There’s a way to stop them.
If you find yourself craving a bowl of ice cream or chocolates after every meal, even when you’re already full, it could be due to a chemical reaction in your brain that makes sugar more appealing than feeling satisfied. This behavior, referred to as “dessert stomach,” was explored in a recent peer-reviewed study published in the journal Science. The study sheds light on how a specific region of the brain influences your appetite and leads you to crave sugary treats even when you’re not hungry.
In the study, researchers used a mice model to understand the relationship between sugar and satiety. They found that consuming sugar triggers the release of ß-endorphin, a natural opiate in the body, which creates a sense of reward. This chemical response can fool the brain into wanting more sugar, even after the body has already had enough food. In the experiment, the mice released ß-endorphin as soon as they tasted sugar, and the release intensified with further sugar consumption.
Curious to see if this effect held true for other types of food, the researchers offered the mice fatty foods instead of sugary ones. The mice showed self-restraint and didn’t overeat the fatty foods. However, when the opiate pathway was blocked, they didn’t experience the “dessert stomach” effect and didn’t consume excessive amounts of sugar. Henning Fenselau, the study’s lead author, explained that from an evolutionary standpoint, the brain encourages sugar consumption because sugar is rare in nature but provides quick energy.
In a follow-up experiment with humans, researchers observed similar behavior. Participants who were given a sugar solution via tube also felt the urge to make room for dessert, even when already full. Fenselau noted that the brain’s natural systems that signal satiety also encourage the appetite for sugar, particularly when the body is already satisfied, which could explain why both animals and humans tend to overeat sugar.
To combat these sugar cravings, some people may find it effective to quit sugar cold turkey. Alternatively, the American Heart Association (AHA) offers several strategies for reducing sugar intake, such as using low-calorie sweeteners or switching from sugary drinks to unsweetened ones. They also recommend replacing added sugars with natural alternatives like fruit and trying healthy substitutes like unsweetened applesauce or spices (e.g., cinnamon, nutmeg) in baking. A more gradual approach might involve simply cutting sugar usage in half, such as using less sugar in your coffee or halving the amount called for in recipes.
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