Oreos as Addictive as Cocaine?
This was a fascinating study recently done at Connecticut College. Students found that “America’s favorite cookie” (Oreos) was found just as addictive as cocaine…in lab rats. Also, while not part of the study, it’s interesting to note that the rats eat the creamy filling first too.
Rats were divided into two groups. The first group was put in a maze where one side was filled with rice cakes and the other side was filled with Oreo cookies and (no surprise) the rats preferred to hang out on the Oreo side.
The second group was put in a maze where on one side they received a saline solution injection and the other side they received an injection of cocaine or morphine.
Now here’s the really interesting part. They measured levels of a protein called c-Fos, a marker of neural activation in the brain’s “pleasure center” and found that the Oreos activated significantly more neurons than cocaine or morphine.
While the study was small and not in humans, it supports the theory that high-fat, high-sugar foods can be just as addictive as illegal drugs. Also, what makes this significant is the idea that while cocaine is illegal and fairly difficult to attain, junk food is easily accessible and affordable.
What are your thoughts? Do you think junk food is as addictive as drugs?
Lisa 
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LOL! Cocaine isn’t really THAT addictive, now! I’d rather have a box of Oreos and half a gallon of whole milk than all the blow I could shove up my nose!
LOL! Great commentary!
I can completely understand this. Sugar addiction is deadly.
It will be interesting to see how the food industry and science communities react to this study and go from there.
I snort oreos on regular basis- isnt that what breaking bad is about?
LOL. Maybe that’s the connection as to why I love Oreos and Breaking Bad!
I can believe it! I love sugary foods, and sometimes it’s extremely hard to resist them. I’ve never done drugs, so I can’t compare the two, but I do love Oreos!
I can remember eating an entire section of Oreos in one sitting and I don’t even like Oreos that much. Who knew I was secretly a lab rat? LOL
A school teacher by education I also worked in the addiction field and somewhere between the full moon and sugar there is nothing else that makes children of all ages act a little strange. Alcohol (fermented sugar), shopping, food, exercise, sex, gambling, beating on a spouse, whatever turns ones pleasure center on there is always a chance of that one may become addicted, a physical compulsion and a mental obsession that one can never get enough of what they crave.
Listen to friends and family when they comment on you excessive habits before you become addicted because unfortunately the addicted usually lose their hearing.
Love, hugs and blessings …ME and the Boss
That’s so true! Kids go nutty around the sugar rush holidays. It’s a good point you make that people should listen to friends and family about excessive habits.