How Sweets Affect Your Brain

1. Disrupts the work of the reward system

Foods with a high glycemic index (that is, those that raise blood sugar levels faster) cause more intense hunger and even addictive-like sensations.

You have probably come across manifestations of this effect: after eating a little sweet, you want to eat more and more. If you succumb to this impulse over and over again, the work of the reward system in the brain changes, which leads to even more overeating in the future.

The same process underlies the emergence of all addictions: in order to receive a reward (pleasant sensations), over time, you have to constantly increase the amount of substance. This is exactly what happens with sweets. Scientists have found that it can be even more addictive than cocaine. The result is the epidemic of diabetes and obesity, which is now being observed in many Western countries.

2. Decreases memory

Consuming high amounts of sugar on a regular basis causes inflammation, which leads to memory problems. This was confirmed by researchers who found markers of inflammation in the hippocampus of rats whose diets were high in sugar. Rats with a normal diet did not have such markers in their brains.

Fortunately, this harm is not permanent. Other researchers have concluded that sugar-induced memory impairment can be reversed. To do this, you need to stick to a diet low in sugar and eat foods with a low glycemic index. And if you add healthy fats and curcumin to your diet, you will further improve memory.

3. Negatively affects mood

We used to think that sweets cheer you up, but this is not always the case. Scientists analyzed the eating habits and moods of 23,000 people and noticed that higher amounts of sugar in the diet were associated with more frequent cases of depression.

And this is not the only example of how sweet affects the emotional sphere. People with type 2 diabetes find that while they have high blood glucose levels, they are more prone to sadness and anxiety.

But, as it turned out, even healthy and young people find it more difficult to respond to emotions if sugar levels are elevated.

4. Reduces mental capacity

Elevated blood glucose levels damage the blood vessels, which gradually leads to other problems. Observation of people with long-term diabetes revealed that they have progressive brain damage that leads to impaired memory, learning and other cognitive functions.

Even in the absence of diabetes, consuming a lot of sweets is associated with lower scores on intelligence tests.

In addition, a diet high in added sugars (put into the dish during cooking) reduces the production of BDNF, which is needed for new memories and learning. Low levels of this protein in the brain have also been linked to the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.