Scientists discover why we love sugary and starchy foods
SCIENTISTS have discovered why people crave sugar-packed foods.
As brains rely on glucose for energy we often seek out sugary or starchy foods
It could lead to a simple new treatment to tackle obesity by blocking the brain mechanism driving our preference for sweet and starchy foods.
A brain process that appears to sense how much glucose is reaching the brain, was discovered by researchers at Imperial College London.
It then prompts animals to seek more if it detects a shortfall.
The teams believe this is why it may play a role in driving our preference for sweet and carb-laden foods.
We have a deep-rooted preference for glucose-rich foods and seek them out
Dr James Gardiner, who led the study, said: “Our brains rely heavily on glucose for energy.
"It’s clearly a very important nutrient but in our evolutionary past it would have been hard to come by.
"So we have a deep-rooted preference for glucose-rich foods and seek them out.
“For some people, eating more starchy foods at the start of a meal might be a way to feel full more quickly by targeting this system, meaning they eat less overall.”
A drug acting on this system could potentially prevent obesity, according to the study findings published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.