The FGF21 hormone reduces your cravings for sugar

HAD a few too many sweets over the Christmas period? A new scientific discovery may stop that happening again.

Supplied sweet tooth 1

HAD a few too many sweets over the Christmas period? A new discovery may stop that happening again.

In a recently published study researchers at the University of Iowa revealed a hormone that suppresses your cravings for sugar.

They found that hormone FGF21 is released from the liver when your body has high carbohydrate levels. It then enters your bloodstream and signals the brain to reduce your sugar desires.

The incredible discovery could help improve people’s diets, as well as helping those who are diabetic or obese.

Sweet tooth? ... The FGF21 hormone reduces your cravings for sugar. Picture: Getty

The conclusion was drawn after testing on mice.

They injected them with the FGF21 hormone and let them choose between a normal and sugary diet. Amazingly, the mice ate seven times less sugar than normal.

The researchers also genetically modified mice so that some produced lots of FGF21, while others produced none at all. Those without the hormone ate more sugar.

Co-author and professor Dr Matthew Potthoff said that him and his team want to work further to understand how exactly FGF21 works, as well as discovering if similar hormones exist to suppress cravings for fats and proteins.