Why does food make your mouth water

Have you ever seen your favorite food smelled it or simply thought about it and suddenly felt your mouth watering?

This can happen even when you are not very hungry. Just seeing or smelling food can make your body prepare for eating.

Experts call this the “cephalic phase of digestion.” In simple words it means your body can start preparing for digestion before food even reaches your mouth.

Your brain prepares your body

When you see, smell or think about a favorite food your brain gets a signal that food may be coming.  It then sends signals to different parts of the digestive system.

One of the first things that happens is that your mouth produces more saliva.  Saliva makes food softer and easier to chew and swallow. It also helps start the digestion process.

That is why seeing hot pizza, biryani, jalebi or another favorite dish can make your mouth water.  Your body is already getting ready to eat.

It is not always about hunger

Mouth watering does not always mean you are very hungry.  You may even feel full and still have a strong reaction to your favorite food.

Food cravings can be affected by its smell appearance memories and past experiences. For example, the smell of a homemade dish from childhood may bring back old memories and make you want to eat it again.

Smells can trigger strong reactions

Sometimes you do not even need to see food. A delicious smell from the kitchen can make you feel hungry within seconds.

But the opposite can also happen.

A bad smell unpleasant sight or negative memory can make you feel sick or lose your appetite. For example if you once became sick after eating a certain food, your brain may connect that food with the bad experience.

Later even its smell may make you feel nauseous.

•Your body has a protective system

These reactions are part of the close connection between the brain and the digestive system.  Your brain does not only help you notice food you like it can also help protect you from food that may be harmful.

A bad smell or unpleasant appearance can make you avoid certain food. In some cases it may even cause nausea or reduce your appetite.

So the next time your mouth waters when you see your favorite dish remember that your body may already be preparing for the meal before you take your first bite.