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Study: Milkshake's Dopamine Boost Less Than Addictive Drugs

11/3/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A Cell Metabolism study of 50 young adults found no significant average increase in dopamine in the striatum after a milkshake, a proxy for ultra-processed foods.
Some participants showed increased dopamine release, but the effect did not correlate with body weight.
The authors say the dopamine response to the milkshake is smaller than that of addictive drugs, noting the study lacked a control group.

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Story summary

A Cell Metabolism study of 50 young adults found no significant average increase in dopamine in the striatum after a milkshake, a proxy for ultra-processed foods.
Some participants showed increased dopamine release, but the effect did not correlate with body weight.
The authors say the dopamine response to the milkshake is smaller than that of addictive drugs, noting the study lacked a control group.