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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : December 9, 2014 5:44 PM IST
London, Dec 9: A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation has revealed a new mechanism explaining how cravings for sugary foods are originated in the brain.
Glucokinase --the key enzyme regulating cravings
Your brains relies heavily on glucose for its energy. So, we have a naturally, deep-rooted preference for glucose-rich foods to keep our brain active and functioning.
An enzyme called glucokinase in the brain, plays a key role in driving these preferences and desires. The main function of this enzyme is to sense glucose levels in the liver and pancreas and trigger cravings for glucose or sugary rich foods. (Read: I crave for something sweet after every meal. How do I curb this habit?)
What did the study find?
To validate the study, researchers analysed the effect of the glucokinase enzyme on food cravings in rats. For the study, rats were kept fasting for a period of 24 hours, until the activity of glucokinase in an appetite-regulating centre of their brain increased rapidly. When the activity of the enzyme was increased in the rats using a virus, they were given access to glucose solution as well as their normal food pellets, called chow. It was found that rats chose glucose solution over the normal food pellets chow. Once the glucokinase activity was lowered, they switched back to food pellets and consumed less glucose. (Read: 5 healthy alternatives to table sugar)
What next? Lead researcher James Gardiner from Imperial College London notes that this is the first time a study has discovered a system in the brain that responds to a specific nutrient, rather than energy intake in general. The study highlights the possibility of reducing sugar cravings for glucose by altering one's diet. Probably, when you thinking about your diet, you need to think about different nutrients not just count calories, Gardiner added. (Read: 6 ways to stop craving sugar)
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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