We don't know who you are or what you do for a living, but we're sure that when you go to a restaurant, you never give up your post-dinner dessert, even if you feel like you can't even manage another piece of bread. Don't worry, you're not alone, and we finally have a scientific explanation for why we can't say no to a nice slice of chocolate cake: it's called dessert stomach, a phenomenon studied by researchers at the Max Planck Institute in Cologne, Germany.
The Study
Why can't we resist sweets? Is it just a matter of gluttony? Research published in Science says no: experts conducted a study on the topic of so-called "dessert stomach," first on mice and then on humans, to understand why they didn't give up sweets even when they were full. The research revealed that, when we finish eating, POMC (propiomelanocortin) neurons are activated in our brain. These neurons are located in the hypothalamus and produce the alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, which does nothing but induce the feeling of satiety that pushes us not to ingest even another grain of rice.
So how do you even have room for a dessert? According to the research, these neurons also produce endogenous opioids (beta-endorphins) when we're in the presence of sugar, which then affect the reward mechanisms, pushing us to crave even more. This mechanism is unique to sugar: if we eat fatty foods or any other food, this mechanism isn't triggered, consequently, the release of beta-endorphins and thus the desire to crave the same source of pleasure again.
The Importance of Sight
It's important to note how this entire circuit is set in motion even when we simply look at a dessert: a delicious tiramisu, for example, can activate the POMC neurons that release endogenous opioids. This is because sugar provides energy quickly, and our brain constantly craves whatever can provide it with this energy. Researchers have shown that what happens in mice happens exactly the same way in humans: the same areas of the brain are activated, those responsible for storing calories through sugar, which is why we can't resist dessert.
A Turning Point in The Fight Against Obesity
We've said that our sweet tooth stems from the activation of these neurons: this also means that, if they're blocked, our brain may no longer activate this mechanism. This is a very important result, as the researchers themselves explained, which could lead to a cure for obesity, although they also explain that further research is needed. The most notable finding is that we now know exactly what happens in our brain, and this could be an important starting point for combating one of the most common eating disorders.
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