Why Summer Changes Your Taste Buds: The Science Behind Seasonal Cravings

Have you ever noticed that as we get into the warmer days that your appetite is lower or you start craving lighter meals? For myself this is something that I have noticed for years and just last week as the temps got warmer, I noticed that I was craving a fresh home made salsa. Like the craving was real. I couldn't stop thinking about it, so out I went to the grocery store, picked up some roma tomatoes, a couple jalapeno's, red onion , lemon, and cilantro and whipped up a fresh batch of home made salsa. The satisfaction of dipping a thin, lightly sea salted tortilla chip into that fresh salsa was unreal! Craving satisfied!

Believe it or not, this is a real thing. Our taste buds and palettes adjust seasonally. During warmer summer months the heat has a real impact on the foods that your body wants to consume. When it's hot out, our bodies need to work harder to regulate temperature which can create a desire to gravitate towards more water rich foods such as salads, watermelon, fruits and veggies because they provide added hydration to the body. Eating these lighter meals are also less taxing on digestion in comparison to hearty winter stews or fatty meals that we typically consume over the winter months.

When our bodies are working to regulate our body temperature, naturally hypothalamus (the part of the brain that regulates body temp and appetite control) kicks in and will dampen your hunger levels. This is why you might find your appetite go down on hotter days. If you are currently on a fitness journey to improve strength, get stronger, and lean out, you might want to consider tracking your meals if you find your appetite blunted to ensure you are consuming enough calories and macronutrients your body needs to achieve your goals. This is a perfect recipe to miss the mark on your goals if you are under consuming. On the flip side, if you are someone who tends to over consume calories over the winter months and put on some "winter weight" but you're looking to lean out, this might be an opportunity to reevaluate the foods that you eat, choose more of these fresh veg combined with lean proteins, focus on being active and see how your body responds.

Hydration can also have an impact on the choices you make in the summer. Poor hydration alters the taste buds, dulling them. If it's hot outside and you are dehydrated, your body will begin to crave juicy, salty foods and drinks, so make sure you choose wisely. Avoid reaching for the soft drinks and high sugar juices. Try to stick to fresh fruits, water, or even add electrolytes to your water.

Another thing that naturally occurs as the seasons change because of the change in daylight exposure. Days get longer therefore our melatonin and serotonin levels shift. These shifts can subtly influence our mood and cravings. Notice how the first nice days of the year that you get outside you feel energized, refreshed, and happier. That's a real thing. Not to mention you are getting real Vitamin D from the sun, not a bottle. Getting outside daily, especially if you work behind a desk all day is really important to keep this in balance. Studies show that getting outside during the day in the summer, maybe on a lunch break or a walk a few times a day can steer you towards making better nutritional choices of fresher, seasonal produce.

Our cultural behavioural patterns are also influenced by the summer heat. Who doesn't love a good summer BBQ with friends or family? After months of being cooped up inside for the winter, by the time summer comes, we crave more connection, being outdoors and what better way than to have a summer BBQ or time outside with loved ones. What is the centre around this? Food! I always love a good summer pot luck BBQ with friends and family. There is always an abundance of salads, grilled veggies and proteins.

So next time you notice your body craving different foods during the shift of the seasons, keep in mind there is science behind this. It's not just in your mind!

I've shared some additional resources if you feel inclined to dig a little deeper.

• Blundell JE, Macdiarmid JI. (1991). "Fat as a risk factor for overconsumption: satiation, satiety, and patterns of eating." Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

• van der Lans IA et al. (2013). "Cold exposure promotes eating in humans." Appetite.

• Proctor GB, Carpenter GH. (2007). "Regulation of salivary gland function by autonomic nerves." Autonomic Neuroscience.

• Mojet J et al. (2003). "Taste perception with age: generic or specific losses in threshold sensitivity to the five basic tastes?" Chemical Senses.

• Wyse CA et al. (2011). "Seasonal variation in human feeding behavior and sleep patterns." Chronobiology International.