You’ve had your evening meal, you know you’re no longer hungry but… you could just go for something sweet. Or a tin of biscuits is getting passed around the office and you just can’t resist. Have you ever wondered why us humans are so attracted to the sweet stuff?
Cerebral Reward
Well, sugar cravings aren’t all in your imagination. Research has actually shown that consuming sugar actually triggers certain hormones such as insulin and dopamine that cause cravings.
On top of this, sugar is one of the food groups that can spike your blood sugar levels, so once this drops again we find ourselves on the lookout for more sugar.
Taste Receptors
As well as this, the tastebuds on our tongues communicate directly with the brain and the gut. When we consume sweet flavours, the gut communicates with the brain that it feels full and satiated and the brain begins to associate this with a satisfied, happy feeling.
Healthier Options
That being said, most of us know that too much sugar isn’t good for us – it spikes our energy levels which come crashing down later on. Not to mention the damage it does to our teeth!
Natural flavourings such as vanilla, which can be purchased from specialists such as foodieflavours.com/collections/natural-flavourings are a great alternative to processed sugars.
It’s also wise to minimise the amount of highly processed sugary foods we eat. Minimally processed foods with high protein and fibre levels keep us fuller for longer, reducing the sugar cravings.
