Cravings for sweets, when the brain and taste buds speak
One of the leading causes of cravings for sweets is cutting too much sugar in your diet. Dr. Anne VanBeber, a nutritionist at Texas Christian University (USA), explained: Appetite is a learned reaction. When the brain feels a lack of a certain food, it will urge you to find the right one, even if the body is not really lacking."
In addition, the modern living environment with countless food advertisements and food images on social networks can easily stimulate cravings. These visual and auditory signals make the saliva gland work more actively, the heart beat faster, and the brain release digestive hormones, making the sweet cravings even more obvious.
Sugar also activates the reward system in the brain, promoting the release of serotonin and dopamine, hormones that create a pleasant feeling. Therefore, many people eat sweet foods to reduce stress. However, this feeling of excitement is only temporary, and consuming too much sugar for a long time can cause basic dopamine levels to drop, leading to more being needed to achieve the same happiness as before.
In addition, if the meal is unbalanced, containing a lot of starch but low in protein, fiber and good fats, blood sugar levels are likely to fluctuate strongly. When blood sugar drops, the body will automatically crave sweetness to compensate, creating an unforgettable loop.
Nighttime habits and healthy control
Not only physiology, daily habits also affect cravings for sweets. Joan Salge Blake, a nutritionist at Boston University (USA), said: Studyes show that the need for sweets and salty foods tends to increase in the evening, partly because mental fatigue reduces self- control.
The body's circadian rhythm also contributes. Research shows that at night, the body tends to crave carbohydrates, starches and salty foods more. This is the reason why many people want to eat dessert or snacks late at night.
However, experts say you can completely satisfy your sweet cravings in a healthy way. Dr. VanBeber advises: A piece of fruit is always the optimal choice to soothe the taste buds without adding too much sugar.
In addition to fruit, you can replace it with a cup of chocolate tea, hot chocolate with skim milk, ice cream from frozen berries or frozen Greek yogurt. These options both satisfy your taste buds and limit the risk of excess sugar and calories.
