure to sugar, but rather stay the same, and they will continue to release the same amount of dopamine. This release of dopamine also leads to cravings in the long run, which further the feelings of addiction. (5)
|
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons;https://mic.com/articles/88015/what-happens-to-your-brain-on-sugar-explained-by-science#.ji7IFjsIR
|