Do you find yourself constantly craving junk food? Well, rest assured that you’re certainly not alone. In fact, your brain is hardwired to crave unhealthy foods, even though this might not make much sense. Keep reading to learn why your brain is wired this way, and why you can’t seem to escape those cravings for fried foods, fatty foods, and sweets.
Genes Could Make You Like Junk Food More
A study conducted by researchers at Imperial College London proved that there are two genetic variants, known as DRD2 and FTO, that could result in some people having intense cravings for unhealthy foods. The variants also have an effect upon the levels of dopamine within the brain (dopamine helps regulate the brain’s reward sensation).
In this study, researchers evaluated a total of 45 men who had fasted overnight. The men were asked to look at photos of low-calorie and high-calorie foods, and they were asked to let the researchers know which photos were most appealing.
The researchers check the participants’ brain activities as they looked at the images, and they also used DNA samples from the men. The results showed that those individuals with FTO (which causes a predisposition to obesity) exhibited increased brain activity when looking at high-calorie foods. The activity occurred in the orbitofrontal cortex of the brain, which means these individuals found the foods more appealing than the low-calorie foods, and they crave unhealthy foods as a result.
Understanding the Reward Pathway
There is a system of neurons in the brain that are interconnected, and it’s referred to as the reward pathway. Since prehistoric times, this system has evolved to keep humans alive.
Our ancestors didn’t have a lot of access to high-calorie foods, which were necessary for survival, so the brain learned how to flood itself with chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which are feel-good chemicals that respond to smells and tastes. This resulted in eating a lot more when there was plenty of food around. But in modern times, when there are a lot of high-calorie options all the time, this craving for high-fat and high-calorie foods isn’t healthy or necessary.
If you find that you crave unhealthy foods all the time, consider using a product like FenFast 375, which will help your body burn calories and fat while also curbing your appetite. And understand that your brain is actually hardwired to crave unhealthy foods, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Instead, learn how to curb the cravings and love healthy foods instead.
