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  1. Home
  2. Better Life

This is the reason why we crave comfort food in winter

And why you don’t eat as much in summer. - by Laura Barry
  • 25 Jul 2019
This is the reason why we crave comfort food in winter

Winter is a season for spending times indoors, creating cosy environments and sipping on hot chocolate by the heater. However, winter is also the time when hot and hearty winter comfort foods start to appear at mealtimes. Unfortunately, these comfort foods aren’t usually waistline-friendly, and include things like pasta, pies and piping-hot puddings.

However, there’s actually a scientific reason behind why you crave such foods in winter. A new study into the link between nutrition and psychiatry has found that our stomach can produce the ‘happy’ chemicals dopamine and serotonin, thus when we eat food it makes us feel happy and content.

pudding
Getty

These ‘happy’ chemicals are also released when we exercise or get out and about in the sun, and exposure to both these things usually declines during winter.  That means our bodies undergo a change in the balance of various gut bacteria and natural chemicals, resulting in us craving more comfort food in winter to trigger those feelings of happiness and wellbeing!

Whereas in summer, when many people are outside in the sun, in the garden, swimming and going for walks, our happy chemicals are triggered by sunlight and physical exercise.

So, if you’re trying to kick the cravings for those creamy pasta dishes and wintery desserts, it might be a good idea to get outside for a brisk walk in the sunshine.

You might also like:

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Your hormones could be to blame for cravings 

Research shows that seeing greenery can reduce your hunger cravings. Watch the full story below. 

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  • Better Life
Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

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How long does caffeine last in your system?

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