Cravings for Fatty Foods Traced to Gut-Brain Connection

 
Cravings for Fatty Foods Traced to Gut-Brain Connection

In the past few years, scientists have been exploring how our brains communicate with each other. They’ve uncovered some fascinating connections between the brain and gut microbiome. Now, researchers at UCLA are shedding light on how these two organs work together to cause us to crave fatty foods...and how they might make us more susceptible to obesity.

 

Image by Christine Sponchia from Pixabay 

 It turns out that the brain has its own neurotransmitter system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for modulating dopamine release in certain regions of the brain. Dopamine regulates reward centers in the brain and creates cravings for addictive drugs. By altering the activity of specific neurons, the ECS influences whether we experience pleasure.

 Scientists have long known that the body releases cannabinoids – compounds similar to those found in marijuana – when we eat and drink, but it wasn't until recently that they learned about the role the ECS plays in appetite. In the last decade, studies have shown that the ECS affects food intake and promotes the release of hormones that encourage eating. Researchers are now studying how the brain and gut interact to regulate appetite and weight.

 The research team studied mice bred to have a mutation that makes them obese. When they were given access to high fat diets, their brains became addicted to the fats. And when scientists gave the mice a drug that blocked the ECS receptors, the mice stopped craving fat.

 So what do these findings mean for humans? We already know that people who suffer from depression often overeat to try and cope with symptoms of the disease. But this study suggests that people who struggle with obesity may feel compelled to eat because of the way their brains react to different types of food.

 Researchers theorize that if this connection between the brain and gut becomes stronger over time, the result could be a population of people who tend to gain weight easily and become overweight. So, if you find yourself constantly craving fatty foods, perhaps it's worth considering how your brain is being affected.

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