If all day you look forward to that bowl of ice cream or handful of chocolates that you eat post-dinner, it could be because of a chemical reaction in your brain that prioritizes sugar over satiety. Researchers are dubbing this phenomenon "dessert stomach" in a new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Science. Learn more about this region of the brain and how it affects your already full appetite—plus how to overcome it.
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Sugar can trick the brain into hunger despite feeling physically full.
Using a mice model, researchers set out to better understand the correlation between sugar and satiety. They discovered that sugar releases a naturally occurring bodily opiate called ß-endorphin, which "triggers a feeling of reward." This can trick the brain into consuming copious amounts of sugar despite being full—and that’s exactly what they examined in the experiment.
"As soon as the first sugar solution entered the mice's mouths, ß-endorphin was released in the 'dessert stomach region,' which was further strengthened by additional sugar consumption," explains a press release.
Interest piqued, the scientists tried swapping out sugary foods for normal and fatty foods. The rodents showed self-discipline, declining the extra food. Additionally, when the opiate pathway was blocked, the mice didn’t succumb to "dessert stomach."
"From an evolutionary perspective, this makes sense: sugar is rare in nature, but provides quick energy. The brain is programmed to control the intake of sugar whenever it is available," explained Henning Fenselau, lead study author and research group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, in a statement.
Research shows humans are also susceptible to "dessert stomach."
In a second experiment, researchers studied the same brain region in human participants who were administered a sugar solution via a tube. Lo and behold, humans were also willing to make a little room for dessert, even if completely satiated.
"The cell types, which are extremely well known for driving satiety, also release signals that cause the appetite for sugar, and they do so particularly in the state of satiety," Fenselau said in an interview with New Scientist. "This would explain why animals—humans—over-consume sugar when they’re actually full."
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7 ways to nip sugar cravings in the bud:
Going cold turkey works for some, but the American Heart Association (AHA) also has plenty of tactics for limiting sugar intake. Using low-calorie sweeteners can be a helpful short-term solution; you can also reduce your sugar intake by switching from sweetened drinks to unsweetened beverages and by favoring natural sugars (AKA, fruit) over added sugars.
Try getting creative! The AHA says unsweetened applesauce, flavor extracts, and spices (ginger, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg) are healthy sugar substitutes, especially in baking.
If that feels like too much of a leap, try slashing the amount of sugar you would typically use in half. For instance, add one sugar packet instead of two to your morning coffee. If the cookie recipe calls for a cup of sugar, use a half-cup.
