Scientists Warn Sugar Can Make You Dumb

7/28/2019 Scientists Warn Sugar Can Make You Dumb

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MNN.COM Food Healthy EatingSugar can make you dumb, scientists warn

Pag 2 of 1Sugar can make you dumb, scientists warn | MNN - Mother Nature Network



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Too much sugar can eat away at your brainpower, according to scientists whostudied how a steady diet of high fructose corn syrup sapped rats' memories.

By

Agence France-PresseTue, May 15 2012 at 4:39 PM

7 13

Related Topics:

Healthy Eating, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Obesity

SUGAR: Eating too much fructose could interfere with insulin's ability to regulate how cells useand store sugar, which is necessary for processing thoughts and emotions. (Photo: ChrisRatcliffe/AFP)

Eating too much sugar can eat away at your brainpower, according to U.S. scientists whopublished a study Tuesday showing how a steady diet of high fructose corn syrup sapped labrats' memories.

Researchers at the University of CaliforniaLos Angelesfed two groups of rats a solution

containing high fructose corn syrup a common ingredient in processed foods as drinkingwater for six weeks.

One group of rats was supplemented with brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids in the form offlaxseed oil and docosahexaenoic acid, while the other group was not.

Before the sugar drinks began, the rats were enrolled in a five-day training session in acomplicated maze.

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After six weeks on the swee solution, the rats were then placed back in the maze to see hothey fared.

"The DHA-deprived animals were slower, and their brains showed a decline in synapticactivity," said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen Schoolof Medicineat UCLA.

"Their brain cells had trouble signaling each other, disrupting the rats' ability to think clearlyand recall the route they'd learned six weeks earlier."

A closer look at the rat brains revealed that those who were not fed DHA supplements had alsodeveloped signs of resistance to insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar and regulates brainfunction.

"Because insulin can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, the hormone may signal neurons totrigger reactions that disrupt learning and cause memory loss," Gomez-Pinilla said.

In other words, eating too much fructose could interfere with insulin's ability to regulate howcells use and store sugar, which is necessary for processing thoughts and emotions.

"Insulin is important in the body for controlling blood sugar, but it may play a different role inthe brain, where insulin appears to disturb memory and learning," Gomez-Pinilla said.

"Our study shows that a high-fructose diet harms the brain as well as the body. This issomething new."

High-fructose corn syrup is commonly found in soda, condiments, applesauce, baby food and

other processed snacks.

The average American consumes more than 40 pounds of high-fructose corn syrup per year,according to the US Department of Agriculture.

While the study did not say what the equivalent might be for a human to consume as much high-fructose corn syrup as the rats did, researchers said it provides some evidence that metabolicsyndrome can affect the mind as well as the body.

"Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think," said Gomez-Pinilla.

"Eating a high-fructose diet over the long term alters your brain's ability to learn and rememberinformation. But adding omega-3 fatty acids to your meals can help minimize the damage."

The study appeared in the Journal of Physiology.

Copyright 2012 AFP Global Edition




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CJan 30 2013 at 11:53 PM

And rats' systems are the same as humans' systems how?

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Enter your nameJan 22 2013 at 10:51 PM

Their drinking water was replaced with a corn syrup solution? Maybe they were havingcognition problems because they were dehydrated...

Like(1 Like)|


EarlJan 10 2013 at 12:15 PM




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By all means remove processed sugar from your diet, but do not substitute it with anything bunatural sugar, not artificial sweeteners.

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MichaelMay 18 2012 at 3:59 PM

Technically, they were studying hfcs not sugar - and if you tell me its the same thing, I'll makeyou a Margarita with rubbing alcohol!

Like(3 Likes)|


Richard HMay 18 2012 at 10:43 AM

The study was realy about Omega 3 fats and how their lack affects brain chemestry.

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molly cruzMay 16 2012 at 1:18 PMToo much is the problem. Sugar substitute Aspartame made me quite sick for months, and Ionly consumed three envelopes of Tang Instant Iced Tea. My feet swelled for weeks; I sleptconstantly, ate constantly while I was awake, and had a migraine, before I looked up thesymptoms at 'Dangers of Aspartame', where they were all listed, go figure! When I wrote a letter




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of complaint to Kraft Foods, begging them to a least label products clearly that containedAspartame, they responded that the FDA said.... MoreLike(1 Like)|


hmgmorrisMay 16 2012 at 11:34 AM

That figures....

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Scientists Warn Sugar Can Make You Dumb