Put down that bag of Oreo cookies and pick up those carrots. Studies show that food is just as addictive as cocaine, and Oreo cookies is just one culprit. So what really makes food so addictive, and why do companies make it that way? Most importantly, what are the effects for falling for these companies schemes? Well I’ll explain it.
While cocaine has a very powerful stimulating effect on the nervous system, it raises levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and movement in the brain's reward circuit. Neurons release dopamine in response to a pleasurable stimulus, such as the smell of good food. Many foods have a similar effect on the nervous system. Paul J. Kenny, Ph.D., an associate professor of molecular therapeutics at the Scripps Research Institute, in Jupiter, Florida states that one of the main things that makes food so addictive is their ingredients, or what's in them. The second most common thing at which makes food so addictive is a person's emotions. For example, some people, if they're sad or bored, will eat. The third reason is the processed carbs trigger a reaction in the brain that are similar to drug addiction. This is why I think food is just as addictive as cocaine.

Stephanie Relfe with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Kinesiology from Sydney University says they make food so addictive so they can sell more products. These companies make food so addictive so they can continue to make even more money. If they don’t earn enough money, how is their company going to survive? The additives that these companies add to their product make their product more appetizing. As well as addiction, these additives also have health implications. For instance, some additives raise cholesterol to dangerous levels, clog arteries, and the list goes one. This is another reason why I think food is just as addictive as cocaine.

WebMD declares that some of the effects of falling for these companies schemes are health concerns like diabetes or obesity. Just like cocaine addiction affects anything from the brain to the heart, the long-term effects of food addiction is just as deadly. The cost to a person’s health also costs a person’s wallet. If one becomes addicted to a certain food, they will do whatever possible to get more of it, which costs more money. Also being addicted to a product means one will most likely be addicted to it for a while. This is the final reason why I think food is just as addictive as cocaine.
These are just a few of the reasons why certain foods are so addictive. The evidence I’ve presented show different ways food can be addictive. The next time someone goes grocery shopping, they should think before they buy. Think before you eat!