I am a Psychology nerd. It's the truth. I live, sleep, eat, and breath Psychology. One of the most fascinating aspects of Psychology is how it can relate to every nuance of the human life. From our love interests to our career goals, a psychological explanation can be accounted for. There is even an effect on the food choices that we make based on Psychology. Food and Psychology? Hello bliss.
In a fascinating article from Psychology Today, I have learned that a lot of our cravings and food preferences are psychologically driven. For instance, two brain chemicals by the names of neuropeptide Y and galanin retain control over our cravings for fat and carbohydrates. Foods rich in fat and carbohydrates are quickly becoming the first choice of many individuals in these times and there are consequences for that, such as becoming obese.
So what is the source of these cravings and seemingly bad food choices? The answer is neurochemicals. Neurochemicals are basically small little doodads in the brain that greatly affect how a person is feeling. For instance, many times depression is caused and/or severely affected by a minute amount of serotonin. Antidepressant medications are prescribed so as to increase not only the amount of serotonin but also how long the serotonin stays in the synapse. Neurochemicals that are not balanced in an individual can lead to severe problems, including not only depression but also eating disorders.
Our appetites are affected by several different entities, one being age. Children tend to eat less fat, instead they crave carbohydrates as a source of energy and protein so as to help in the growth of their newly forming muscles. When children hit puberty, an increase in the amount of fat consumed increases drastically. In females, fat consumption especially spikes after menarche. Males entering puberty focus on ingesting food high in fat content but also pair that fat with a protein as to help build muscle. So, women will crave cake, chocolate, and sweets. Men, on the other hand, will crave steak, ribs, etc.
As human beings, we are no strangers to stress. Stress has a very large impact on one's appetite. When we feel stressed our body sends out a hormone called "cortisol", which originates in the brain from the hypothalamus. Cortisol's purpose is basically to help us survive if we were truly in a life or death situation. So whether you were being chased by a tiger or taking an exam that you did not study for, your body would interpret your stress level in the same way. When it comes to eating, Cortisols main purpose is to increase the amount of Neuropeptide Y. Neuropeptide Y controls one's appetite for carbohydrates. This may lead to weight gain and overeating.
So how does baking tie into all of this? Well I know that from my own experience whenever I feel upset or blue about something I tend to bake something a little sweeter, whether that be a batch of cookies or even biscotti. There is just something very comforting about the smell and the taste of these baked goods. Whenever I am having a good day, I try out different recipes that may not be so sugar centered, such as French baguettes or rye bread. Not only does the chemicals in my brain affect what I bake, they affect what I eat which can have great effects later on in life.
Baking + Chemistry + Psychology = Fun!
In a fascinating article from Psychology Today, I have learned that a lot of our cravings and food preferences are psychologically driven. For instance, two brain chemicals by the names of neuropeptide Y and galanin retain control over our cravings for fat and carbohydrates. Foods rich in fat and carbohydrates are quickly becoming the first choice of many individuals in these times and there are consequences for that, such as becoming obese.
So what is the source of these cravings and seemingly bad food choices? The answer is neurochemicals. Neurochemicals are basically small little doodads in the brain that greatly affect how a person is feeling. For instance, many times depression is caused and/or severely affected by a minute amount of serotonin. Antidepressant medications are prescribed so as to increase not only the amount of serotonin but also how long the serotonin stays in the synapse. Neurochemicals that are not balanced in an individual can lead to severe problems, including not only depression but also eating disorders.
Our appetites are affected by several different entities, one being age. Children tend to eat less fat, instead they crave carbohydrates as a source of energy and protein so as to help in the growth of their newly forming muscles. When children hit puberty, an increase in the amount of fat consumed increases drastically. In females, fat consumption especially spikes after menarche. Males entering puberty focus on ingesting food high in fat content but also pair that fat with a protein as to help build muscle. So, women will crave cake, chocolate, and sweets. Men, on the other hand, will crave steak, ribs, etc.
As human beings, we are no strangers to stress. Stress has a very large impact on one's appetite. When we feel stressed our body sends out a hormone called "cortisol", which originates in the brain from the hypothalamus. Cortisol's purpose is basically to help us survive if we were truly in a life or death situation. So whether you were being chased by a tiger or taking an exam that you did not study for, your body would interpret your stress level in the same way. When it comes to eating, Cortisols main purpose is to increase the amount of Neuropeptide Y. Neuropeptide Y controls one's appetite for carbohydrates. This may lead to weight gain and overeating.
So how does baking tie into all of this? Well I know that from my own experience whenever I feel upset or blue about something I tend to bake something a little sweeter, whether that be a batch of cookies or even biscotti. There is just something very comforting about the smell and the taste of these baked goods. Whenever I am having a good day, I try out different recipes that may not be so sugar centered, such as French baguettes or rye bread. Not only does the chemicals in my brain affect what I bake, they affect what I eat which can have great effects later on in life.
Baking + Chemistry + Psychology = Fun!
Food Psychology?
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