The neural circuits in our brain related to seeking out sugar and sweet-tasting foods can make us vulnerable to wanting more and seeking out other ways to fill a gap. There are two pathways that lead to this seeking behavior- one related to the actual taste and the perception of sweet tastes and the other is related to the nutritive component of sweet foods.
The brain has dedicated neural machinery that drives us to seek out sugars and foods that contain sugars. This is because various cells, organs, and tissues in our body require glucose to function properly.
Sweet cravings are not just about taste but also about the nutritive components that come with it. Our neurons crave glucose, which is supplied by food with a sweet taste.
Ingesting something sweet increases dopamine and the mesolimbic reward pathways, leading to focused action towards getting more of it. Sweet tastes can activate dopamine release within the mesolimbic reward pathway, shifting our perception of food and leading to cravings.
This podcast discusses the pleasure pain balance that exists within our dopamine circuits, and how indulging in things we crave triggers changes in our neurochemistry and neural circuits that make us vulnerable to addiction.