Nutritional Neuroscience in
Foods & Beverages
Why the Glycemic Index is So Important in Regulating the Gut-Brain Axis
The region of the brain called the hypothalamus (GRI patents received) senses sugar levels in the blood, and that in turn regulates food uptake, which is directly tied to obesity and diabetes.
Note that agents entering the mouth do not require swallowing of the agent, as demonstrated in Diet Drinks and Artificial Sweeteners, as well as Non-Caloric, Non-Fuel beverages. These products do not convey Glycemic outcomes, but they do greatly affect the Gut-Brain Axis.
Research has shown some Artificial Sweeteners trigger the same addiction pathways in the brain as sugar (sucrose), even though they carry no calories (fuel).
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine, as published in the journal Diabetes Care, stated that “Artificial Sweeteners Trigger Reactions in Receptors on the Tongue” and that “Artificial Sweeteners are not inert and does have an effect.” Further, the researchers stated that:
A significant aspect in the development and control of Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, insulin over-elevation, and blood-sugar related neural disorders is governed by the Gut-Brain Axis (which includes everything entering the mouth (including foods and beverages).
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The only way to determine and/or pre-determine the blood-sugar response of any food, beverage, sweetener, or agent entering the mouth is by deciphering the Glycemic Index of said agent. This requires specific controlled Board Approved Human In Vivo Clinical Trials.
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Without knowledge of the specific Glycemic response of any agent entering the mouth via the Cephalic Phase, there is no way to avoid High Glycemic, high blood sugar excursions.
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“When study participants drank an Artificial Sweetener, their blood sugar peaked at a higher level than when they drank only water before consuming glucose.”
“The taste of sweet does cause the release of insulin, which lowers blood sugar, and if carbohydrates [fuel] are not consumed, it causes a drop in blood sugar which triggers hunger and cravings for sugar.”
An Artificial Sweetener (utilized in the study) was shown to elevate blood glucose (blood sugar) levels and insulin levels. Elevated insulin response and spiking blood sugar levels is detrimental because when people constantly secrete high levels of insulin and/or blood sugar, it can lead to Type 2 diabetes.
In an additional research study published in Diabetes Care: Conclusions: An Artificial Sweetener (using water as the control condition) increases a peak in plasma glucose (blood sugar) concentrations.
A study presented at the American Diabetes Association showed that diet soda drinkers had dramatically bigger waistlines over a nearly 10-year period, compared with non-diet soda drinkers.
SWEET ADDICTIONS IN THE GUT-BRAIN AXIS: FROM THE MOUTH TO THE BRAIN
Human taste buds transmit taste (including BRIX sweet taste) information from the tongue to the cerebral cortex via synapses in the brain stem and thalamus (validated by Functional MRI).
But - the brain knows the difference between real fuel vs fake-fuel (non-caloric) even if the taste buds do not.
Researchers have demonstrated (by Functional MRI’s) that both Artificial Sweeteners and sugar activate the primary taste pathway in the brain by activating the insula and the frontal operculum.
The amazing part of the taste pathway research was the fact that only real sugar (fuel) activated a significant response from multiple brain regions in the taste-reward system, including the caudate nucleus and midbrain. The brain recognized the difference between real fuel and fake-fuel.
Evolution Rules
The vast difference in real fuel and fake-fuel, as perceived by the Gut-Brain Axis, is due to evolutionary mechanisms in the brain, based on survival, as the human brain has not changed its ability to recognize high calorie foods/beverages.
Evolution dictates that humans stay alive and procreate by ingesting high-value foods and drinks (such as fruit or vegetable juice). This hardwired mechanism is not going to change anytime soon, and it is programmed to seek out high-value foods, which is triggered by the sweet taste level and other taste bud cues that send messages to the brain.
An example is a banana, which is a high-value food, due to its glycemic response. Early man and primates sought out bananas as a survival tool, as it provided high-value calories. Conversely, today, humans do not require the high glycemic response of bananas as related to survival, as multiple food choices are available, and avoiding high glycemic blood glucose excursions is preferable.
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Humans seek out sugar and sweet-taste, the sweeter the better, and Artificial Sweeteners way outdo the sweetness level of regular sugars, thus sweet-rush becomes addictive to the Gut-Brain Axis. The problem is that over-elevation of blood sugar and insulin is not only addictive but can lead to obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
It is false to believe that we, as a species, are in total control of what we eat and drink, as evolutionary hardwiring overrides decision making. The brain rules, and the brain seeks fuel to run the human machine. The brain will win every time, when it comes to fuel-partitioning, because if the brain shuts down due to lack of brain-friendly-fuel, the whole machine shuts down.
This hardwired mechanism is precisely why potato chips are the most addictive food on the planet because they contain three highly addictive properties: salt, crunchy, and potato (high glycemic).
In terms of code-value in the brain, the brain’s choice of hierarchy fuels rules, in order to keep the entire system intact. In a neural conversation related to fuel intake, it is necessary to address the primary needs of the brain and body, as the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA) is on a closed-loop-system, which can run smoothly or run into metabolic chaos, resulting in obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and other disorders.
Pleasure centers in the brain will continue to crave high-value foods/beverages. Two of the primary addictive pleasure centers in the brain include intense craving for Serotonin and Dopamine. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH):
“Serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a neurotransmitter with an integral physiological role in the human body; it regulates various activities, including behavior, mood, memory, and gastrointestinal homeostasis. Serotonin is synthesized in the raphe nuclei of the brainstem and the enterochromaffin cells.”
In terms of craving chocolate, Serotonin regulates mood, and decreases feelings of depression and anxiety.
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Dopamine is involved in feelings of pleasure and reward, and Serotonin (a natural body chemical that controls emotions and mood). Both of these neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that help regulate body functions.
Serotonin can, for short periods, help alleviate depression, which is why chocolate is a primary natural choice in stress-related situations.
Chocolate is a building block for Serotonin, so when we eat chocolate, our bodies use tryptophan to make more Serotonin, inducing a calmer feeling. Chocolate can become somewhat addictive due to its calming effects.
Dark chocolate, especially with a high cocoa content of 70% or more, contains flavonoids that stimulate the production of dopamine and the release of endorphins.
Stimulating “happy” neurotransmitters by consuming chocolate ice cream, milkshakes, and chocolate candy is a prime example of the brain’s addictive reward system. Again, this is related to human evolution-driven cravings for high-value foods and beverages.
Re-Coding foods and beverages to comply with the Gut-Brain Axis is achievable by means of neural coding, a field of Nutritional Neuroscience. The Glycemic Research Institute® has been researching coding processes in creating plant-based foods and beverages and natural sweeteners for decades, with back-up data, including Human In Vivo Clinical Trials (2 Patents received).
Our goal is to convey this data in re-coding the Gut-Brain Axis to companies, researchers, and manufacturers with the goal of addressing Type 2 diabetes, obesity, sport performance, and other metabolic performance modules, by re-coding sweeteners, foods, and beverages with natural plant-based solutions.
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