Most of us indulge in cravings for fatty food and end up regretting it later on. We also think it’s hard to resist those cravings because fatty food just tastes so good! Are you one of many people across the globe who enjoys eating fatty food that you frequently crave for it? Experts recently found the primary cause of people’s craving for fatty food.
In this article, you’ll read:
- What Causes People to Crave Fatty Food
- Five Other Reasons Why People Love Fatty Food
People’s cravings for fatty food are just normal. Our bodies need to acquire enough energy and the right amount of fat, which is an essential part of a healthy diet.
Concerning this, experts found that the cravings for fatty food may be related to nutritional deficiency. Aside from that, people may also crave fatty food because of stress and emotional eating.
Additionally, fats are responsible for the sensory properties of many foods, which significantly contribute to pleasurable eating. It also usually gives foods a smooth, creamy texture that humans commonly enjoy.
While most people think that cravings for this kind of food may be because of the tongue, experts recently found an entirely different reason behind it.
What Causes People to Crave Fatty Food
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Mengtong Li, PhD is a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of the Zuckerman Institute’s Charles Zuker, who authors the study on people’s cravings for fatty food.
“If we want to control our insatiable desire for fat, science is showing us that the key conduit driving these cravings is a connection between the gut and the brain.”
They decided to conduct this research to help lessen the obesity and metabolic disorder epidemic. Concerning this, the leading primary cause of the epidemic of obesity and metabolic disorders is the overconsumption of fats and sugars.
Cravings for Fatty Food Are Due to the Gut-Brain Connection
Many people initially thought that the cravings for fatty food were mainly because of the tongue. People blame their tongues as they feel the temptation to eat fatty foods.
However, experts found a different reason why people commonly crave fatty food. According to them, it is primarily because of the gut-brain connection.
Experts uncovered that the source of a person’s appetite comes from a connection between the gut and the brain. This drives our desire for fatty food.
Along with Mengtong Li, PhD, Dr Charles Zuker played a considerable role in this study. He is also a professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, and neuroscience at Columbia’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Image Source: iStock
In their findings, they discovered that the tongue sends signals of the food we like to our brains. This doesn’t necessarily fuel our cravings but it identifies our favourite food.
Meanwhile, the gut signals our brains about the food that we want and need. Most of the time, those types of food we end up craving for fatty food, sweet desserts, and salty snacks.
This kind of study help researchers in making solution and treatments that could help combat obesity. According to experts, it is through reducing the consumption of high-calorie fatty foods.
Discovering fat sensors in the intestines that stimulate the brain and drive food desires is one good step towards combating the problem of obesity.
5 Other Reasons Why People Love Fatty Food
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People need to understand cravings, especially why people crave fatty foods. Out gut-brain connection is just one of the reasons why we can’t help but indulge in eating fatty food.
Aside from the primary reason mentioned above, there are many other reasons why we love eating and craving fatty food. Below, we listed the other common reasons why we often have cravings for fatty food:
Fat Can Make Foods Taste Better
A lot of people crave fatty foods simply because of their taste. It tastes good and has a pleasing texture and aroma.
Aside from that, people commonly use fats to add flavour to lots of different foods. For instance, butter, oil, lard, and margarine are the best used in foods like popcorn and salads.
Fatty Foods May Calm Your Nerves
It usually takes longer for a human body to burn the calories from fatty foods. As a result, it helps in stabilising blood sugar levels which soothes feelings of anxiety and moodiness.
The Psychological Effect of Eating Fatty Foods
A lot of people considers different fatty food to be their comfort food. They commonly crave it when they are bored, stressed, or upset. Some people find eating fatty food to distract themselves from their problems.
Aside from that, experts found that individuals are more likely to crave fatty foods when eating such kinds of food becomes their habit.
Your Cravings for Fatty Foods May Be Healthy
Some people may be craving fatty food because they experience a deficiency in essential fatty acids. In relation to this, fat cravings can be an attempt for a human body to get the nutrition it needs to sustain its energy.
The Human Body Needs the Right Amount of Fat
While fats have negative connotations, experts help people understand that there is such a thing as healthy fats and oils. Such includes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are vital to human nutrition.
Additionally, fats and oils also provide a source of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, E, and K.
