3 reasons why we want to eat “comfort” foods in winter, according to experts

For many people, The arrival of winter is usually accompanied by a more intense desire to eat certain foods. food which are perceived as “comforting” .

And generally, many of them They also tend to stand out for their high calorie percentage. .

Among the many options are: Some people like pasta, cakes, chocolates, pastries and some desserts, while others like soups and stews. .

To delve deeper into why there is this relationship between winter and the desire to consume these foods, Researchers from Southern Cross University in Australia, Megan Lee and Jacqui Yoxall, have written a paper in academia The conversation .

According to their joint work, There are at least three reasons scientists which explain this phenomenon.

Southern Cross experts said nutritional psychiatry studies have concluded that our stomach can produce dopamine and serotonin also called “the happy chemicals”.

This nickname is due to the fact that “These neurochemicals trigger feelings of happiness and well-being” .

These substances They also occur when you exercise or when the body is exposed to the sun. which tends to be lower in winter.

In the words of the researchers, “This causes a change in the delicate balance between good and bad bacteria that live in our stomach and, therefore, in the relationship between the gut and the brain” .

“So in the winter, when we eat our favorite comfort foods, we get a wave of happy chemicals that are sent from the gut to the brain and make us happy and satisfied “, they stressed.

Lee and Yoxall suggested the possibility that evolution influences in this context.

Their arguments focus on the fact that, In the past, humans tended to gain weight in winter. .

This allowed them to have more likely to survive environmental conditions from this station.

“The craving for foods high in carbohydrates and sugar It was therefore a protective mechanism “, the experts assured.

And, according to his analysis, even if technological advances are more numerous today, “It is possible that cravings in winter are still programmed into our biology” .

The third reason cited by the Southern Cross researchers is directly related to psychology .

Academics have suggested that Foods that are generally considered “comforting” in winter tend to be so because they were eaten in that season during childhood. .

This may be a contributing factor to the fact that as adults they want to ingest the same at this time of year.

In fact, they cited a review of studies published in the International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science which states that “Comfort” foods can help alleviate feelings of loneliness and encourage “positive thoughts from previous social interactions.” .

In addition, according to the researchers, “Mood can also decline in winter, which is linked to emotional eating” .

This last notion refers, in general, to the link between emotions experienced and certain eating behaviors explains an article published in the magazine Appetite .

Along with this, Lee and Yoxall clarified that Because winter typically means less light and lower temperatures, people tend to spend more time at home and eat more foods high in carbohydrates and sugar. .

“This type of food They release glucose directly into the brain, giving us an instant feeling of happiness when we are cold, sad, tired or bored. “, they said.

However, they emphasized that There is another relevant factor to consider: “Comfort foods can (also) be healthy. » .

In fact, they pointed out that They are not all the same and do not necessarily have negative effects. for the organism.

For example, they advised: “If you want something high in carbs, swap out the white varieties for whole grain ones, which will curb your cravings. . And if you fancy a hot chocolate, replace the cocoa powder with cocoa, which is more concentrated in vitamins and minerals.

It is worth remembering that if you have doubts about your diet, It is always advisable to consult a healthcare professional to evaluate your case. and the best ways to approach it.