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No More Sweet Tooth? Science Turns Off Sugar Cravings in Mice

Written by John Perritano

Researcher’s conducting experiments on mice (aren’t they cute?) concluded that the brain’s complex system for tasting can be manipulated, erased or modified, which could have important implications for human weight control and eating disorder research. Photo credit: ullstein bild/Getty Images

Can you imagine biting into a succulent piece of chocolate cake and not craving more? What if you popped a piece of sweet, sweet candy in your mouth, only to spit it out because it tasted bitter? Scientists at Columbia University have found a way to stop mice from craving, or even tasting, sugary and bitter treats. The research could prove beneficial in treating obesity and eating disorders in humans.

The human brain is hardwired to enjoy the pleasing, almost euphoric effect of food, especially sugar. Here’s why: The minute you take a bite of a cookie or some other food, specialized cells on the tongue react with what you just ate. Each of these so-called receptor cells is programmed to respond to one taste — sweet, sour, bitter, salty or umami (savory). The receptor cells then take that information and send it to specific regions of the brain. Consequently, we can identify the taste — allowing us to respond appropriately. We might say “yum” when eating a candy bar or pucker our lips when sucking on a lemon. That’s because taste is closely tied to our emotions. Every bite produces a variety of memories, reactions and thoughts. We might remember a pleasant experience at a birthday party where cake and candy were served, or how tart grandma’s lemonade really was. Read more.

Published May 21, 2018 by HowStuffWorks


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