The sweet science: Our uncontrollable cravings for treats are triggered by falls in blood sugar
血糖科普：血糖降低引發(fā)毫無節(jié)制的進食欲望

You might have thought resisting that piece of chocolate cake or extra biscuit was simply a matter of exerting a little will power. But for some of us it’s much more difficult than that – because of the way our brains are wired.
你也許會認為，抵住一塊巧克力蛋糕和一塊額外的餅干的誘惑，僅僅是發(fā)揮一點意志力的問題。但是對我們有些人來說，可沒有這么簡單，這是因為我們的大腦構(gòu)造方式不同。

Scientists have found that a key part of the brain which stops the body from acting on impulse – and gorging – does not function as well in those who are overweight or obese.
科學(xué)家們近日發(fā)現(xiàn)，通常人大腦中阻止身體沖動行事和狼吞虎咽的關(guān)鍵組成部分，卻沒有辦法在超重者或肥胖者的大腦內(nèi)發(fā)生作用。

A study by scientists from Yale University has shown that falling glucose levels lead to a loss of self-control in the brain which subsequently lead to parts of the brain craving high-calorie food such as cakes, biscuits or crisps.
耶魯大學(xué)的科學(xué)家們通過研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，葡萄糖水平降低會導(dǎo)致大腦自我控制力喪失，這將會造成大腦某些部分對蛋糕、餅干和薯片等高卡路里食物的需求。

In obese people the effect may be even more pronounced, so they are driven to eat by the slightest drop in glucose.
這種影響在肥胖人群身上表現(xiàn)得更為顯著，一旦他們的葡萄糖出現(xiàn)輕微降低，他們就會因此開始吃東西。

Glucose is normally obtained from carbohydrate foods, which can come in healthy and less healthy forms.
葡萄糖一般從碳水化合物食物中攝取，可以通過比較健康的方式，也同樣有不健康的攝取方式。

Scientists believe the phenomenon occurs because of the brain's huge demand for glucose, which it needs as energy fuel.
科學(xué)家認為這種現(xiàn)象的發(fā)生是因為大腦對葡萄糖的需求量很大，大腦需要葡萄糖充當(dāng)能源燃料。

'Good' carbs include fresh fruit and vegetables, brown rice and pasta, nuts, wholemeal bread, and beans.
健康的碳水化合物食物包括：水果，蔬菜，糙米和面食，堅果類，全麥面包和豆類。

Among the 'bad' varieties are white bread, white sugar, biscuits, cakes, crisps and other packet snacks, carbonated soft drinks, ice cream and corn syrup used in processed foods.
列入不健康的碳水化合物名單中的有白面包，白糖，餅干，蛋糕，薯片和其他零食，碳酸飲料，冰激淋和用在加工食品中的玉米糖漿等。

Ensuring adequate brain glucose levels - in a healthy way - might make it easier to stay slim, the research suggests.
研究建議說，能夠通過健康的方式為大腦供應(yīng)充足的葡萄糖可以使保持苗條身材成為比較容易的事情。

“The key seems to be eating healthy foods that maintain glucose levels. The brain needs its food,” said Professor Rajita Sinha, from Yale University in the U.S., who led the study.
研究負責(zé)人、來自耶魯大學(xué)的Rajita Sinha教授表示，關(guān)鍵是要通過吃健康的食物來保持體內(nèi)的血糖水平，我們的大腦需要食物。

The research is reported today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Prof Sinha's team manipulated blood sugar levels in a group of volunteers with intravenous injections of glucose.
該研究今天發(fā)表在《臨川研究期刊》上，Sinha教授的研究小組通過對一組研究志愿者進行靜脈注射葡萄糖來控制他們體內(nèi)的血糖水平。

At the same time, participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans of their brains while being shown pictures of high-calorie and low-calorie food, and non-edible items.
同時研究參與者要進行功能性核磁共振檢查，來掃描腦部活動。掃描將分別呈現(xiàn)出高卡路里食物、低卡路里食物和非食用性項目的不同結(jié)果。

The scans showed that when glucose levels fell, two 'reward' regions of the brain that make certain activities pleasurable induce a desire to eat.
掃描結(jié)果顯示，當(dāng)體內(nèi)葡萄糖水平降低，大腦內(nèi)的兩個“獎勵區(qū)”會發(fā)出一些行動引起進食的欲望。

But the most pronounced reaction was seen in the prefrontal cortex, the 'sensible' part of the brain that prevents people acting on impulse.
最顯著的反應(yīng)出現(xiàn)在前額葉皮層，大腦的“理智”部分將阻止人們沖動行事。

When glucose levels lowered, the prefrontal cortex lost its ability to reign back the urgent 'eat' signals.
當(dāng)葡萄糖水平降低時，前額葉皮層將失去功能，大腦將會重新執(zhí)行緊急的“進食”信號。

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