The Science Behind Your Food Cravings

We’ve all had those food craving moments where we just HAVE to have whatever just came to our minds. Everyone has them so what do they mean and where do they come from?

By definition a craving is the strong desire for something very specific. Though this is usually a food item, cravings are very different than hunger. Here’s the science behind your food cravings.

Unlike hunger, cravings, come from the brain. When we eat something we crave, our brain responds with chemicals called opiods. These are feel good chemicals that we also feel when we are in love.

Which is why some people like to eat when they feel upset.

The parts of the brain that are responsible for food cravings are the hippocampus, insula and caudate.

The hippocampus is located in the temporal lobe of the brain and controls memory storage. This is how we as humans know we like and want a food.

The insula are located on either side of the brain and are responsible for emotional response based upon physical information. This is what lets us know that the particular food we are about to eat is a “feel good” food.

The caudate is located deep within the center of the brain. This is the part of the brain that is responsible for the release of the opiods in response to the food that someone has just eaten.

Cravings are usually based on geography as well.

In Europe and North America, both highly developed nations, women tend to crave sweets above anything else.

While men in Europe and North America crave heartier foods.

In Mexico, men and women tend to crave spicier foods.

In Asia, cravings usually involve salty foods.

Since our environments are all different, so are our cravings and tastes in food. One person’s craving may not seem as appealing to another.

One thing that is true for nearly everyone is that the foods that are craved tend to be high in fat, which is one of the factors that helps release the opioids from the brain. This also means that these foods are high in calories.

Scientists do recommend giving in to cravings on occasion. One study showed that by indulging on a very limited basis, people were able to maintain a healthier weight and were happier than those who didn’t indulge at all or who indulged every craving.