Why is chocolate so addictive on the human palate? If you’ve always thought that mixing fats and sugars was the answer, you might be wrong. Incidentally, the ability to release serotonin in the body also doesn’t seem to be the issue here.
Also see: Is there a cheese addiction or is the villain just chocolate? See what the science says
The truth is that chocolate produces an unexpected effect through the sensation that its texture evokes in the mouth.
The chocolate texture causes addiction to the substance
Researchers from the University of Leeds in the UK have found that chocolate is the most tempting food texture that he owns. Strictly speaking, it is not the taste, aroma, or chemical reactions that are designed as major factors in food “addiction.”
According to scientists, the meltinthemouth effect is almost unique to chocolate. Other foods don’t offer the same feeling to those who eat them.
In fact, the layer of fat that coats the hard core of the candy seems to be the center of attraction.
The results were published in ACS Applied Material and Interfaces. In the article, the researchers analyzed what happens when a person eats chocolate. They found the food to be very addictive due to the texture it offers.
The most impressive thing is that when food enters the oral cavity, the feeling of pleasure is felt almost instantly.
Discovery can help develop new products
By understanding why people fall in love with chocolate, scientists suggest it’s possible to create a healthier version of the food. When they’re able to provide the same “meltinthemouth” sensation, people tend to stick with the new product.
More studies of this type should emerge to test the results and delve further into the subject to understand exactly what happens in the human mouth and mind when eating one of the world’s most popular sweets.