Sweet Heightens Interest Between Potential Partners—Study

A new study by the researchers at Purdue University in the United States revealed that tasting anything sweet increases the interest level of the person towards his or her potential partner.

Researchers of Prude University found a direct link between sweet taste and the feeling of love. Two sets of studies were conducted. In the first a group, 125 people about to go on a date were taken into consideration. Half of them were made to consume a sugary drink, while the other half were given water.

At the end of the study, they found that those who drank the sugary drink were more interested in their dates. They were also more positive about their relationship compared with those who only drank water.

The second study was conducted on 155 participants. Half of them were given sugar biscuits, while the other half had non-sweet items. The same results were found.

The researchers found a nervous system link between the sweet taste and emotions connected with love. In the report, the researchers stated that the feelings of love and sweet taste had "similar neural substrates." They found that regions associated with the sweet taste are linked with parts of the brain associated with perceptions of romance. Activation in one region triggers activity in the other linked regions. When in love, people think that food is sweeter and ones romantic interest increases.

Lead researcher Dongning Ren said, "Dopamine, a neurotransmitter controls the brain's reward and pleasure centres." When you consume something sweet, it increases the dopamine levels: the main key for feelings of love. The study is published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.

Previous studies showed that chocolate is a mood booster. It contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which is a chemical the brain creates when one falls in love. It releases endorphins and makes you feel good.

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