We are decidedly past the holiday season so I hope I ruffle no feathers by taking a jab at sugar, my favourite villain. Do you have a sweet tooth? It may help to understand that this is a biological imperative. Craving sweets was once a way to keep ourselves alive when we lived off the land. If we came upon a tree ripe with fruits, for example, this desire for sweetness would lead us to gorge ourselves. Eating far more carbohydrates than we needed at one meal would fatten us up thereby protecting us in times of possible famine. Of course, with prepackaged food around us North Americans at all times now and no famines in sight, this sweet tooth doesn't lead to self-preservation, it leads to obesity.
For more information, read this article from the New York Times' science pages.
No comments:
Post a Comment