Why Does The Cold Bring a Greater Appetite?
Scientists aren’t knowledgeable as to why winter seems to promote an increased appetite and craving for carbs, but they have a few strong ideas. As people, we may be more similar to animals than we may think, but that also may just be another reason to back our over-indulgence of edible holiday pleasures. Ira Ockene, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, shows us that we are driven by things set deep in our minds long ago. Seasons influence our health, and winter specifically triggers our desire to store up for the colder months. While this gives a good reason for consuming more of your preferred fatty treat and cookies at Thanksgiving and Christmas, don’t just make for the cupboards quite yet. Another view of this increased craving for food during the cold months, according to Marcia Pelchat of Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philidelphia, is the strong connections we have among memories and certain foods. “The stronger the link becomes,” Pelchat states, between food and the sweet holiday memories, “the more likely you are to indulge in the food.” The answer to this is, again, the answer to nearly every diet question: Moderation. You don’t need to totally rid yourself of your favorite foods, or suppress the memories linked with them, but you do need to limit your intake. It’s okay to try it, but don’t eat the entire cake!
——————–