The most addicting foods on the planet, according to science

What is it about the three Cs: Chocolate, cheese, and chips? For some reason, we can never get enough of them. But wanting to chow on a particular food is one thing, being addicted to it is another.

Fact is, you can become addicted to a certain food, and you can blame your brain's response to it. That's because certain foods elicit a release of dopamine in the brain, which can lead to more cravings for that particular treat, especially when it comes to foods that are high in sugar, salt, and/or fat.

Addictive foods are ones that hit your brain right in its pleasure center, ostensibly telling you that you need more, more, more. "When this pleasure/reward center is stimulated, the brain starts secreting dopamine and other chemicals that make us enjoy the experience even more," says Ashvini Mashru, a registered dietitian in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

"Because your brain loves the sensation caused by that dopamine release, it seeks more of it by creating cravings, that if listened to can cause a vicious cycle of addiction."

RELATED: Here are the best and worst cheeses for you