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Hunger has nothing to do with your sudden cravings for snacks, study says
There are days when you go to bed with your stomach full and satisfied, yet cravings for mouth-watering snacks soon occupy your mind. Well, it’s not because you’re hungry again.
Research shows that specific food cravings are caused by underlying emotions. Some people like to eat something salty when anxious, while others resort to candies. If fatty food is what you think of mostly after a hearty meal there’s a reason for that as well.
The reason we crave snacks after filling meal
Don’t be guilty about finishing a tub of ice cream just two hours after a hefty dinner. This happens to a lot of people and an active appetite isn’t to blame.
A new UCLA study discovered why we crave fatty foods even when we aren’t hungry, which has to do with the wiring of the brain.
The researchers found a circuit in the brain of mice that makes them crave fatty food and isn’t triggered by hunger. When stimulated, the cells propel the mice to “forage vigorously and to prefer fatty and pleasurable foods like chocolate over healthier foods like carrots.”
The findings show similarities between the “food-seeking” cells in the brains of mice and that of humans, thus explaining the craving for unhealthy snacks.
“People possess the same kinds of cells, and if confirmed in humans, the finding could offer new ways of understanding eating disorders,” the press release states.
The specific neurons called vgat PAG cells trigger hunger or “food-seeking” feelings when activated, unlike other cells in another region called PAG, which responds to panic or fear.
Commenting on the effect of the brain neurons on food cravings, the corresponding author of the study, Avishek Adhikari, said:
“Hunger is aversive, meaning that mice usually avoid feeling hungry if they can. But they seek out activation of these cells, suggesting that the circuit is not causing hunger.”
“Instead, we think this circuit causes the craving for highly rewarding, high-caloric food. These cells can cause the mouse to eat more high-calorie foods even in the absence of hunger,” the author added.
Healthy snacks for brain health
As hard as it may seem to curb the cravings for fatty or sugary snacks, swapping them for foods that are good for your brain is highly advisable, especially to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
The negative impact of highly processed or junk food on brain health is well-established. Therefore, neuroscientist Dr. Robert Love suggests healthier snacking options.
Mushroom chips are one of the healthiest snacks, believed to reduce the risk of brain diseases. Ensure to pick organically grown mushrooms as only certain non-organic foods are considered healthy.
Blueberries and Macadamia Nuts are rich in antioxidants and healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, making great snaking options.
