upworthy

donuts

Three teenage girls enjoying some cake.

Have you ever felt like you can hardly stand after having a big dinner at a restaurant, but when the dessert menu is dropped on the table, your stomach miraculously finds a way to accommodate another 800 calories of cheesecake? Does that mean you weren’t completely full, or your stomach can always find room for dessert? According to a recent study out of Germany, we’re programmed to find room for dessert, even when legitimately full.

The Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, led by Henning Fenselau, PhD, performed a study on mice after being confused by what they call “dessert stomach” or the strange way we have an appetite for sugary foods when we have zero interest in another bite of our dinner. The researchers found that after eating a meal, a paradoxical thing happens: the same neurons that trigger us to feel satisfied also create a desire for sugary foods simultaneously.

cake, eating cake, appetite, scientific studyA couple enjoying some cheesecake.via Canva/Photos

To understand why this surprising effect happens with our appetites, the researchers gathered a hungry group of mice and fed them chow for 90 minutes. After the mice were satisfied, the scientists offered them another 30-minute period where they were given more chow or a substance high in sugar. The mice given a second helping of chow would take a little nibble, but if they were given a meal high in sugar, they would increase their caloric intake sixfold. For humans, this is like enjoying a filling club sandwich with soup and salad, then knocking back a nine-scoop sundae with whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry. “This vigorous stimulation of consumption of the high sugar–containing food was consistent across all mice,” the researchers wrote.


Is dessert stomach real?

The secret to “dessert stomach” lies in a group of nerve cells called pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). When the mice were full of chow, these neurons fired off signals that they were satiated. At the same time, it also triggers the release of ß-endorphin, one of the body’s opiates that creates a feeling of reward that causes the mice to continue to consume sugar even after they are full.

It’s also worth noting that the opiate was released in mice that had never even tasted sugar before, showing they are hard-wired to consume sugar every chance they get. “From an evolutionary perspective, this makes sense: sugar is rare in nature but provides quick energy,” Fenselau said. “The brain is programmed to control the intake of sugar whenever it is available.”


Scientists believe humans have a strong drive to consume sugar because its energy allows them to stave off starvation, giving them a greater chance to reproduce. However, fruit is often found high up in trees, so the primates would need a strong drive to climb the tree to get it. The amount of sugar provided by these fruits was relatively small, so there were no adverse health impacts from eating whatever sugar they could get their hands on. But in 2025, at a time when sugar is plentiful, this drive is a big reason for the obesity epidemic in developed countries.

The good news about the study is that the next time you eat a big meal and still crave a hunk of cake even after you are full, it’s not because you prioritized dessert over your nutritious meal. It’s because, over thousands of years of evolution, your mind has found a way to trick you into eating all the sugar you can, even when you don’t have any space left for anything else.

SOURCE: FACEBOOK

The owner of a donut store has been praised for defending a homeless man who hangs out outside of the store from an angry customer. The owner of Nomad Donuts, based in San Diego, defended the "intelligent and respectful" man after the customer implied that seeing him made them feel guilty about buying donuts.

The exchange was spotted by Reddit user beerbellybegone on Reddit, who shared screenshots on the social media site. The one-star review by the angry customer states: "A homeless guy has *lived* (morning noon and night) against the front entrance for about a year. Really makes me feel great about spending $5 on a jelly donut."

SOURCE: YELP

In a reply, owner Brad Keiller explained that the homeless man, Ray, was actually an asset to the store. He went on to explain Ray's background in a thought-provoking defense.


"Thanks for coming into the shop," Brad wrote. "We've appreciated your support over the years, even at the original one on 30th St! I'm sorry that Ray ruined your experience on your last visit. Know that he would like you to continue buying $4 donuts from Nomad everyday and doesn't want you to feel guilty about it."

Brad continues: "Our 'new' location on University has a lot more homeless people than the original on 30th St and it had really been an issue until Ray started hanging out outside the shop. He keeps the problematic ones away. Yes we've had many of those on meth, heroin, and such that I've had to almost forcibly remove from the shop but Ray keeps them away."

