You really may be addicted to that chocolate cake

[PfcHammer]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040421/od_uk_nm/oukoe_science_cravings_1

You really may be addicted to that chocolate cake

Wed Apr 21, 3:52 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who say they are addicted to chocolate or pizza may not be exaggerating, U.S.-based scientists say.

A brain scan study of normal, hungry people showed their brains lit up when they saw and smelled their favourite foods in much the same way as the brains of cocaine addicts when they think about their next snort.

"Food presentation significantly increased metabolism in the whole brain (by 24 percent) and these changes were largest in superior temporal, anterior insula, and orbitofrontal cortices," they wrote.

These areas are associated with addiction. For instance, the orbitofrontal cortex has been seen to activate in cocaine users when they think about the drug.

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[Kadie]

1. Chocolate and Coffee

Two of life's necessities.

Does this mean I need to break my addiction? Do they have a program for me?

[KansDem]

10. I'm with you...

I found a delicious chocolate cake made for vegans at a local natural food store. Now just about every night after the kids are in bed, my wife and I brew some decaffeinated coffee and have a piece of the cake. Hmmmm-hmm. :9

We usually watch a classic movie, too! (Bogie, Bacall, chocolate cake and coffee--hmmmm-hmm:9).

(I'm not a vegan but like the natural ingredients)

[On the Road]

2. A Behavioral View of Addiction Makes a Lot More Sense

If you can be addicted to pizza, it can't be anything in the substance itself. And substance addictions act just like behavioral addictions such as gambling.

Drug policy is so misguided and wasteful anyway -- focusing on the chemicals themselves makes it even worse. Here's a better approach:

http://www.peele.net/

[prodigal_green]

3. While that may be true, I think a more apt comparison

would be that the areas that light up when a cocaine addict encounters his drug are the same that light up when presented with food. That would explain drug addiction a little better.

Having said that, I only recently discovered my terrible addiction to sugar. I gave it up for Lent. It took about a week to stop shaking, but now I don't crave it. There is a huge plate of cookies right outside of my office. Beautiful, sweet cookies...and I don't want them at all (keep telling yourself that). Anyway, I have lost 15 pounds since giving up the sucrose if that is any indicator of how bad it really was.

[toopers]

4. A psych professor in college once told me . . .

that anything that an individual percieves as pleasureable is potentially addictive to that individual. I tend to agree with her.

[FlaGranny]

8. Well, there is addiction, and there is addiction.

For instance caffeine withdrawal causes severe headache and nausea. You actually get sick. I believe that is what happens with heroin and cocaine. Something like sugar, on the other hand, screws up your insulin levels while you're eating it, but I don't believe refraining from sugar actually causes physical illness. At least I never had that problem with sugar and other foods I've given up (bread, mostly). I can believe in food addiction but I believe it is more psychological than physical.

[robbedvoter]

5. Another study (no link) : good natured babies, kids - from mothers that

ate chocolate during pregnancy
My kid is an angel - REALLY!

[Lindacooks]

6. Here's the link for that study

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/07/1081326788715.html

[robbedvoter]

7. Thank you! Isn't it worth it? Chocolate & happy babies? beats it all!

[skippysmom]

9. I'm no scientist

but I can believe it. I am dieting right now and have been off most sweets, and being without chocolate has felt like withdrawal.

[KansDem]

11. There's one way to test this theory...

For instance, the orbitofrontal cortex has been seen to activate in cocaine users when they think about the drug

At the next Bush press conference, someone shout "COKE" and see if Bush's eyes light up...

Hmmmm-hmm:9 "Cohhhhhh-ke"

[damnraddem]

12. What do you mean 'may'?

Of course I am. Of course we are.

[lostnfound]

13. I find that a deep inhale (of chocolate) cuts the craving.

Seriously. My secretary usually has a can of small dark chocolates on her desk (my favorite!). Sometimes I just pick it up and breathe deeply..I can pretend that it's as satisfying as a taste. In some way, it really is.

[indigo32]

14. I knew it!

there had to be a reason LOL