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SALT LAKE CITY -- Some nutritionists say the three main cravings we have are for fatty, sugary or salty foods and there are physical reasons for these cravings. It's no mystery why most people have a sweet tooth.
University of Utah Division of Nutrition Director Dr. Wayne Askew says, "The brain is a sugar burning organ. It really prefers sugar."
Maybe that's the reason people go for a hamburger wrapped in bacon right now, is a throwback to the caveman days.
–Dr. Wayne Askew
Askew says a scan will show parts of the brain light up when you give someone a high-sugar meal.
Why do we crave salt? This isn't just a human characteristic. Askew says many animals crave it, too. Salt is an important electrolyte. Cells need salt. It helps regulate other chemicals in the body and has a big impact on how alert you may feel.
The craving for fatty foods may be a remnant from a survival mechanism back in caveman days. We would crave high fat protein because food was scarce and we had to fill up.
"Maybe that's the reason people go for a hamburger wrapped in bacon right now, is a throwback to the caveman days when if you slaughtered a wild boar or a mammoth you were in good shape," Askew says.
He says food manufacturers have spent a great deal of time and research into the chemical sensing of certain nutrients. They've been looking into which combinations of scents and tastes can effectively trigger a craving for their product.
But there are some tricks that could work on some people trying to fight the cravings. Askew says some nutritionists try psychological avoidance mechanisms.
"We try and create a bad image which will flash up in the brain the next time you try and eat something fat[ty]," he says.
This isn't a pretty process.
"One way you do this is to take an artery from a cadaver that died from atherosclerosis," he continues. "You just grab a hold of it with your fingers and strip it. The most awful goop of fat comes out."
He's heard of other studies that show stopping to think about the consequences of giving in to a craving can help calm the craving down.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
