If you’re struggling to curb sugar cravings, you might have your intestines to blame. A new study has found that a high consumption of soda and other sugary drinks can rewire your intestines, causing them to favor sugar absorption over other nutrients.

Researchers from India used two groups of mice to study the impact of sugar on metabolism.  One group was put on a diet of regular food and water while the other group received regular food and water with 10% sucrose, resembling the sugar content in soda. The mice were allowed to eat and drink freely for three months.

During the study, the researchers monitored the mice’s weight, blood sugar levels, and food and water intake. After three months, they evaluated the mice’s metabolic health by looking at how the mice processed sugar and responded to insulin. They took tissue samples from the liver, intestines and muscles to see how the sugar impacted the mice at the molecular level.

Results showed that the group of mice that drank sugary water had significantly higher blood sugar levels, increased levels of insulin resistance and increased liver glucose production compared with the group that drank regular water.

The small intestine of the mice in the sugar water group also changed. The number of sugar transporters — proteins in the intestines that help absorb sugar — increased, whereas transporters for other nutrients like fats and amino acids decreased. The researchers also noticed a change in muscle function at the cellular level.

So the next time your favorite soda starts calling your name, consider the fact that a sugar addiction goes deeper than your tongue.