10/21/2013
Study Finds Oreos Are as Addictive as Cocaine, Morphine
A student at Connecticut College found lab rats that ate Oreos were just as strongly associated to them as lab rats that were injected with cocaine or morphine. The study found that eating Oreos activated even more neurons in the "pleasure centers" of rats’ brains than those addicted drugs did.
■Class discussion: Are high-sugar, high-fat foods addictive? Why do human beings crave sugar and fats? Are food companies engineering their products to be addictive, tasty or both? Why are high-sugar foods often cheaper than healthier foods? Do we put convenience ahead of our health?