New Study: Pregnant mothers who eat junk food, may increase future child’s addiction to unhealthy foods

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According to a recent study from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), the brains of unborn children may become addicted to junk foods if the mother eats junk foods during pregnancy.

Eating healthy has always been a good practice for moms-to-be, but according to new research, unborn children’s brains are impacted by opioid signaling when mothers consume junk foods.

The negative impact is that children who become accustomed to these addicting high fats and sugar signals from the mother’s consumption of unhealthy foods, need to eat more high fat and sugar foods to achieve a “feel good” response.

Researchers examined two groups of baby rats, one group fed on normal rat food and the other on a range of “junk foods” during pregnancy and lactation. After being weaned the baby rats were given daily opioid signaling blockers to lower the intake of fat and sugar by releasing dopamine.

The results revealed that the opioid blockers were less effective at reducing sugar and fat intake in the baby rat’s whose mothers had eaten junk food.

Researchers hoped this study will help pregnant women know about the impact their diet has on the development of their child and hopefully lead them to make healthy diet choices.

To read the full study, click here.

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