The science behind why everyone is making bread right now

If your social media feeds have been filled with posts of people showing off their latest baking creations, you’re not alone.

Baking bread, in particular, has seen a huge surge since Americans have been confined to their homes amid the coronavirus pandemic. The hashtag #breadmaking has more than 500,000 posts – and counting – on Instagram.

The act of making bread isn’t just hype. There’s a reason it’s soothing to the mind, body and soul, according to therapist Laura Rhodes-Levin, the founder of The Missing Peace Center for Anxiety, a facility that offers different forms of therapy to help ease the nervous system

Rhodes-Levin, who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of anxiety, depression and trauma, says baking eases stress and brings us a sense of satisfaction. “Anything that gets us into our bodies can be therapeutic,” she explains. “It focuses our attention on the task at hand rather than our anxious thoughts.”

The joy of baking bread also engages our five senses:

Touch

Kneading dough is a repetitive activity that makes people feel purposeful and productive. While our body is busy, our minds have room to relax and focus.

Sight

Watching dough rise triggers pleasure centers in the brain. “When we get something right, even as small as evening out a tablespoon of baking soda, the reward center of our brain is triggered,” Rhodes-Levin says.

Smell

The smell of freshly baked bread ignites a calming quality. It sparks warm, familiar memories from childhood.

Hearing

Bakers often describe loaves as crackling or popping as the crust contracts and cools. These sounds can be very soothing. “Food is a strong love language spoken to us as children, it is how we were nurtured.” Rhodes-Levin explains.

Taste

Then there’s the moment you bite into your masterpiece and find comfort in carbs. Eating carbohydrates increases serotonin in the brain, a neurotransmitter that promotes calm and sleep during times of stress.

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