Food does not only captivate us by its smell or taste. Sound is also important, so much so that all crunchy products are like music for our senses, something that holds meanings for the brain. This phenomenon is called "chewing music" and is a very important auditory sensation for humans. This is because it gives us information about the state of the food. Think, for example, of the experience of biting into an apple that is as soft as absorbent cotton. We are likely to be repulsed and throw it away. When a food is crunchy, the brain interprets it as appetizing and healthy. The apple that makes no sound when we bite into it is most likely overripe and even rotten.
In fact, those who work in the kitchen know that sound is important in the world of food. It is true that a product "enters" us first by sight, then by smell and then by taste. However, we are completely captivated by sound and, in particular, by anything that is crunchy. What's more, in the marketing field they know that food packaging is decisive. Potato chip lovers enjoy opening such a bag. What's more, when we buy a loaf of bread, the first thing we do is squeeze it with our hands to feel its crunch. This is how we appreciate that it is freshly baked and therefore good to eat. Every crunchy and pleasant product is processed by the brain as healthy. It is true that this criterion is not always met, but it is an instinct that we can hardly resist.
Even when people deal with stress, we show very specific food needs: we look for crunchy products. So do sweet and salty foods. The origin lies in the fact that they are comforting for the brain, boost serotonin production and have a calming effect. We have been pointing this out. Somehow, the brain assumes that everything crunchy is healthy, in good condition and worth eating. It is true that fruits and vegetables, when they are at their peak, burst in our mouths in a crunchy way. However, there are unhealthy and high-fat foods that also generate that irresistible "chewing music". This is explained by the fact that the brain has a special predilection for foods rich in fat, salt and sugars.
In this sense, there is another no less interesting aspect that also explains why we feel a predilection for crunchy foods. This factor resides in the fact that any product that crunches requires more chewing and, therefore, stays longer in our mouth. The delight, consequently, is more intense. For example, eating a soup is not the same as eating a crispy cheese pizza. The latter requires more time in its consumption and the enjoyment is stretched as much as the mozzarella itself. Not only do we love to open the bags and smell it. We usually delight much more in its flavor as we feel the pop of each crunch in our mouth. All that symphony of sensations is highly addictive; so much so, that we rarely start a package without finishing it.
In conclusion, it is undeniable that we associate some sounds with food, to the point that hearing them evokes the pleasure of feeling them in our mouth. Crunchy sounds in particular attract us in a great way, and have associations with foods that we crave to eat. Cravings to eat something crunchy, usually salty, indicate emotional states of anger, stress, frustration or resentment. This "emotional eating" has an intellectual origin. Food not only fulfills its function of nourishing us, but it is also a great source of pleasure for the organism. And it has been shown that crunchy or more textured foods please us, so we leave healthy options to enjoy eating them. The chewing demanded by crunchy or more textured foods, as well as the sound that accompanies their ingestion, are factors that influence the response and the sensations that we originate with their consumption.
Do you like crunchy foods?
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