One Sweet World…
The media, scientists, and health experts are always telling us that things are getting sweeter… Food that is. There is no way to get around it: sweetness is seductive. We love it. We crave it. And then we seemingly become addicted to it. Why?
One explanation for the palatability phenomenon is biological: Our foraging ancestors were attracted to sweet food because it was a sign that it was edible and good source of much-needed calories in a world where food was scarce and the next meal uncertain.
One thing metabolically certain is that when we ingest sugar (or starches) our bodies immediately respond by flooding our bloodstream with insulin. Insulin is the magical hormone that is responsible for storing that immediate energy in our fat cells (as long as it isn’t needed for immediate muscle repair or fuel for exercise). Increase the insulin, and you increase amount of fat stored. It is a brilliant system, as long as your goal is not to eat large amounts of simple carbohydrates and lose weight. I actually recently read an article about the eating disorder associated with Type 1 Diabetics, where they purge calories by skipping or under-dosing their insulin shots. This obviously is not a good thing- and these girls are suffering serious medical complications and premature death as a result.
Then there is the conspiracy-theorist’s explanation of why the world is getting sweeter…and more obese. Sugar sells. And it is addictive. Food manufacturers want to create ever more palatable offerings to lure and keep customers coming. So hence, we have an entire industry based on snack foods and soft drinks. And this cycle continues to fuel our need to satisfy those sweet and salty taste buds. Have you tried to find even jarred pasta sauce without sweetener? What is sugar doing in marinara? Producers even sweeten deli meat…It gets quite ridiculous when you stop and actually look at the labels.
You must be reading my mind. I just blogged about this very same topic, although my approach was less about the scientific angle & more about how I was dealing with the sugar cravings!
So check it out at: http://seecoreyrun.blogspot.com/2008/01/weight-loss-goal-reassessment.html.
Thanks for the very useful article. Maybe it’ll help me & others master our sugar-cravings!
-C
BTW, I just mentioned (as well as linked to) your article on my blog.
Thanks for the info. I just some stumbled through the blogosphere and landed on your blog. I am glad. I just started training and I would like to change my eating habits as well. So thank you!