Most of us have a sweet tooth. We love to eat a cookie or donut. But have you noticed what often happens when you eat one? You may feel better, but the good feeling stops and you just want another one. This is why many scientists believe that our love of sugar might be an addiction. In the body, sugar acts like an addictive drug.
It seems obvious now that too much sugar can harm us, but why is it harmful? In early human history, the body began storing sugar as fat to use as energy. Our bodies are efficient, so they need very little sugar. Today, the Western diet has the highest amount of sugar in history. There are also more high blood pressure and diabetes in the world. Some researchers believe that too much sugar may be the culprit.
How do we battle our sweet tooths? Doctors advise us to cut down on sweets. They recommend that we choose healthy foods for snacks. Yet even healthy foods can have too much sugar. Yogurts that are advertised as low-fat can have 17 grams, about half the daily allowance. However, the less sugar you eat, the less you want. Exercise helps, too. Using facilities such as walking tracks and gymnasiums can help control our desire.
What does the phrase sweet tooth refer to?
sweet treats
our love of sugar
our problems with sugar