Table of ContentsIntroductionRats Can't Resist Junk FoodWhat Is Really the Most Addictive Food?SkepticsIntroductionFirst of all, the topic at hand is always the subject constant debates; whether food addiction actually exists or not, because as we all know, food is vital for our survival as a living organism. Plus, we all have this tendency to get addicted to anything, therefore; It makes sense and sense that our bodies can have some sort of chemical reaction to something that makes us want more of it. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay I scoured different websites to gather information on the topic, contemplating the aforementioned introspection to check if my basic penny was correct. Well, yeah, it is. Research suggests that foods can be addictive. Fat and sugar were the two most important and emphasized determinants, but the conclusion drawn is controversial. Which foods are hardest to resist and where we may experience withdrawal symptoms? Obviously we can be addicted to just about anything: phones, sex, shopping and I'm discussing a topic where food should be discussed, so junk food to be precise. There is, of course, one point at which serious clinical addiction and figurative addiction are distinctly interpreted throughout this thesis: it is the former. As I said earlier, food is necessary for our survival as living organisms, and this is the rhetorical question I wish to raise: can we really become addicted to certain unhealthy foods in the same way that we can drugs? Resist junk food. What does the rat have to do with it? Well, I came across this research paper in which a group of psychiatrists planning to study obesity decided to delve further into the question of whether some people's anecdotal claims of food addiction could be proven. They conducted a series of studies in which rats were given highly palatable sugary or fatty foods (they were also given the option to eat their usual healthy food, but this was not examined). To expand on a quote from Nicole Avena (part of the research team) "We found signs of tolerance, withdrawal, craving and measurable changes in neuronal chemicals such as dopamine and opioid release" . From my own understanding, it seemed that even if the animals were addicted to a drug, they tolerated even a "foot shock" (crushing a power grid) to quell their craving. Today, the theory of food addiction is still relatively young and controversial on its very essence. Anyway, expanding on a quote from Avena, "additional studies have been conducted to validate these initial findings. And some studies in humans have now really begun to characterize this." or sugar), once digested, it makes us chemically high. It could possibly be both. The rats involved in Avena's experiment necessarily get the taste of sugar and nuts, also nutrient it the other way around, and regardless of which way dopamine is always released, therefore; These two things together will cause a double whammy for dopamine. What is truly the most addictive food? So far, the exact confirmations focus attention on both fats and sugar, rather than specific elements.