Sweet Relief

   You’ve just finished the meal, asked for the doggie bag because you couldn’t possibly eat another bite, and your server asks if you’d like to see the dessert menu. You look at him thinking, “Are you nuts? I’ve just eaten most of a seven course meal!”. But in the back of your head a little voice is saying, “Call me crazy, but I could go for a little sweet!”. Norwegian researchers are suggesting this is exactly what you should do.

     The Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association published a paper last month that stated that sugar appears to stimulate the vagus nerve, which controls digestion, speech, breathing and other functions. Now that’s a prescription for sugar if I ever heard one. I’m all for stimulating conversation and who doesn’t like their breathing exhilarated (as opposed to depressed), but the truly intriguing portion is the effect on digestion. According to Dr. Arnold Berstad, of Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital in Oslo “A sweet taste can allow the stomach to hold more and we can eat a little more without experiencing discomfort.”.

     What does this mean? That I am thankful for my vagus nerve and that it is so delightfully energized! This invigorated vagus signals the stomach muscle to loosen up and allows a tad more edibles to fit in. On the plus side, the loosened stomach muscles also give relief to the “over-stuffed” as it allows already consumed vittles to settle comfortably.

     Now for the down side. This reaction can be so successful that the relaxed stomach doesn’t have a clue it is full. This effect also explains why it is so easy to overdose on sugary sweets. Now you know there is a medical reason for eating that entire sleeve of Oreos at one sitting. Your vagus nerve made you do it.

     So the next time you push yourself away from the table with a groan, don’t reach for the Rolaids. Head for the mint bowl, take two and call me in the morning.

by Chewy