Results reveal a “one-two punch” to the brain's reward system, possibly impeding dieting efforts. Understanding why we overeat unhealthy foods has been a long-standing mystery. While we know food's strong power influences our choices, the precise circuitry in our brains behind this is unclear. Th

The vagus nerve sends internal sensory information from the gut to the brain about the nutritional value of food. But, the molecular basis of the reward in the brain associated with what we eat has been incompletely understood.

Now, a new study published in Cell Metabolism by a team from the Monell Chemical Senses Center, unravels the internal neural wiring, revealing separate fat and sugar craving pathways, as well as a concerning result: Combining these pathways overly triggers our desire to eat more than usual.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413123004667?via%3Dihub (open access)

    • NegativeInf@lemmy.world
      11·
      10 months ago

      At the very least, regulated in quantity by the FDA. Sure, you can add some sugar to bread to help with the rising process, but not so much that it’s a cake. Added sugars is modern adulteration, there only to disguise the lack of quality in other ingredients or preparation.

      • edric@lemm.ee
        2·
        10 months ago

        It’s mindblowing how sugar (usually in the form of high fructose corn syrup) is added on most food products in the US, even on stuff that don’t really need them. I started being conscious and reading labels on the things I buy at the grocery store and it’s so hard to avoid the stuff.

        • Riftinducer@aussie.zone
          2·
          10 months ago

          No kidding, I remember buying a loaf of rye bread when I went to the US and being shocked that it tasted sweet. It’s rye bread, sweetness is not the flavour I was going for.

      • jimbolauski@lemm.ee
        42·
        10 months ago

        It agitates me to no end why every bread product is loaded with sugar. I can tell immediately when someone uses pillsbury rolls, biscuts, crescent rolls. Even worse Hawaiian rolls which should have a little sweetness are stuffed with sugar to be sweater than everything else it’s just about pastry levels of sugar.

      • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        10 months ago

        I was in my late 40s when I figured out that sourdough is called such because it isn’t loaded with sugar. If it isn’t obvious, I’m American.

      • angrystego@lemmy.world
        1·
        10 months ago

        I agree. Let me add that it’s not added just to disguise the overall bad quality. It is added because the human body craves sugar. People find sweetened food more rewarding as was described in the article, and therefore they are more likely to buy it. Adding sugar is profitable.