Denied sugar, bingeing rats suffered withdrawal

Is this what they really do at Princeton? The truth is yes.

I haven't got the prestige of Princeton, but I tell you my little lab rat self is, "exhibiting signs of withdrawal." My teeth chattered for a moment during a meeting (or was that me smacking my sugarless gum). And my friend the headache continues to freeload off me, not really wanting to back off.

According to the scientist (I love using that word, doesn't it make you want to just keep reading with confidence that there is truth coming?) Bart Hoebel, who managed the Princeton sugar rat lab experiment, they started the experiment by forcing the rats to binge on sugar. My question is, who has to be forced? And truthfully, isn't this simply forcing Christmas upon the rats?

Then those poor little Ratatouille's "exhibited telltale signs of withdrawal, including 'the shakes' and changes in brain chemistry, when the effects of the sweets were blocked. These signs are similar to those produced by drug withdrawal." I believe on day SEVEN my effects of sweets have been blocked. But I knew that without having to test it out in an Ivy League rat torture chamber. I torture myself well enough thank you very much!

Brainiac

Doesn't the lab rat host Dr. Hoebel look like he knows what drug withdrawal is all about? I guess I have to confess I don't know what drug withdrawal is all about, but I know people who do and I know it's not easy. So I can drop the poor me and my headaches and shakes and just sip another cup of hot tea with lemon.

Watch for more later on those opioid receptors that like heroin, cocaine and yes, a Snickers bar, make our bodies jittery with happiness and absent the crackle of anxiety. Sounds nice huh?

Needless to say, my cravings are strong, but my tolerance is stronger. Or at least that's what I like to think.