Why do we tend to consume chocolate under stress?

Why are we prone to chocolate consumption and other sugar - content products when we're stressed?

A team of Japanese researchers have identified the neurons responsible.

Scientists at the National Institute of Physiological Sciences, in Aichis Prefecture, found that when certain neurons responsible were activated in rats to counter stress, then the desire for carbs increased significantly.

It was evident that rodents in question consumed three times as much sugar - content delivery as in normal conditions, halving fat consumption.

This study, which is expected to be published in the online edition of the American magazine “Cell Reports”, is the first to demonstrate the role of the brain in carbs or fat preferences”, explained Jasuhiko Minokoshi, who runs the research.

A lot of people who consume a considerable amount of sugar when they're stressed tend to think it's their fault, because they can't control their impulses, while in fact it's a matter of neurons”, he told the media.

The explorer, wanting to be careful, stressed that it would take time before he came up with concrete conclusions.

” The visualization of neurons in the concrete case can have side effects”, he warned.