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Why Do We Crave Sweets When We’re Stressed?
28th Jul 2022 | Posted by Achim Peters in The Scientific American

Why Do We Crave Sweets When We’re Stressed?

Although our brain accounts for just 2 percent of our body weight, the organ consumes half of our daily carbohydrate requirements—and glucose is its most important fuel. Under acute stress the brain requires some 12 percent more energy, leading many to reach for sugary snacks. Carbohydrates provide the body with the quickest source of energy. In fact, in cognitive tests subjects who were stressed performed poorly prior to eating. Their per …