by HELEN COLLIS
The Daily Mail
Food could be as addictive as class-A drug heroin and nicotine in cigarettes, claims a new study.
Researchers have found substance abuse and food with a high glycaemic index – such as white bread and potatoes – may trigger the same brain mechanism tied to addiction.
Eating highly processed carbohydrates can cause excess hunger and stimulate brain regions involved in reward and cravings, according to the study.
The findings suggest that limiting ‘high-glycaemic index’ foods could help obese people avoid overeating.
The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, investigated how food intake is regulated by dopamine-containing pleasure centres in the brain.
Study leader Dr David Ludwig, of Boston Children’s Hospital in the United States, said: ‘Beyond reward and craving, this part of the brain is also linked to substance abuse and dependence, which raises the question as to whether certain foods…
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A Nutritional Makeover 