Sugar can be addictive

And you may well have noticed this addictive characteristic if you overindulged in sugar over the recent holidays. Turns out, the neurotransmitter dopamine plays a big role here. Theres a lot of research on dopamine coming out these days. The research discussed here is just one example.

We last dealt with dopamine back in November: here. One could paraphrase the conclusions of that research as suggesting that genetic problems with a dopamine receptor lead to reduced sensitivity to dopamine, which leads to stronger than normal craving for food, leading to overeating and obesity.

The research in question here looks at a special case of this in an animal model, involving rats and sugar. In this case, reduced sensitivity to dopamine isnt a consequence of a variant allele for a dopamine receptor. Instead, it seems to result from excessive intake of the addictive substance (sugar), resulting in fewer brain receptors for dopamine.

Sugar Can Be Addictive: Animal Studies Show Sugar Dependence (12/10/08)

"We have the first set of comprehensive studies showing the strong suggestion of sugar addiction in rats and a mechanism that might underlie it," [principal investigator Bart] Hoebel said. The findings eventually could have implications for the treatment of humans with eating disorders, he said.

Lab animals, in Hoebels experiments, that were denied sugar for a prolonged period after learning to binge worked harder to get it when it was reintroduced to them. They consumed more sugar than they ever had before, suggesting craving and relapse behavior. Their motivation for sugar had grown. "In this case, abstinence makes the heart grow fonder," Hoebel said.

The rats drank more alcohol than normal after their sugar supply was cut off, showing that the bingeing behavior had forged changes in brain function. These functions served as "gateways" to other paths of destructive behavior, such as increased alcohol intake. And, after receiving a dose of amphetamine normally so minimal it has no effect, they became significantly hyperactive. The increased sensitivity to the psychostimulant is a long-lasting brain effect that can be a component of addiction, Hoebel said.

The research investigated the physiological changes responsible for this addictive behavior:

Hoebel has shown that rats eating large amounts of sugar when hungry, a phenomenon he describes as sugar-bingeing, undergo neurochemical changes in the brain that appear to mimic those produced by substances of abuse, including cocaine, morphine and nicotine. Sugar induces behavioral changes, too. "In certain models, sugar-bingeing causes long-lasting effects in the brain and increases the inclination to take other drugs of abuse, such as alcohol," Hoebel said.

Hoebel and his team also have found that a chemical known as dopamine is released in a region of the brain known as the nucleus accumbens when hungry rats drink a sugar solution. This chemical signal is thought to trigger motivation and, eventually with repetition, addiction. ...

Hungry rats that binge on sugar provoke a surge of dopamine in their brains. After a month, the structure of the brains of these rats adapts to increased dopamine levels, showing fewer of a certain type of dopamine receptor than they used to have and more opioid receptors. These dopamine and opioid systems are involved in motivation and reward, systems that control wanting and liking something. Similar changes also are seen in the brains of rats on cocaine and heroin.

Its interesting that overstimulating with an addictive substance (sugar) not only reduces the number of dopamine receptors but also increases the number of opioid receptors. Whats not so clear is the relationship between the dopamine and opioid systems. Having more opioid receptors would appear to increase cravings for substances that stimulate them, which is the opposite of what happens with dopamine receptors. Hypothetically, perhaps, opioid stimulation is able to substitute for reduced dopamine sensitivity.

Research in this area may have even wider implications than behavior linked to overconsumption, as there is other recent research that suggests addictive behavior related to other kinds of stimulation, such as gambling and risk-taking.

Watch for a lot more discussion of this line of inquiry.

Tags: dopamine, addiction

Easy Ways to be Ageless Face of Caring

Youth is the most guarded by everyone. Anyone want to look younger and stay beautiful until old age. Then how to better treat facial skin youthful and healthy and beautiful? What should be done to stay young face? How to care for the face can be done in many ways, but how to care for natural face is the safest choice. How to care for the mans face and how to care for a womans face is actually about the same. Here are tips on how to care for youthful face of all time.

Quoted from Sheknows, heres how to maintain youthful skin, stay beautiful and glowing:

Use products according to skin type PH Balance
Taking care of skin that healthy glow you can always do with using beauty products that contain PH Balance according to skin type and age.

PH Balance can be found in a series of facial treatments such as milk facial cleanser and moisturizer and anti-aging cream (night cream).

If you want the skin moist and not dry, it is better to use a series of facial treatments regularly, twice a day.


Put sunscreen before the move
The sun contains ultraviolet radiation which is bad for her skin beauty. Therefore, you must treat the face in the proper way, are wearing sunscreen before the move out of the house.

The move was made because the skin is very vulnerable to Ultra Violet Ultra Violet A and B produced by the sun during the day. By using a sunscreen with an SPF (minimum SPF 15) and UV-A and UV-B protection, the skin will stay protected and free from black spots (sun spots).


Facial Gymnastics
Maybe all this femininity not understand the importance of facial gymnastics. In fact, if examined more deeply, actively facial gymnastics to tighten face muscles.

If you want to look younger than your actual age, then you should tighten your face regularly, especially in the morning. Its easy, just pronounce vowels A, I, U, E, O at least 30 times a day. Perform the regular movement without excessive appealing mouth. As a result you will feel as we age.


Face masks
Having a beautiful skin without acne scars or fine wrinkles do not have to be expensive. You do not have to go on, but you can do it at home. Suppose that by wearing a face mask.

Apply a face mask and eye regularly, at least 3 times a week. Select the type of mask according to your skin needs. If you want to use a mask of natural ingredients, you can meraciknya yourself with honey, tomato, cucumber or bangkoang.

Even if you do not want to be bothered, you can select the mask in the form of a powder that is packed with practical. You can also choose to restore freshness mask mask in the middle of tired skin.


Avoid stress
Many studies have shown that stress can affect the health and beauty of skin. Because when you are in a state of stress, the skin will lose its elasticity, moisture, and blood flow so smoothly. Thus, skin regeneration can be stopped.

Easy steps to do if you want to be free from stress and always youthful, start thinking positively.

Be careful Chinese New Year oranges

I think wed better just stay away from China foodstuff, just to be safe!!!

Dear All,

Chinese new year is drawing near. When buying Chinese oranges please beware of the worms inside. These worms are very similar to the texture of the orange and therefore can only be observed if you look carefully (long sighted person may not
notice).

The Chinese government had in fact made efforts to destroy hundreds of tons of these oranges and compensate the farmers for these. But however some culprit may still sell it illegally. Thats why we need to be careful.

Whether the worms are harmful to the human body or not is still questionable. But generally if small quantities are consumed it should not cause any major harm according to doctors. It is advisable to be careful about it.