WHY DO WE CRAVE FOR DESSERTS?

WHY DO WE CRAVE FOR DESSERTS?

 

Most of us almost out of reflex start hunting for something sweet after every meal. So what could be the reason behind these sugar cravings?

Highlights -

🔷 Craving sugar after a meal is a natural phenomenon

🔷 Sugar cravings could be a result of increased serotonin

🔷 Sugar cravings can also be triggered by high carb food

 

Let's admit it. We love our desserts, and for most of us, eliminating the last course of the meal is the hardest part of following any diet. Dietitians and fitness experts always advice in ruling out as much sugar as you can from your diet because sugar is a source of empty calories with no nutritional value. Since it has no function to perform in our body, it gets accumulated in the fat cells and leads to weight gain. But across all cultures, home and abroad, there is a tradition of ending a good round of meals with an even good round of desserts. Most of us almost out of reflex start hunting for something sweet after every meal. So what could be the reason behind these sugar cravings, this urge to end a meal with sweets? Let's find out. According to Bangalore-based nutritionist Dr. Anju Sood, "After your meals, the main function of the body, which takes up the majority of energy, is digestion. And because digestion takes so much energy, the body craves an energy spike which it gets in the form of sugar. Sugar forms a source of quick energy."

In most cases, the craving is mostly due to psychological reasons than physiological. The desire occurs out of a habit of ending your meal with a sweet. Regular consumption of foods high in sugar and fat leads to certain neurochemical wiring in the brain that automatically triggers the craving for these types of foods. If you have always associated "meal-ending" with something sweet, it is difficult to find the closure if you haven't met the need.

Post-meal sugar cravings can also be due to increased production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, which is associated with mood elevation. Consuming sugar (or other simple carbohydrates) is said to enhance the absorption of the amino acid tryptophan found in some foods. The tryptophan then enables increased production of serotonin. Sugary desserts cause serotonin levels to rise, which makes us feel happier, calmer, and satisfied.

 

Uneven blood sugar levels after a meal may also trigger these cravings. If your meal is not well balanced and comprises mainly of carbohydrates (especially simple carbs), it results in an immediate spike in the blood sugar levels, only to drop suddenly after the meal. Your body can't acclimatize to this dip in glucose levels and to get back to this soaring high, your body craves sugar. Dr. Sood adds, "simple carbs also digest very easily, which calls for more sugar for the fuel."

The cravings can also arise as a complementary need to your very salty meal you just took. Something sweet afterward is the body's way of trying to create balance. Dropping all sources of sugar from your diet, and suppressing the sweet cravings completely, may only intensify the cravings, leading you to binge on sugary items later in the day.

Remember, nothing harms if it is in moderation. Craving sugar after meals is a natural phenomenon, heeding to which is okay, provided it doesn't become a heavy dependence, beginning to take a heavy toll upon your body and health.

 

                                                         KEEP CALM AND EAT SWEETS

Banarsi Misthan Bhandar