Ahhhh…The Sweet Tooth

Most people have a "sweet craving," unfortunately. The majority of people—including newborns—have a hardwired preference for the sweetest flavor among all others. Lactose, sometimes known as "milk sugar," makes it possible for infants to prefer and seek out breast milk. Although it provides fast energy and a pleasant feeling, sugar is nutritionally worthless.

The Power of Sugar

According to science and metabolism, sugar is a simple carbohydrate, but starchy meals, which include several glucose molecules along with important vitamins, minerals, and fiber, are complex carbs. One molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose make up one molecule of table sugar, often known as sucrose. These are readily broken down by digestion. As glucose enters the bloodstream, insulin binds to it and transports it to the cells, where it provides energy. Additionally present in fruit and honey, fructose makes a detour to the liver where it is changed into glucose. Simple and complicated carbohydrate intake must be closely monitored in patients with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Diabetes does not only result from sugar.

Having a “Sweet Tooth”

If you have a "sweet tooth" while your friend doesn't, it may be due to your genes and unique capacity for taste perception. Strong sweet preferences may be supported by genes in those with strong sweet taste perception. Age and exposure also affect choice. An adult may prefer less sweetened food than they did as a child who loved extreme sweetness. A person who drank sugar-sweetened soda as a child can still enjoy the taste as an adult.

The Value of Sugar

Sugar enhances the flavor of food, especially processed food. According to various estimates, Americans consume 60 to 170 pounds of sugar yearly, primarily added to processed meals like sweets, beverages, and snacks. Included in added sugar is the sugar we use in our own cooking, add to coffee, or sprinkle on cereal. A pound of sugar provides 7,248 calories, which helps put their number into perspective. Four grams of sugar equal one teaspoon, or 16calories. The American Heart Association advises women to consume six teaspoons of sugar daily and men to have nine. Less than 10% of daily calories, according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, should come from added sugar. Accordingly, 50 grams (200 calories) of added sugar are permissible in a 2,000 calorie diet. Recognizing that a high sugar diet contributes to dental cavities and weight gain that causes obesity, which in turn causes type 2 diabetes and heart disease, is wise for good health.Sugar comes in a variety of forms depending on how it is processed and what it will be used for in the end. The symbol of bad sugar is high fructose corn syrup, which is often used in processed foods, although digestion breaks it down into glucose and fructose just like it does with any "dry sugar" like ultrafine sugar, confectioner's sugar, and demerara cane sugar.Investigate your diet and look for hidden sources of sugar like agave nectar, brown sugar, cane sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, crystalline fructose, dextrose, fructose, fruit juice concentrates, glucose, honey, invert sugar, lactose, maltose, malt syrup, molasses, raw sugar, sucrose, and syrup to help you control your sweet tooth.

Name the habit. Change the habit.

Challenging your “sweet tooth” to reduce sugar in your diet means changing habits.

(1)  Write down all the foods you and or you family typically eat. Identify the high sugar choices. Get your family involved in this activity so everyone is on board with changes. Naturally occurring sugars in fruit and milk don’t count as added sugar.

(2)  Identify times of day when you crave something sweet, such as after a meal or when feeling stressed. Can you distract yourself from the craving by rethinking your message to yourself or doing something distracting.

(3)  Decide healthy foods, such eating more fruit and vegetables, are a priority before eating a sweet food with little nutritional value.

(4)  If you add sugar to coffee or cereal, try it without sugar or use a sweetener.

(5)  Read labels to find the sugar content. Look at the ingredient list.

(6)  Cook from scratch so you have control over the amount of sugar.