|
There is a common belief that some people have an affinity for sweet foods and this is also commonly referred to as the ‘sweet tooth’. There is hardly anyone who doesn’t like sweet food. This is because having an affinity to sweet foods is instinctual to humans. Since ancient times, when man still lived a primitive lifestyle, prior to the emergence of civilization, bitter tasting foods were expelled from the diet and were considered to be poisonous, whereas foods that were sweet were always considered to be safe to eat.
As our ancestors continued employing this method for choosing foods, a preference for sweet foods became a permanent part of the human taste.
This theory may sound fantastic and perhaps also give people excuse to indulge more in their favorite sugar treats and desserts. However, recent studies have shown that doing so can be really harmful to your health. It has been recently found that sugar has a strange effect on humans.
The more you eat sugar, the more you will crave it. Sugary foods are known as comfort food because of their ability to emotionally reconnect you to happier and more pleasant memories by triggering chemical reactions in the brain. Since they are feel-good foods that trigger off the production of serotonin, sugary foods are craved by those who are struggling with depression or an emotionally challenging situation.
Due to its many properties, it becomes extremely easy to consume a lot of sugar. Many people will in fact choose calorie dense, low nutrition sweet foods over other nutritious and healthy varieties. Till date, no organization has come up with a recommended daily intake of sugar.
We consume sugar in many forms. While you can be conscious of the added sugars in syrups, soft drinks and other processed foods, sugar also occurs naturally in fruits and milk.
If you are consuming sugar in excess, it could add up to your diet, making your diet calorie rich. Over consumption of sugar can cause obesity, cavities and other health problems.
On an average, the body can safely metabolize about 40 grams of sugar per day. This value includes both added sugars and the sugars that are naturally present in milk and fruit. When you are buying processed foods, you can check for the amount of sugar per serving and plan your meals accordingly. When looking for sugar content on labels, look out for the different types of sugars like sucrose, glucose, and fructose. No matter what name they are called, they are sugars and are packed with calories.
|