Have you ever wondered why you’re hungrier when it’s cold?

Have you ever wondered why you always seem to be hungrier when it’s cold outside? Well, it turns out that science is here to shed light on that mystery. Mammal brains are quite mischievous when it comes to low temperatures and here we tell you how the whole thing works, in an easy and entertaining way. When temperatures plummet, your body goes into “cold war” mode; It starts to burn more energy to stay warm and not turn into an ice cube. But, wait, this also triggers an intense battle in your stomach. Why? Because the cold awakens your dormant appetite!

A group of bold scientists ventured into the world of mice to find the secret switch that awakens hunger in the cold. Turns out they found a group of neurons that basically acts as the DJ at this appetite party—when it’s cold, these neurons turn up the hunger volume. You may have heard of “cold therapy” as a method for losing weight, but here’s the kicker: the cold, like a hot pizza at a birthday party, increases appetite to counteract any weight loss. So while it sounds good in theory, it’s not as simple as plunging into ice water and waiting for the pounds to melt away.

One interesting thing scientists noticed is that mice don’t start looking for food right away when it’s cold. There’s a delay of about six hours, as if your brain needs time to think, “It’s time to fill your stomach!” Using super cool techniques, researchers tracked neurons in the mice brains in cold and heat and it turns out that a part called the “thalamus” lights up like a Christmas tree in December in the dead of winter. Ultimately, these neurons in the thalamus have a secret rendezvous with a part of the brain called the “nucleus accumbens” – that’s where all the reward and aversive signals mix to decide whether or not you should open the fridge in the middle of the night.

The exciting part is that these discoveries could open the door to more effective ways to lose weight. Imagine cold therapy that doesn’t make you roar like a hungry polar bear. That would be great! Science continues to advance, and who knows, maybe soon we will be able to enjoy the cold without uncontrolled hunger as an unwanted guest at our table! So the next time you feel the cold awaken the hunger monster in you, know that it’s just your brain doing its job in this cold winter dance!