Ang chocolate at mansanas ay parehong matamis. Bakit pagdating sa dessert ay mas gusto ng nakararami ang baked goods kaysa prutas?

Dahil magkaiba ang reaksiyon ng ating utak sa sugar at sa calories, mas inuuna ang calorie consumption para lamang makuha ang hinahanap na tamis ng ating dila, ayon sa pag-aaral na inilathala sa journal na Nature Neuroscience. Ang mga resulta ay magpapaliwanag kung bakit hindi natin maiwasan ang pagkain ng matatamis.

“It turns out the brain actually has two segregated sets of neurons to process sweetness and energy signals,” ayon sa author na si Ivan de Araujo ng John B. Pierce Laboratory, ulat ng PsyPost. “If the brain is given the choice between pleasant taste and no energy, or unpleasant taste and energy, the brain picks energy.”

Upang maisagawa ang kanilang pag-aaral, pinakain ng mga researcher ang isang daga na magkaibang substance: ang isa ay binubuo ng calorie-laden sugary solution; at ang isa naman ay calorie-free solution na pinatamis ng artificial sugar, ulat ng Time.

Matapos maligwak ang request: Paolo Duterte, pumayag manatili si VP Sara sa kaniyang opisina

“The sugar-responsive circuitry in the brain is therefore hardwired to prioritize calorie seeking over taste quality,” pahayag ni De Iraujo, ayon sa PsyPost.

Ngunit kinuwestiyon ni Marci Clow, isang registered dietician nutritionist sa Rainbow Light, ang reliability ng nasabing pag-aaral. “I think it is still a gray area,” sinabi niya sa Mic sa pamamagitan ng email, “and more research is needed to solidify any claim that calories and not sweetness/taste makes us crave sugary foods.”

Tinukoy ni Clow ang isang pag-aaral sa University of Michigan, na ang trial participants ay naglaro ng computer game na maari silang manalo ng kanilang paboritong milkshake.

“People, especially those people who are at risk for obesity, ... are willing to work much harder to get those junky, sugary processed foods,” ayon kay Dr. Ashley Gearhardt, assistant professor ng clinical psychology sa University of Michigan, ayon sa Today.com.

“This has long been an area of both research and debate,” sinabi ni Clow sa Mic, “some claiming we have been conditioned since childhood to expect a sugary dessert after a meal, others suggesting a physiological yearning for sweets initiated by the tryptophan in foods kicking off an increase in serotonin, which is the neurotransmitter associated with feelings of well-being.”

“So even though you’re full,” pagpapatuloy ni Clow, “you still want the dessert because of the pleasure it generates.” (Yahoo News / Health)