Pizza - your brain's first choice

Written by : GOR NANCY MAHESH, CLASS OF 2023.

Why even a thought of having a bowl full of ice cream or chocolate cake gives you an immense amount of happiness? And why does the thought of eating a salad seem less appealing. Here’s a great answer for you all.

Why our brain crave so much of fast-food?

World wide famous fast food chains have mastered the art of making their food more appealing and addictive. Saturated fat, refineries carbohydrates and ultimately the sugar makes a pattern that is really hard to break.The combination of ingredients are designed in a way that we make our ways for coming back to them. Potato and cheese,milk and sugar, cheese and bread stimulates the reward system of our brain making them so hard to resist

The brain’s reward system

As fast food is designed to be addictive our reward system is responsible for our desires. Our brain registers all the pleasurable things in the same way whether it comes from narcotic drugs, sexual activity or having a great meal, it all proceeds in a similar way !

Pleasure causes the release of DOPAMINE-a neurotransmitter from the nucleus accumbens under the cerebral cortex. Not only does it play a role in stimulating the pleasure centre but is also responsible for motivation,reward and learning.

Decisions about food consumption and calorie density are linked to the part of the brain known as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (an area that encodes the value of stimuli and predicts immediate consumption.

Ingredients of fast food.

Carbohydrates,Fat,Sugar all these macronutrients make us happier—and not just because they're delicious, but they actually have a chemical reaction because they boost your brain's release of serotonin – a chemical in the brain that helps you feel calm and satisfied.

Role of genetics:

Genetics also plays a major role in our food preferences. People carrying FTO gene risk alleles are inclined to higher energy intake foods like fat or proteins and reduced satiety, resulting in overeating, and many even lose control when eating. FTO gene is also associated with a higher risk of obesity and preferences for fast food or higher intake may be due to differences in brain chemistry.

Never occurred to us but surprisingly social, economical as well as stress acts as factors that are responsible for our heavy fast food consumption as people with limited income finds these food easier and cheaper to afford. During stressful conditions our body releases cortisol, a hormone that increases our appetite for high calorie foods.

But what about Salads then ?

Salads are nutritious, packed full of gut-loving fibre, micronutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants,yet not the first food preference. As the texture ,ingredients and amount doesn’t make us feel much pleasurably so we often ignore their consumption.

Ultimately making healthier choices and improving our well being are majorly influenced by daily life habits, so this process requires effort and commitment. Break the fast food chain ,manage your cravings and triggers. Rewire your brain to pick and adapt a much more healthier and balanced lifestyle.