Not only overweight: scientists have discovered that sweets reduce the level of intelligence

It is well known that the brain consumes more energy than other human organs. The main "fuel" in this case is glucose. Those who are engaged in mental activity are well acquainted with the deterioration of mental activity in the absence of fast carbohydrates in the diet. But, as it turned out, everything is fine in moderation and excess sugar has a negative effect on the brain. This is exactly the case when "more" does not mean "better" at all.

The results of a study by scientists from the United States, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition) reveal the secret of the complex relationship between our brain and sugar. For most people, eating a small amount of sweets causes a craving to eat more and more. Sugar has a narcotic effect on the reward center of the brain. Scientists have suggested that sweet foods, along with salty and fatty foods, can cause addiction-like effects.

The consequences will be deplorable — this is a loss of self-control, excess weight, failures in the endocrine system. As a result — a whole "bouquet" of diseases, ranging from cardiovascular, and ending with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, it is better not to lean on sweets, as they imperceptibly drag us into a trap from which it is very difficult to escape.

Interestingly, the passion for sweets came to us from our distant ancestors. The first people rarely received shock doses of sugar, because it was available to them only with fruits and berries. The body of primitive man was perfectly oriented that sweet is useful and important. Therefore, the body tried to replenish sugar reserves in reserve. But now, when we are surrounded by goodies, this desire works against us.

Now back to the effect of sugar on the brain. In humans, foods with a high glycemic index activate brain regions associated with reward response. They cause a stronger feeling of hunger compared to foods with a low glycemic index. Foods that cause a higher increase in blood glucose levels are also more addictive.

Additional studies of brain activity have provided evidence supporting the idea that overeating alters our brain's reward system, which then leads to overeating. It is believed that the same process underlies tolerance associated with addiction. This is a mechanism that causes addiction to drugs, alcohol or tobacco.

As you have already understood by analogy, over time, more substance is required to achieve the same level of reward. Studies show that overeating leads to a decrease in the response to reward. This leads to a gradual increase in dependence on foods low in nutrients, rich in sugar, salt and fat. It may seem to you that biochemists exaggerate. But, alas, this is not the case. Scientists have already determined for sure that sweet foods can cause a stronger addiction than cocaine.

Experiments conducted in several clinics in the USA on volunteers showed a strange and frightening picture. It turned out that even a single increase in blood glucose levels can harm the brain. It leads to a slowdown in cognitive functions and deterioration of memory and attention.

Some studies show that high sugar intake causes inflammation in the brain, which leads to memory problems. A 2016 study published in the journal Behavioral Brain Research found that markers of inflammation were present in the hippocampus of rats fed a high-sugar diet. Rats that lived in exactly the same conditions, but received a standard diet, were absolutely healthy.

But there is also good news for the repentant sweet tooth. It lies in the fact that this inflammatory damage from sugar is a reversible process. A study conducted in 2017 showed that memory damage caused by excessive sugar consumption can be reversed. To do this, you just need to follow a diet with a low sugar content and a low glycemic index.

The process of restoring the brain of a "sugar addict" can be accelerated. A study published in the journal Nutrients in 2015 showed that the addition of omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin improves working memory. These drugs are especially effective against the background of a maximum reduction in sugar consumption.

But that's not all. Sugar also affects mood. According to a brain imaging study, in healthy young people, the ability to process emotions is reduced due to elevated blood glucose levels. In one of the articles in the journal Diabetes Care, it is said that people with type 2 diabetes reported an increased feeling of sadness and anxiety during acute hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar levels).

Not so long ago, the largest study of the effect of sugar on mood was completed in the UK. It was attended by 23,245 people who were observed for several years. The conclusion was unequivocal — the more a person consumes sweets, the higher his probability of depression. In 2017, this was confirmed by doctors from one of the US universities. They published in the journal Scientific Reports the result of their work with mentally unstable patients.

Their observations showed that sugar lovers are 23 percent more likely to be diagnosed with a mental disorder than people with a low level of its consumption. And finally, we remind you that an increased level of glucose in the blood harms blood vessels. Damage to blood vessels is the main cause of vascular complications of diabetes, leading to other problems. Among them is damage to the blood vessels of the brain and eyes, causing retinopathy. This is another blow to mental abilities, because brain activity depends on effective blood circulation.

So urgently replace sweets with other products that are less dangerous for our intelligence, figure and mood.