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The Science Behind Why We Always Crave Dessert

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Chapter 1: Understanding Dessert Cravings

In many cultures, there’s a saying that dessert goes straight to the soul rather than the stomach. This might be our way of justifying that extra indulgence or perhaps there’s some truth to it. Regardless, it’s clear that our favorite sweet treats have a peculiar ability to find space in an already full stomach. Even when we feel stuffed, the thought of dessert often feels essential to completing our meal.

It may seem impossible, almost like a cartoonish scenario where one can fit anything into a bag, but the reality is different. There’s a limit to how much we can physically hold! However, thanks to scientific research, there’s an explanation for this phenomenon.

Yes, you read that correctly! There’s a scientific basis behind what seems like a miracle, known as ‘Sensory-Specific Satiety’.

What is Sensory-Specific Satiety?

If we break it down, sensory refers to sensations perceived through our senses, specific indicates something clearly defined, and satiety is the state of being satisfied. A study from the University of Maastricht titled ‘Food liking, food wanting, and sensory-specific satiety’ provides an intuitive explanation.

Sensory-specific satiety describes a temporary reduction in enjoyment from a particular food in relation to other foods that haven’t been consumed. Essentially, after finishing a dish, one might feel full, but when offered something different, like dessert, interest reignites, and suddenly there’s room that previously seemed non-existent.

The key lies in shifting the second course.

Another important distinction discussed is between ‘food wanting’ and ‘food liking’. Food wanting refers to appetite, or the desire to eat, while food liking is about pleasure derived from eating. In the scenario we’re exploring, both wanting and liking decrease after consuming the first dish.

How Does It Work?

Many of you may be familiar with Vox and their knack for making science engaging and accessible. They examined this topic by replicating the Maastricht University experiment.

The experiment involved six hungry participants who volunteered their time over a span of just two days. On these days, participants were given Mac & Cheese as the main course and instructed to eat until full.

The significant difference occurred in what was offered as a second course:

Day 1:

  • First course: a large serving of Mac & Cheese
  • Second course: a smaller serving of Mac & Cheese

Day 2:

  • First course: a large serving of Mac & Cheese
  • Second course: a bowl of Ice Cream

Intuitively, you might guess the outcome of this experiment. When asked which second course they preferred, participants overwhelmingly favored Ice Cream, even those who loved Mac & Cheese. This indicates a decrease in both craving and enjoyment for the latter, illustrating specific satiety.

Why Does This Occur?

In their book, ‘Why We Eat What We Eat: The Psychology of Eating’, the authors explore various mechanisms behind Sensory-Specific Satiety. While many complex physiological explanations exist, we can simplify it for better understanding. For those intrigued by the details, I’ve provided links above.

In summary, eating is essential for survival and is also a source of immense pleasure. Our biological and learned mechanisms encourage us to enjoy a variety of foods. If we start feeling bored with a specific dish, it signals our body to seek out alternatives.

In conclusion, we eat not just for survival but also for joy. Our evolution has led us to develop preferences that encourage us to seek diversity in our meals, particularly when we reach a point of satiety with a specific dish.

There’s both good and bad news:

  • Good News: You’re not alone in your dessert cravings!
  • Bad News: While dessert is delightful, it tends to be high in calories; consider opting for fruit instead!

This video explores the intriguing question of why we often have room for dessert even after a full meal.

In this video, the psychological and physiological aspects of our dessert cravings are discussed, providing a deeper understanding of our eating habits.

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