The Weird Thing That Could Be Behind Your Cravings

If you can't kick the urge to reach for a candy bar, the microbes in your stomach may be to blame, according to a new article published in the journal BioEssays.

See, the bacteria that make up the community of microbes in your stomach, known as the gut microbiome, all need different types of nutrients. Some prefer fat, while others would much rather have sugar, for example. Scientists aren’t sure of the exact process involved, but they think the gut microbiome sends signaling molecules from your stomach to your immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. In turn, those signals can influence your behavior, prompting you to seek out food loaded with whatever nutrient the bacteria need to stay strong. Certain types of stomach bacteria may also be linked to cancer, obesity, and diabetes, influencing your health even more directly.

“Bacteria within the gut are manipulative,” corresponding author Carlo Maley, Ph.D, director of the University of California San Francisco Center for Evolution and Cancer, said in a statement. “There is a diversity of interests represented in the microbiome, some aligned with our own dietary goals, and others not.” So while you may want to be all about kale salads, your gut may be pushing you to go for dessert instead.

MORE: The BEST Way to Satisfy Cravings Without Going Overboard

Thankfully, it’s not like these gut microbes have the final say about what you put in your mouth. Your gut microbiome changes structure within 24 hours of altering your diet, per the report, which means you can combat this effect pretty quickly.

“Because microbiota are easily manipulatable by prebiotics, probiotics, antibiotics, fecal transplants, and dietary changes, altering our microbiota offers a tractable approach to otherwise intractable problems of obesity and unhealthy eating,” write the study authors. While some of the aforementioned methods, like fecal transplants, are extreme measures, others are more doable. For example, it's totally within your power to boost your probiotic intake and aim for an all-around healthier diet. More research is needed to determine the best way to manage the gut microbiome, but until then, it’s reassuring to know relentless cravings aren’t necessarily a sign that you have terrible willpower—just that your stomach’s speaking out.

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