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THE PRIMAL PULL OF SWEETS

Studies on Oreos and other snack foods suggest that the same brain chemicals that create the rush of narcotics also keep people coming back for sugary treats. The controversy over the American diet in recent years has centered on how much obese consumers are stuffing into their mouths. But the root of our overeating lies not in our stomachs, but in our brains. Moments after a person eats an Oreo, or any other sweet, the brain's pleasure centers release opiate like compounds--chemical cousins of morphine. The result bears similarities to addiction, though many researchers say it is more like turning on a built-in craving. Such work supports the controversial notion that our eating habits stem from brute physiology as well as free choice. To read the entire Chicago Tribune 3 part series "THE OREO, OBESITY AND US" link here!