So these are extremely deeply seated uh brain adaptations . So we've essentially purified these palatability factors that are the things that our brains are kind of looking for . We're kind of hardwired to look for these properties and food .
So we've essentially purified these palatability factors that are the things that our brains are kind of looking for . We're kind of hardwired to look for these properties and food . We're hardwired to look for calorie density , to look for carbohydrate , to look for fat , to look for sugar .
They're not adapted to being hit with a sledge hammer of these um compelling food properties at every meal . And you know , these things , I , I won't get too deep into the neurobiology of it , but these food properties cause dopamine to be released by the brain , which is a , a reinforcement signal that reinforces motivation and behavior . And if you get excessive dopamine release , for example , co by cocaine or especially crack cocaine or methamphetamine or heroin , excessive dopamine release leads to um all the behaviors associated with drug seeking being prioritized over everything else in your life .
So when it comes to us , you know , a piece of a piece of pizza or ice cream or candy or actually chocolate is a good example . Um these things reinforce behavior in my opinion to a degree that you would have not have seen um that our ancestors would not have experienced and people develop , you know , it's controversial whether there is such a thing as food addiction . Some researchers believe that there is some researchers don't kind of believe the concept , but certainly people exhibit addiction like behaviors toward food .
You don't realize , uh , exactly what you're eating when you walk into a restaurant , um , avoiding processed food . But I think another thing that's really , really important and doesn't always necessarily make it to the top of the pile in these types of discussions is controlling your food environment because I think that a lot of people have some idea about how to eat healthy . Now , they may not be optimally educated on the subject , but the average person doesn't believe that coca-cola is good for you .
