be pretty full, he crosses a metal platform that gives his feet electric shocks just to

在吃得很飽了之後，他還踩過通了電的鐵板

get a sweet reward.

就為了要拿到甜食。

Sometimes our love of sugar makes us go a little overboard.

有時候我們對糖類的熱愛有點過頭。

We've all been in that situation where we've had one cookie and then suddenly… the whole pack is gone.

我們都有過這樣的經驗，吃了一塊餅乾，然後忽然... 整包都沒了

And then, we crave more. So can you be addicted to sugar?

然後.... 我們想要更多。所以... 有沒有可能是糖類上癮呢？

Let's revisit our mouse friend – that brave little guy who risked his life just

再回頭看看我們的老鼠朋友 - 那個勇敢的小傢伙，

for some sugar dissolved in water.

冒險犯難只為了拿到糖水。

When he did this, a pathway was lighting up from the hunger and feeding region of his

當他這樣做的時候，一個連線亮了起來，從他大腦的飢餓和覓食區

brain to another region important for motivation and reward.

連結到另一個重要的區域，動機和獎勵。

He'd developed a reward seeking habit.

他建立了一個尋求獎勵的習慣。

Looking at this pathway is like zooming in on our larger reward-processing centre.

這個路線就好像我們的獎勵處理中心。

Researchers found that activating it increases compulsive overeating and binge eating behavior.

專家發現了激活這個路線增加了暴飲暴食的衝動。

And they found that shutting down the pathway decreased that sugar seeking behavior.

他們也發現關閉這個連線減少了嗜糖的行為。

But it didn’t stop normal healthy eating behavior, like having dinner.

但是不會停止正常的健康飲食行為，比如吃晚餐。

For us, a reward seeking behavior is going to the fridge or pantry and getting a cookie.

對我們來說，獎勵搜尋行為就是到冰箱或是食品儲藏室拿餅乾。

We're hardwired to love sugar because it has energy-dense calories.

我們對糖類有很直接的喜好，因為它包含高熱量卡路里。

And it keeps activating our brain’s reward system,

而且它不斷刺激我們大腦裡的獎勵系統，

and these behaviors aren’t new to research.

研究顯示這些行為並不是最近的實驗中才發現的。

In an established animal model, rats are food deprived for 12 hours and then they're given 12 hour access to sugar water and food.

在某個動物實驗模型中，一些老鼠被餓了１２個小時之後再給予１２小時的糖水和食物。

As a result, they drink a lot of the sugar water, especially when it becomes first available.

結果顯示它們會喝下大量的糖水，特別是剛開始提供糖水的時候。

After a month on this feeding schedule, the rats display behaviors similar to those seen

經過一個月同樣的餵食之後，這些老鼠顯現出與吸毒成癮一樣的反應。

in drug abuse. They binge on the sugar, and show withdrawals, cravings and even depression

它們暴食糖類，並且如果得不到糖類時就會有戒斷、渴求，甚至沮喪的症狀

when it's not there. After this sugar bingeing the rats show a similar pattern of brain activity

暴食糖類之後的這些老鼠的大腦活動模式

as other rats who are morphine-dependent.

與嗎啡成癮的老鼠所顯示的非常類似

Many studies have compared sugar addiction to drug addiction, because they show similar

許多研究中將糖類成癮與藥物成癮做比較，因為它們顯示出類似的徵狀。

symptoms. Like increased tolerance, withdrawals and unsuccessful attempts to quit.

比如需求量增加，戒斷症狀，以及無法戒除上癮。

Could sugar really be as bad for us as drugs?

糖類對我們的身體真的可能像毒品一樣糟嗎？

Some experts think so, arguing that sugar is toxic, messing with our hormones and harming our organs.

某些專家認為如此，它們爭論糖類是一種有毒物質，會混亂我們的荷爾蒙並且傷害器官。

The “sugar is toxic” argument is mainly related to fructose – it's one sugar primarily

關於「糖類是有毒物質」的爭論主要與果糖相關－

found in table sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Fructose can only be processed by our

主要用於食用糖類或是高果糖玉米糖漿。果糖只能被我們的肝臟處理

liver, so consuming too much puts a lot of stress on it. It’s been suggested that over

食用太多果糖會對肝臟造成負擔。據推測隨著時間累積

time this can lead to metabolic syndrome, which in turn can lead to type 2 diabetes.

果糖也可能造成新陳代謝的併發症，有可能導致第２型的糖尿病

Not everyone agrees with these claims that sugar is evil. Some of the studies that link

並非每個人都同意糖類是罪惡的。某些研究將果糖與健康問題做連結

fructose to health problems have been criticised – because in them animal or human participants

而被嚴格評判－因為這些研究中動物與人類參與實驗者

consumed way more fructose than most people would. And animals metabolise fructose differently

攝取比普通人過量許多的果糖。並且動物對果糖的新陳代謝方式與人類不同

to humans. Studies show that mice and rats convert as much as 50% of fructose into fat,

研究顯示鼠類可以將５０％的果糖轉化成脂肪

while for humans it's more like one percent. What a fat rat.

而人類大約是百分之一。真是隻胖老鼠。

And it's important to remember that many things, apart from sugar and drugs, can stimulate our brain's reward circuit.

要特別記住，很多東西，除了糖類和毒品，都能刺激我們大腦裡的獎勵迴路。

Like exercise, gambling and to a lesser extent, fatty foods.

比如運動，賭博，以及傷害程度小一點的，高油脂食品

It doesn't necessarily mean we’re addicted to those things, we just find them pleasurable.

不一定代表我們會對這些東西上癮，但是這些東西讓我們很愉悅

It's pretty clear that sugar is an addictive food. But even if you like eating chocolate

顯而易見的，糖類是種令人上癮的食物。但是就算你喜歡每天吃巧克力

or donuts every day it doesn't mean you’re addicted. Very few people are.

或是甜甜圈，也不表示你上癮了。很少人是。

Still, if you are finding it impossible to reduce sugar cravings, doing regular exercise,

不過，如果你發現無法降低對糖類的需求，做些規律運動

eating dairy products and even chewing gum have been shown to help.

吃些奶製品，甚至吃口香糖都顯示有幫助。

Whatever you do, just don't cross a metal platform that gives your feet electric shocks

不管你做甚麼，就是不要踩過通了電的鐵板

to get a sweet reward. It’s not gonna end well.

只為了拿到甜食。通常都不會有好結果。

If you haven't already, check out my last episode on what sugar does to our bodies.

如果你還沒看過我上一集的影片，記得去看看，其中說明了糖類對我們身體的影響。

And subscribe to BrainCraft! It's pretty sweet.

並且訂閱 BrainCraft！很甜喔。