Why You Crave a Glass of Milk with Cookies— Explained by Science

Nothing beats a cold refreshing glass of milk along with a chocolate chip cookie. We’ve all been there, but have you ever wondered why you feel thirsty after eating sweets? Or even why a glass of milk pairs so well cookies? Well, there is actually scientific evidence to tell you why you are thirsty, because you know, gotta love science. According to Indiana Public Media’s “A Moment of Science”, we become thirsty after consuming sweet foods because of the way sugar interacts with your body’s cells. Say what? Sounds crazy. But here is how it works.
The Breakdown:
When sugar enters the bloodstream, the sugar particles pull out the water from your body’s cells, depleting its supplies. Your cells DO NOT LIKE THIS! Your body’s cells then send a chemical message to your brain to indicate you need fluids to dilute the sugar levels and return water to the cells.
It’s also important to note even though salt and sugar act differently in our bodies, this same process happens when you eat salty foods. Hmm… it all makes sense now why I am thirsty after eating pretzels.
Sugar Rush!!!
And as for “sugar rush” this is also backed up by science. Your brain monitors your blood concentration routinely in order to make sure it is maintaining normal levels, so when you’ve had a sugar overload your brain senses it, triggering you to feel thirsty.
Next time when you are feeling parched after enjoying a sweet or salty treat, you know why thanks to scientists for giving us the inside scoop. Let’s have a glass of milk so we can digest all these fascinating facts!
Looking for more dairy fun facts? Click here to read our nutrition blog posts.
Not to bash the author, because I know the original story has been rewritten many times by different authors…but to critique the science side of it; this is the worst scientific explanation I have read for anything I can recall in recent memory. Not at all scientific. There is a better explanation, than water getting depleted from your cells.