Takeaways from Ted Talk "Sugar is Not a Treat"

Through this video, I mainly learned about the neurological effects of excess sugar on the body, especially towards adolescents. The idea that excess sugar is bad for our bodies is well known, but its effects on our mental aspect is not as commonly acknowledged. It is also well known that there is a release of dopamine during the consumption of junk food, which is what causes the 

feeling of pleasure. As this behavior is repeated, the body develops “tolerance” - resulting in the person needing to consume more food in order to obtain the same release of dopamine. The dopamine also has the ability to redirect your attention to what it wants, and provide justifications for whatever behavior will allow the brain to get more of it. Although the prefrontal cortex of the brain has the power to rationally think and potentially override the calls made by the dopamine, this part of the brain only fully matures during the late 20s, making it particularly difficult to resist urges to eat sugary foods at younger ages. In addiction to the addiction-like urges created in the minds of the younger generation, sugary foods also directly impact their behavior - making them less likely to follow rules and creating cognitive deficits, according to a study done on rats. In addition, too much sugar can cause inflammation in the hippocampus, the portion in the brain responsible for memory. This creates problems with memory, as well as preventing proper fullness signals from the stomach that further exacerbates the problem of “sugar addiction”. Excess sugar also impairs neurogenesis, or the creation of new neurons, in the hippocampus - which was already harmed from the inflammation. The lower quantity of neurons in the brain makes them one susceptible to mental illness, which creates a vicious positive feedback cycle as people then increase their “comfort-eating” in order to feel better. To fix these issues, the neuroscientist then gave the same universal message: eat more fruits and vegetables. She mentioned that these contain high quantities of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all of which can support brain development and can help revert the damage done.