Brad then goes on to explain Ray's background, stating: "Ray is a former computer programmer with some physical and psychological challenges but he is very intelligent and respectful. I speak with him almost everyday. I like him. He is part of our community. The outside of the building provides him shelter from the sun, rain, and the building slabs gives warmth at night."

Brad concludes: "I understand how you feel, it's not easy to look at. I know I probably lose some business, probably yours too, because of my choice not to chase him away but I won't. He's not looking for handouts and he tried not to other anyone. If you stop and talk with him maybe you'll come to like him too."

Unsurprisingly, Brad's staunch defense of Ray led to some pretty positive comments online.

"The business owner is clearly socially conscious," one user wrote. "That's great and I'd support that. But it seems to me that the hero of the piece is actually Ray. He needs more love than the business."

While another added: "Every inch of respect for this post is deserved. Rays a human, with a story, same as everyone."

One person claiming to be homeless even commented: "Good on the business owner. As a homeless person myself, I felt both of these comments; you can be doing nothing wrong, be completely sober, keep to yourself, and people will still look at you like an absolute piece of shit for simply existing."

1. Ugh.

Image via iStock.

2. Ugh ugh ugh.

Image via iStock.


3. Uggggggggggggghhhhh.

Image via iStock.

4. What fresh hell is doing my taxes going to bring this year?

Image via iStock.

5. I have too many 1099s. Brutal.

Image via iStock.

6. What are benefits repaid to SSA?! Do I even need this form?

Image via iStock.

7. By this time next week, I will be thousands of dollars poorer. Hooray!

Image via iStock.

8. Thanks, Uncle Sam! You did this.

Image via iStock.

9. I can’t deal with it right now.

Image via iStock.

10. I mean, why should I have to pay taxes?

Image via iStock.

11. I work hard. I give to charity. Why do I have to pay so other people can get free stuff?

Image via iStock.

12. That's it. I'm going for a walk.

Image via iStock.

13. Probably gonna get a donut.

Image via iStock.

14. I deserve to treat myself today. I'm doing my taxes, after all.

Image via iStock.

15. Just two blocks to the donut store.

Image via iStock.

16. Looks like they finally repaved the sidewalk. That’s something, at least.

Image via iStock.

17. You know, I never really thought about how the sidewalk gets paved.

Image via iStock.

18. Does someone in an office downtown just decide one day, “Hey, that sidewalk is pretty messed up” and send a bunch of construction workers to do it?

Image via iStock.

19. I guess I pay for it.

Image via iStock.

20. With my taxes. That I don’t want to do. Or pay. Or think about.

Image via iStock.

21. Glad it got done though.

Image via iStock.

22. Wow. What a beautiful day.

Image via iStock.

23. Hey, look at that mountain!

Image via iStock.

24. That’s a cool mountain.

Image via iStock.

25. I look down at my shoes so much I never noticed I lived by a mountain.

Image via iStock.

26. ‘Sup, mountain.

Image via iStock.

27. It must be part of that newly designated national forest.

Image via iStock.

28. I guess ... I should also be grateful that my taxes pay for the park rangers to take care of it.

Image via iStock.

29. I mean, the mountain definitely helps property values around here.

Image via iStock.

30. And without taxpayer-funded government protection, it might be all covered in trash and scrap metal and stuff.

Image via iStock.

31. Or have its top blown off by some coal company.

Image via iStock.

32. I should hike up that mountain one day.

Image via iStock.

33. But donut first.

Image via iStock.

34. Definitely donut first.

Image via iStock.

35. What kind of donut do I want?

Image via iStock.

36. Glazed? Chocolate cake?

Image via iStock.

37. Of course, the fact that I know how to read the donut menu at all is because I was educated in public schools, which my parents’ taxes paid for.

Image via iStock.

38. Ooh, yes. Vanilla sprinkles. There it is.

Image via iStock.

