Psychology-backed reason why so many people are baking during the lockdown

Is it just us or everybody around us is turning into a home baker? Are your social media feeds too filled with friends making sugary desserts at home?

Everyone you see is baking bread or whipping up desserts and baked goods - social media has turned into a mini #masterchef competition.

While the coronavirus crisis has brought out everybody's worst fears, it has also churned out an increasing number of home bakers which many didn't even know about.

From a simple homemade bread loaf to a delicately baked cake, it's one of the ways people are coping up with the crisis that has engulfed millions across the globe. Even though the baking tips are helpful in avoiding the crowds outside, there is also a psychological reason why people are turning to baking during the lockdown. Can you guess why?

A recent analysis revealed that Google searches for bread recipes and baking tips are on the rise.

Bread and sugar are two staples for people and act as a warm hug when you most need them or feel very uneasy. There is a reason why we rush to eat comfort food when we feel stressed, anxious or just want to soothe our nerves. In a similar way, the art of baking, which was earlier reserved to the professionals has turned people to bake their own batch of comfort food. Bread is also something which unites people across. Instead of simply shopping for it, baking bread has also become a way for people to destress and self-soothe in times of crisis.

Similarly, there is also a surge in people giving in to their cravings, and most important, sugar, during the lockdown. Even though the craving for quick desserts or chocolates is something which can happen very simply, stress has a major role to play as well. Stress affects your cortisol levels, a hormone that when elevated will alter your circulating levels of glucose and insulin. Stress affects hunger and cravings in people differently. but your body will quickly use its energy stores while in overdrive.

Having sugar is also a temporary fix for the body to be "happy". Depression or a bad mood can mentally and physically affect cravings too. Sugar consumption increases serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, appetite, memory, and social behaviour. Because sugar boosts serotonin, you feel happier, temporarily, so your brain craves this happy chemical again and again.

In many ways, baking and cooking have been termed to be therapeutic mediums. Think about it this way- you consciously put in efforts, spend time religiously waiting for the output and the final result is something positive to look forward to. In stressful times, this can be one of the ways you manage stress and anxiety levels. Baking requires a lot of patience, effort, skills and most importantly, it is a great way to pick up a new skill and hone yourself.

In moments of uncertainty, people are actually turning to bread (something which has been there for long and garners a "safe" place for people to return back to). People are also sharing recipes on the internet as a means of spreading positivity during these negative times. Hence, the art of baking bread is something more than just cooking but a means to come together or unite with others.

So, what are you going to bake now?