Is a sweet tooth genetic?

A study of thousands of people in Denmark has found a link between certain gene variants and increased consumption of sweets. Previous studies in mice and non-human primates have suggested that a liver hormone encoded by the gene FGF21 drives feeding behaviour.

Summary: Last year researchers discovered that a particular craving for sweet things may be determined by a Genetic variation. Now the researchers have discovered that people with this genetic disposition for a sweet tooth have less body fat.

There is a surprising genetic link between children of parents who abuse alcohol and sugar addiction. A recent study confirmed dopamine receptors in the brain light up when sugar is consumed, similar to the receptors lighting up in the brain of someone who abuses alcohol.

And now, new research has found it might be down to our genes. Some people really are born with a sweet tooth, researchers found. These people are born with a weaker sweet taste, meaning they may need more sugar than others to taste the same level of sweetness.

Thanks to our genetic makeup, our taste buds are more sensitive to some of these tastes, as well as certain textures. This is why we either have a sweet tooth, or don’t. For example, in the 1900s, scientists discovered that certain genes allow individuals to experience certain tastes.

An international team scoured the genes of more than 6,500 Danish people taking part in a large health study on heart disease. They found those who harbored one of two particular variants of the FGF21 gene Were roughly 20 percent more likely to enjoy and seek out sugary substances.

It comes as a bit of a surprise to the researchers, who last year discovered that precisely this genetic variation could be one of the reasons why some people have a particular craving for sweet things. People with this variation eat more sugar than others.

Some people find that their symptoms last from A few days to a couple of weeks. As your body adapts to a low added sugar diet over time and your added sugar intake becomes less frequent , the less intense your symptoms and cravings for sugar are likely to be.

Many sugar cravings stem from a Blood sugar imbalance. When your body ingests sugar, your blood sugar spikes and your body releases insulin to lower it to a safer level. If the insulin brings your blood sugar level a bit too low, as often happens, your body craves foods that will raise it and increase your energy.

If your meal is not well balanced, and comprises mainly of carbohydrates (especially simple carbs), it results in an immediate spike in the blood sugar levels, only to drop suddenly after the meal. Your body can’t acclimatise to this dip in glucose levels and to get back to this soaring high, your body craves sugar.

But the American Heart Association says women should have less than 6 teaspoons (25 grams), and men should have less than 9 teaspoons (36 grams) per day. Ultimately, Your body doesn’t need sugar.

The FTO gene has been reported to influence food cravings, with individuals carrying the obesity-susceptible A allele having higher total food cravings compared to TT homozygotes which correlates with higher BMI [23]. Sex and age also influence eating behaviours and food cravings.

But these properties have little benefit when it comes to metabolic health. In short, it’s best to limit all sources of added sugar to within the recommended intake level. For most people, one type of sugar isn’t better than another.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Deficiencies in certain minerals such as zinc, chromium, iron, calcium, and magnesium may lead to sugar cravings as well, Elia says. Magnesium deficiency Is specifically worth paying attention to.

How to Stop Sugar Cravings: 8 Tips to Use Right Now

1. Give in a little. Eat a bit of what you’re craving, maybe a small cookie or a fun-size candy bar, suggests Kerry Neville, a registered dietitian. …
2. Combine foods. …
3. Go cold turkey. …
4. Grab some gum. …
5. Reach for fruit. …
6. Get up and go. …
7. Choose quality over quantity. …
8. Eat regularly.

The liver produces a certain hormone that regulates sugar cravings And if you have a specific variant of the gene that makes this hormone, then there is a strong chance that you have a sweet tooth, say the scientists behind the new research.

The evolutionary explanation for the sweet tooth revolved around that idea that We have physiologically associated a sweet taste with high-energy foods which would have helped our earliest ancestors survive better in their environment (getting more “bang-for-the-buck”….if an individual has to spend time and effort …

This extremely rare condition is called aglycogeusia. To those who have this condition, sweet foods taste either bitter or sour. Some research suggests people who are less sensitive to sweet may Eat more sugary foods to compensate for not being able to taste them as strongly. References.