39. Love a frosted donut.

Image via iStock.

40. Now that I think about it, taxes also pay for the farm subsidies that help America grow ungodly amounts of corn that becomes the corn syrup in the frosting.

Image via iStock.

41. Would this donut even exist without farm subsidies?

Image via iStock.

42. If it did, it’d be like $17, instead of $1.05.

Image via iStock.

43. Maybe that’s why there are so many frosted donuts in America.

Image via iStock.

44. I wonder what would happen if somebody punched me in the face and stole my donut?

Image via iStock.

45. I’ve never been punched before.

Image via iStock.

46. I guess it would probably hurt pretty bad.

Image via iStock.

47. And someone would call the cops.

Image via iStock.

48. Why do cops even exist? I suppose because we all pay the government once a year and a small portion of that goes to pay cops.

Image via iStock.

49. Not that, you know, cops are always 100% chill, but still. Nice to have someone to call, if you need to, when you get punched.

Image via iStock.

50. Mmmmm. Fried donut. Fried in greasy, greasy oil.

Image via iStock.

51. Come to think of it, donut shops are kind of dangerous.

Image via iStock.

52. What if all that oil caught on fire?

Image via iStock.

53. I guess the fire department would come.

Image via iStock.

54. And put it out with their tax-funded trucks and hoses.

Image via iStock.

55. Hm ... guess I should probably start walking home to do my taxes after all.

Image via iStock.

56. Good thing that car stopped when I crossed the street instead of mercilessly mowing me down, as it probably would have without a tax-funded streetlight to stop it.

Image via iStock.

57. Wait a sec — I feel like ... like there’s someone behind me.

Image via iStock.

58. Like, multiple people.

Image via iStock.

59. Oh, it’s a youth soccer team. Phew.

Image via iStock.

60. It's not a horde of crazed cannibals.

Image via iStock.

61. Double phew.

Image via iStock.

62. Why aren’t there crazed cannibals around?

Image via iStock.

63. I suppose it’s because my taxes pay for food assistance so people don’t have to resort to eating human flesh.

Image via iStock.

64. And housing assistance so people don’t have to starve alone in dank, musty caves.

Image via iStock.

65. And a legal system that imposes severe penalties for killing people and cooking them.

Image via iStock.

66. It’s almost as if ... there’s an entire, complex, hidden infrastructure undergirding my ability to safely get a donut that depends on me paying my taxes.

Image via iStock.

67. Which I still need to do.

Image via iStock.

68. True, there’s a lot of stuff I'd rather my taxes not pay for.

Image via iStock.

69. Like dropping bombs on random countries.

Image via iStock.

70. And a new football stadium every three years.

Image via iStock.

71. But we don't get to pay a la carte. Otherwise, everyone would just pick and choose, and important programs that we don't even think about wouldn't get funding.

Image via iStock.

72. Not to mention, other people might not want to pay for the stuff that I want my taxes to go toward.

Image via iStock.

73. Like the subway so I can get places without a car.

Image via iStock.

74. And weather satellites so I know when to put on my boots before I go outside.

Image via iStock.

75. But especially this donut.

Image via iStock.

76. Millions of other Americans paid up so I could have this sweet donut.

Image via iStock.

77. Thanks, everyone!

Image via iStock.

78. You’re the best.

Image via iStock.

79. Even though taxes are something you have no choice but to pay.

Image via iStock.

80. And you’re probably more than a little pissed about having to do them right now.

Image via iStock.

81. OK, I'm home. It's time to face the beast.

Image via iStock.

82. Weirdly, I actually feel good about paying taxes now.

Image via iStock.

83. Anything that prevents me from twisting my ankle, dying in a fire, or being eaten by a ravening horde is OK by me.

Image via iStock.

84. Ooh, and maybe I'll get an article out of this.

Image via iStock.

85. And I can deduct that donut as a business expense.

Image via iStock.

86. Boom. Just owned taxes.

Image via iStock.

87. Definitely need another donut to celebrate.

Image via iStock.