Endocannabinoids: 'French Fries Get You High'

by NowPublic Staff | July 18, 2011 at 08:17 am

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The French Fry High

According to research results published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, eating fatty foods triggers the release of brain chemicals known as endocannabinoids.

Perhaps calling it "a french-fry high" is not specific enough. More to the point: eating fatty foods gives you the munchies.

Basically, the body has a vested interest in not starving to death, and therefore seeks to store fat whenever it can get it. Keep in mind that the human body was designed to function as a hunter-gatherer, and not as a Wal-Mart shopper: a permanent state of plenty was not a possible scenario for our paleo descendants.

The the study showed that, when fed fatty solutions, lab mice wanted more fatty solutions, rather than feeling full. Does this remind you of any late-night ice cream-eating behavior? What about Fritos?

We're Likely Hard-Wired to Crave Fatty Foods

Endocannabinoids, therefore, not only stimulate food intake via central systems but also may increase palatability of foods by enhancing peripheral sweet taste responses.

One of the study's authors, Daniele Piomelli, said that the results point the way toward medication to help people control the food-induced munchies:

"Imagine being able to block this mechanism so that when you reach for your pint of ice cream, you have one or two spoonfuls and that would be fine."

So, fried foods don't quite get you baked, but they do induce you to invite their friends. Munchies on top of munchies. There is not chemical agent to counteract this effect, so all you have is your willpower.