Before the advent of processed foods, what we ate was grown in nature, harvested, and eaten solely for the purpose of satisfying hunger. Today, however, much of the food we eat contains artificial ingredients and added sugars that not only provide a sense of fullness, but also induce cravings.
In 2007, researchers at the University of Bordeaux in France conducted an experiment in which rats were offered the choice of two rewards—cocaine or saccharin-sweetened water. Even though cocaine is highly addictive, 94 percent of the mice chose the saccharin, indicating the addictive potential of intense sweetness. Their choices held even when the cocaine dosage was increased.
