Making your brain smile
Research comissioned by Unilever and carried out by the UK Institute of Psychiatry has discovered that ice cream actually 'lights up' the brain's pleasure zones. It appears from clinical trials that just one spoonful of ice cream brings a smile to the happy areas of the brain.
The willing participants in the study were asked to eat vanilla ice cream before having an MRI – magnetic resonance imaging – scan to see which parts of the brain are activated when people eat it. MRI scans detect regions in the brain affected by changes in the levels of blood oxygenation.
The results of the scans found that ice cream has an immediate effect on these pleasure zones. Previous research had found out that when people are really enjoying themselves these areas are activated. Unilever commissioned the research, which was carried out at the centre for Neuroimaging Sciences in London.
A happy balance
The good news is that healthy eating doesn’t mean cutting out all your favourite foods, it’s about getting the balance right. In fact, incorporating fun foods into your diet can be the key to maintaining a balanced diet in the long term.
Remember, ‘variety in moderation’ is an important part of eating a healthy diet and this allows you to enjoy a wide variety of foods, including ones that make you feel good. Rather than giving up your favourite foods, try smaller portions or eating them just once in a while.
