Dr. Charles Zuker: The Biology of Taste Perception & Sugar Craving

Back in the Introduction, I asked what it would take for us to enjoy a “hedonic shift” to enjoying real, whole food. It will perhaps come as no surprise by now that the answer is frequent, positive exposures to those health-giving foods. The surprising part is what a short time frame may be required to shift our palates in a healthier direction. Ou

In this discussion about nutritional carbohydrates, I refer to complex carbohydrates, preferably from whole foods such as rice, barley, oats, corn, potatoes, and yams. Sugar and other processed simple carbs should be minimized. They may have devastating effects on your body by overstimulating insulin, and may result in insulin insensitivity, food c

Artificial sweeteners may decrease calories and sugar, but not insulin. Yet it is insulin that drives weight gain and diabetes. Artificial sweeteners may also cause harm by increasing cravings. The brain may perceive an incomplete sense of reward by sensing sweetness without calories, which may then cause overcompensation and increased appetite

Removing protein and fat in the diet may lead to overconsumption. There are natural satiety hormones (peptide YY, cholecystokinin) that respond to protein and fat. Eating pure carbohydrate does not activate these systems and leads to overconsumption (the second-stomach phenomenon).