18 Oct 2013, BioSpectrum Bureau , BioSpectrum
Singapore: A study conducted by Connecticut College has revealed that Oreo, which is one of the most popular milk cookies in the world, is just as addictive as cocaine.
The research found that the behavior exhibited by rats while testing their addictiveness to Oreo revealed similar results to when they are tested for addictiveness to cocaine.
The study was designed to shed light on the potential addictiveness of high-fat and high-sugar foods. The researchers put Oreos on one side of a maze and rice cakes on the other side. When the rats were placed in the maze, they repeatedly returned to the Oreo side of the maze just as a human would do.
The results of the research mirrored those of a similar test conducted using addictive substances. In a similar experiment, on one side of the maze, rats were given an injection of substances such as cocaine or morphine and a shot of saline on the other side. The majority of rats would return to the cocaine side of the maze when given the opportunity.
The scientists highlighted that the results support the theory that high-fat and high-sugar foods stimulate the brain in the same way drugs do. This may explain why some people can't resist these foods, despite the fact they know they're bad for them.