Why do our mouths water when we think about food?

Question

Is the thought of food alone enough to trick our brains into thinking we are eating?

In: 0

Answer 1

Saliva is one of the first steps of digestion. Besides containing some enzymes that start breaking down food, it also lubricates our mouth and mixes with the food as we chew to help soften it into a paste that’s easier to swallow.

So if you’re thinking about food, especially if you’re hungry, your subconscious thinks maybe there’s a decent chance you’re going to be eating food soon, so it ramps up saliva production to prepare.