The reason lies in our physiology. Psychologist Marina Sklyarova explained why we crave sweets more during stress. According to her, at such moments, the body responds to internal signals that were ingrained in humans thousands of years ago.
“The sweet taste signaled to ancient humans that food was safe and provided energy, while maternal milk with its soft sweet taste left us with the very first memory of love, warmth, and care. Thus, the craving for sweets is driven by an unconscious desire to return to that feeling of comfort and tranquility that was once unconditional,” said Sklyarova.
The expert emphasized that the body reacts to pure sugar as if it were an emergency. Sugar levels spike sharply, and the pancreas releases insulin to process it. After a while, blood sugar levels drop too low, and the body raises the alarm. This is how we get caught in a vicious cycle: spike – drop – hunger – spike again.
