We have our sweet tooths to thank for the Arab world of the 7th and 8th centuries. It was in Baghdad that people began their love for sweet treats, indulging in sugar-based sherbets, honeyed porridge, fried syrupy pastries, and candies.
The word “sugar” itself comes from the Arabic “Sukkar,” which Europeans adopted along with their sugary appetite after the 11th-century Crusades. Back then, sweets were a rare treat: a quick pick-me-up or remedy for a sleepy afternoon.
Now, sugar is everywhere – found in over 60% of food and drink products in US supermarkets, even in supposedly healthy foods like salads, soups, and granola. Reading food labels can be shocking, with a can of Coca-Cola containing 10 grams of sugar, and a can of tomato soup containing 7-8 teaspoons of sugar. This has led to the average North American consuming about 17 teaspoons of added sugar daily.
The ubiquity of sugar in modern diets worldwide is a significant change, with health experts blaming sugar for common health concerns like diabetes and obesity-related diseases.
Sugar overconsumption has been questioned as a potential addiction. While it doesn’t directly act on the brain’s reward pathways like nicotine or cocaine, it may trigger food addiction by affecting the brain’s dopaminergic rewarding system. Some argue that it is only the pleasurable taste of sugary foods that is responsible for addiction.
Regardless of whether sugar is addictive or not, its overconsumption is harmful to our health. Long-term effects of excessive sugar intake include tooth decay, depression, heart diseases, obesity, and neurodegenerative disorders.
Scientists have identified a connection between early life stressors, emotional regulation, and sugar cravings. Even though sugar consumption can provide short-term relief from depression and anxiety, long-term consumption can exacerbate these conditions.
There are evidence-based strategies to overcome sugar addiction, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, gradual reduction in sugar intake, protein and fiber intake, and meal planning. However, defeating sugar addiction often requires a multi-pronged approach.
Governments play a crucial role in reducing sugar addiction by increasing the availability of healthy food and regulating the advertisements for ultra-processed foods. Sugar taxes have proven effective in deterring people from purchasing sugary foods and drinks, but the real success depends on higher taxes and broader coverage of high-sugar products.
Edited by: Zulfikar Abbany
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/addicted-why-sugar-is-extremely-dangerous-for-your-health/a-72493099?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
