• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BlackDoctor.org
Where Wellness & Culture Connect

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Longevity
  • Find A Doctor
  • Events
  • Subscribe
Home / The Reason Why McDonald’s Fries Are Addictive

The Reason Why McDonald’s Fries Are Addictive

French fries in box

You smell them in the back in the car.  You can’t drive all the way to your destination without eating a little bit, right?

We feel you.

After being harvested and cut, the fries are then blanched, dried, fried for 45 seconds and then frozen for shipping to your local fast food restaurant.  But’s what’s really in this delicious treat that makes them so addictive?  You can’t just eat one can you?

Well, it starts with the brain. There is a system in our brain called the reward system.

This system was designed to “reward” us when we do things that encourage our survival. This includes primal behaviors like eating.

You May Also Like
Ready to Ditch Daily Insulin Injections? Try the Only Tubeless Pump Free for 30 Days

The brain knows that when we eat, we’re doing something “right,” and releases a bunch of feel-good chemicals in the reward system, such as the neurotransmitter dopamine – interpreted by our brains as pleasure.

The brain is hardwired to seek out behaviors that release dopamine in the reward system.

The thing about food like McDonald’s french fries is that they can cause a reward that is way more powerful than anything we were ever exposed to in nature.

Whereas eating an apple or a piece of steak might cause a moderate release of dopamine, eating a large fry is so incredibly rewarding that it releases a massive amount.

You May Also Like
Ready to Ditch Daily Insulin Injections? This Discreet, tubeless Insulin Pump is now covered by Medicare

MUST READ: Food Addiction & Your 7 Steps To Recovery

When people repeatedly do something that releases dopamine in the reward system, the dopamine receptors can start to down-regulate.

When the brain sees that the amount of dopamine is too high, it starts removing the dopamine receptors in order to keep things “balanced.”

When you have fewer receptors, you need more dopamine to reach the same effect, which causes people to start eating more junk food to reach the same level of reward as before.

If you have fewer dopamine receptors, then you will have very little dopamine activity and you will start to feel unhappy if you don’t get your food “fix.”

Multiple studies in rats show that they can become physically addicted to junk food in the same way as they become addicted to drugs of abuse.

Take a look at the specific ingredients in McDonald’s french fries that cause that oh-so-good dopamine reaction:

VEGETABLE OIL (BLEND): To make the famous french fries, you have to deep-fry some potatoes, an otherwise healthy carbohydrate, in something fatty and greasy. McDonald’s spuds get dunked in an oil bath twice. According to Ochner, the manufacturers cut and boil them and possibly fry them once before freezing them and shipping them to restaurants, where they are fried again. Here’s what goes into that piping hot potato bath:

a) Canola oil: This commonly used cooking oil is generally considered “good for you” when compared to others in its category, but it’s still loaded with calories and therefore will make you gain weight if you consume too much of it. It’s hard to tell how much of this particular oil is used versus the less healthy, and even fattier options.
b) Hydrogenated soybean oil: When regular soybean oil goes through a hydrogenation process, its unsaturated fats become saturated fat, which in turn makes it easier to cook with and helps boost preservation. The downside is the new fat also becomes a trans fat, which has been strongly linked to heart disease.The FDA’s definition of “zero trans fat per serving” means less than 1 gram per tablespoon, and that McDonald’s found its loophole and still continues to serve a relatively low amount of trans fat in its fries.
c) Natural beef flavor: Some 50 years ago, McDonald’s cooked its fries in beef fat. When it…

Continue Reading

Related Posts

Are These “Healthy” Oils Good for Your Cholesterol?

If you want to prevent heart disease, a healthy cholesterol number is key for success.   What you eat greatly impacts your cholesterol.  Many of the recipes and dishes that you love include some type of oil to add moisture and read more about Are These “Healthy” Oils Good for Your Cholesterol?
Black hair.

7 Essential Ingredients For Gorgeous Black Hair

There's so much information out there to tell you what's good and what's not so good for Black hair. But how do you really know if this information is right for you? Don't forget: a product that your best friend read more about 7 Essential Ingredients For Gorgeous Black Hair
Close-Up Of Mustard In Bowl On Table

Surprise! Mustard is a Natural Remedy

While enjoying that hot dog with a little mustard on top, here’s something else to consider. Mustard not only tastes good on your hot dog, but it can help with muscle cramps too. Say Bye to Cramps Most of us read more about Surprise! Mustard is a Natural Remedy
Love yourself

Top Tips for Healthy Aging Backed by Science

There are many suggestions and recommendations out there about aging healthily. However, not all of them have their foundation in science. The tips listed here have been put forward by medical professionals based on years of study and research. Select read more about Top Tips for Healthy Aging Backed by Science
Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz: “Love What You’ve Got”

At 56, Lenny Kravitz is still one of the coolest and sexiest musicians ever. The singer-songwriter, actor, and designer (he owns a boutique design firm for high-end hotels) is not just an award-winning rockstar. He won the Grammy Award for read more about Lenny Kravitz: “Love What You’ve Got”

Health and Human Services launches COVID-19 antibody treatment locator tool

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched a treatment locator to help patients and providers find monoclonal antibody therapeutics for COVID-19. The tool, based on shipments reported by the distributor, currently only displays information from 22 states. read more about Health and Human Services launches COVID-19 antibody treatment locator tool

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our newsletter

Poll

Popular Posts

  • Mrs. Parker From ‘Friday’ at 70 & Still Turning Heads!Mrs. Parker From 'Friday' at 70 & Still Turning Heads!
  • This Exercise Gets Rid of Mucus in Your ChestThis Exercise Gets Rid of Mucus in Your Chest
  • Bacterial Vaginosis: What It Is (And How To Deal With It)Bacterial Vaginosis: What It Is (And How To Deal With It)
  • This is How Much Weight You Can Lose if you Clean Your ColonThis is How Much Weight You Can Lose if you Clean Your Colon
  • 6 Cereals That Slim You Down6 Cereals That Slim You Down

Podcast

Diabetes prevention and management podcast

Dr. LeNoir is joined by Dr. Lenore Coleman, a Pharmacist and Founder of Healing Our Village, as they offer you the tools you need to prevent and manage diabetes.

Listen Now

Footer

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

BDO is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Learn More About

  • Hepatitis C
  • Diabetes
  • Sickle Cell
  • Mental Health
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy
  • Daily Vitamina
  • TBH

Copyright © 2021, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.