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MYTH BUSTING CRAVINGS: MEANING, CAUSE AND EFFECTS? Written by: Katherine Aljian We are surrounded by false and misleading information. There are tall tales around the subject of cravings and the meaning, cause, and effect they could have on our bodies. Cravings don’t come from the stomach; they have a lot to do with the hormones in your body. The following hormones are instrumental in why you get cravings: leptin, ghrelin, dopamine, and insulin. These are included in the function of digestion, with ghrelin causing hunger, leptin decreasing appetite, and dopamine causing the reward system when you eat. When you have a hankering for cookies, it doesn’t mean your body needs glucose. Rather, it could mean that you have easy access to foods, which makes cravings stronger. In some cases, you could be craving the feeling of your reward system (dopamine) when you consume these hyperpalatable foods (easily digestible foods usually described as sweet, salty, or rich).1 A study done on rats by Sara F. Leibowits found that neuropeptide Y causes carbohydrate cravings and that galanin causes the yearning for fat.2 While the data usually indicates galanin causes fat cravings, some researchers dispute this argument. Other factors in life that can influence cravings include food advertisements, stress, inadequate sleep, exercise, hormonal changes, medication, and many others. Fast food industries will usually cherrypick health facts about their foods, creating the illusion that you are purchasing nutritious products.3 There are two types of stress: chronic and acute. Acute stress can cause a loss of appetite, while chronic stress can alter your cortisol levels, causing you to crave unhealthy foods.1 Inadequate sleep is associated with imbalances in leptin and ghrelin levels. When you exercise, your body is under stress, causing blood to leave the gut and go to your muscles and heart. This causes you to be less hungry when you're working out, but when you’re finished, normal hunger cues will return.1 Hormone changes, such as the menstrual cycle, can cause an increase or decrease in cravings. Different types of medications can cause a decrease in appetite or an increase as well. If you are worried about your appetite regarding medication, you should talk to a medical professional. 6
Your body is a very intricate system that is complex and requires proper nutrition. These systems can easily be thrown out of balance, so it's your responsibility to keep your body in a state of homeostasis. There are many reasons why we get cravings, but next time you crave a dessert, ask yourself if you are hungry; if so, maybe try to have an orange or a mango. Food is fuel for your body, and the more quality food you put in, the more efficiently your brain and body will work. It is important to treat your body with respect and make sure you’re on a healthy path in life. 11.Cravings. Harvard T.H. CHAN, 2023, DOI:12.23.2023. Cravings | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health 2.Pennisi, E. Food Cravings Tied to Brain Chemicals. Society for science & the public. 1993; Vol. 144, No.20, p. 144. : https://www.jstor.org/stable/3977801 3.How can advertisements influence your food choices? CNS. 2020. Accessed December 27, 2023. https://cns.ucdavis.edu/news/how-can-advertisements-influence-your-foodchoices 4.Kenny, P.J. The Food Addiction. Scientific American. 2013; vol. 309, No. 3. Pp. 44-49. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26017984 5.How Food can Impact Your Heart. Northwestern Medicine. How Overeating Can Impact Your Heart | Northwestern Medicine 6.Ajmera, R. 17 Incredible Heart-Healthy Foods. Healthline. November 17, 2023. 17 Incredibly Heart-Healthy Foods (healthline.com) 7.Eske, J. Dopamine and serotonin: Brain chemicals explained. MNT. October 2023. Dopamine vs. serotonin: Similarities, differences, and relationship (medicalnewstoday.com) 7
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Page 4 and 5: International Day of Women & Girls
Page 8 and 9: The Lunch Box Walnut Rosemary Crust
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Page 12 and 13: UNF NUTRINEWS FEBRUARY 2024 COMING
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