Why while some people may seem pretty indifferent when it comes to chocolate, others just can’t get enough of the age-old treat? Is it because of the personality type? The good taste? Or something that actually lives in your gut? Modern research has shown that the cravings we have may very well be connected to the types of bacteria that live in our digestive system. Studies conducted at the Nestlé Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland, have shown that people who did not crave chocolate actually seemed to have very different colonies of bacteria in their digestive systems than people who craved chocolate.
Tests on the 22 individuals also showed that the differences didn’t just end there, but that the chocolate lovers’ LDL cholesterol levels appeared to be lower than those of non-chocolate lovers, as well as having higher levels of the amino acid. known as glycine. However, those who didn’t crave chocolate also showed higher levels of taurine, which is a substance used in energy drinks like Rockstar.
So what does it all mean? This is a hot topic in the scientific community today as they are now finding out why we as individuals crave different things to consume while others just despise them. Soon researchers will be able to know which colonies of bacteria cause which cravings, and we, the people, will have the freedom to choose…between subcategories of bacterial cravings? That can be interesting. To be classified by whim ‘style’ tailor made for the individual. They could create entirely new diets based on this concept alone. As research has, in fact, shown that gut bacteria change when people lose weight.
Also, companies can use this information backwards, where they can try to trade what we crave for what they, or anyone else, puts into our digestive system. Think about that for a moment. All we would have to do is remove the ‘bad’ bacteria and replace them with the ‘good’ bacteria and then we will crave only fruits, vegetables, while simply dreading those sweet treats that have never let our taste buds down. Very good stuff here. However, the good is just that. If we have trouble losing self control when it comes to junk food and those high fat foods, high fructose corn syrup and so on, we will be able to control those urges biologically instead of ‘torturing’ ourselves trying to pass those items, either on a menu or on the grocery store shelf.
This research appears to be a breakthrough in technology and it seems to me that it may very well play a significant role in the future of our diets and daily personalities. But does food really have that much impact on our personality? Will our cravings, if altered, cause us to experience drastic changes in our daily personalities and attitudes, based on our cravings? This seems to be a logical result of such advancement in science and technology. However, if there is something to remember, it is to keep in mind that some of those cravings that you have deep down may be just that. A feeling that is not necessarily your fault, but something that you can control yourself, if you wish and really set your mind to it.