Many of us have experienced the phenomenon of feeling full after a meal yet somehow finding room for dessert. It happens every time – no matter how much you’ve stuffed yourself, there is still always room for a scoop of ice cream or two.
This is such a common occurrence that most people joke about having a separate compartment - or even a “second stomach” - for sweets.
So, is it true that human beings have a “second stomach” of some form for sweets?
VERDICT:
FALSE
No, human beings do not have a literal, physical “second stomach” or any other compartment in their body for any type of food – what more desserts or other sweet treats.
However, the feeling of having room for dessert despite being full can be explained through other physiological and psychological factors.
One of the key explanations is the phenomenon known as ‘sensory-specific satiety’. This refers to the reduction in reward chemicals our brain produces the more we consume a certain type of food.
Essentially, as we fill up on one type of food, our brain derives less satisfaction from it, causing our appetite for similar foods to decrease.
However, introducing a new flavour or texture, such as dessert after a savoury meal, can re-ignite our interest in eating.
For example, you may have been craving pizza, but by the time you get to your fifth or sixth slice, your brain has lost interest in it.
It then starts sending out signals that tells your body it is full and suddenly, a seventh slice doesn’t sound (or taste) nearly as appealing anymore.
Then, you spot a slice of cake, and you feel as though you magically have space in your stomach again!
Being omnivores, humans need a varied diet. As such, researchers posit that sensory-specific satiety serves an evolutionary purpose to help us get all the nutrients we need by ‘forcing’ us to crave a wide variety of foods.
This was especially important for ancient humans as it helped regulate our ancestors’ eating habits and made sure they did not just fill up on one type of food.
Psychological factors also play a role in explaining our specific craving for dessert after a meal.
In most cultures, dessert is seen as a reward or a conclusion to a meal. This, combined with sensory- specific satiety, can create an internal feedback loop that conditions us to feel as though a dining experience is incomplete without dessert at the end.
So, while we don’t actually have a separate compartment or stomach for sweet delights, a “dessert stomach” is a very real phenomenon!
SOURCES
1. https://www.sciencefocus.com/
2. https://www.delicious.com.au/
3. https://www.henryford.com/
4. https://stuyspec.com/article/
