SAN ANTONIO — Most of us know that certain types of food and drinks can be considered addictive. But one study shows certain kinds of food can be more addictive than you think. We are talking about ultra-processed foods like ice cream and potato chips. Foods that are high in sugar and carbohydrates
THE QUESTION
Are ultra-processed foods as addictive as drugs, such as cocaine?
THE SOURCES
- Ron Gourley, the CEO and founder of TrendTek Bio
- Ashley Gearhardt, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan
THE ANSWER
TRUE
WHAT WE FOUND
Gourley said those kinds of food are very addictive, and it all has to do with the addictive power of refined sugars.
"The addictive side of that is it these high caloric, high sugar concentration foods that trigger in the brain dopamine. So very, very similar to what you would find if you're dealing with cocaine or if you're dealing with alcohol or if you're dealing with nicotine," Gourley said.
Gearhardt, the lead researcher on a study at the University of Michigan, along with other colleagues analyzed 281 studies from 36 countries and found about 13 percent of people were addicted to ultra-processed foods, as defined by the Yale Food Addiction Scale.
A recent article in the New York Post Gearhardt said: "There is converging and consistent support for the validity and clinical relevance of ultra-processed food addiction."
So yes, it is true. Ultra-processed foods are as addictive as drugs, such as cocaine.
Gearhardt also said by acknowledging that certain types of processed foods have the properties of addictive substances, we may be able to help improve global health.