Sugar Sweet

By
Luca Sonzogni
|
November 11, 2024
10 min
Read

Are you of a sweet predisposition? I’m not asking if you are a lovely person, empathetic, and agreeable, I am talking about sugar–sweet here.

The delicious blend of wheat flour, butter, and sugar–the base of many European desserts– is a feast for the senses, offering pure pleasure that few can resist. Its impact on the nervous system is immediate; as soon as a spoonful of dessert begins to melt in your mouth, automatic rewards kick in. This includes a considerable mood lift through the release of both dopamine and serotonin, capable of instantly altering our state of consciousness.

At the opposite end are the bitter notes of turmeric, gourd, arugula, and radish greens. This acquired taste was a later-in-life discovery for me, and a significant one at that. As you delve deeper into feeling and understanding the body and mind, you may recognise that the fleeting pleasure associated with sweet snacks can lead to cravings and dissatisfaction.

Grains deserve a chapter of their own, particularly given that processed varieties can have effects surprisingly similar to sugar. A soft, white baguette almost melts in the mouth. Digestion begins with saliva, and much like table sugar, this high-glycemic-index bread converts easily into glucose. Instead, consider German or Scandinavian-style wholegrain rye bread–dark, dense, and more complex, with higher fibre and protein content –or local Thai riceberry. They require more effort to chew and take longer to digest, resulting in a healthier, complex carbohydrate.

Consuming white or simple carbohydrates triggers insulin release, causing a rapid shift from a sugar high to a sugar low. This leads to fluctuations in energy levels and mood, as various hormones adjust to the insulin spike.

Naturally, the mind and body are deeply interconnected. Prolonged exposure to various intense stimuli, chronic stress, and trauma can lead to a disconnection—a numbing of the mind-body interaction and sugar addiction is sometimes proof of this. Excessive sugar consumption can alter neurobiological brain function, influencing emotional states and subsequent behaviours.

The physical addiction can be potent, with the major hunger-signalling hormone ghrelin regulating dopamine levels and neuron activity during meal and snack times. If you find yourself regularly craving dessert after a satisfying dinner, changing behaviour requires working against the hormones that trigger this craving and underpin the unhealthy habit.

To fully understand this, it's essential to delve into the root causes: anxiety, stress, and psychological triggers. Exposure to sugary treats like colas and packaged sweets during childhood, or consuming them in large amounts while growing up, can have inadvertent effects. Parents and society play a crucial role in shielding children from such influences, ensuring their well-being is protected from targeted advertisements. The longer you were under the spell of sugar, the longer it might take to revert this.

Grains deserve a chapter of their own, particularly given that processed varieties can have effects surprisingly similar to sugar. A soft, white baguette almost melts in the mouth..

In a more health-conscious society, junk food would be recognised as a significant threat to children's health. The advertising of vending machines, sugary drinks, confectionery, and even many children's breakfast cereals would be heavily restricted, if not altogether banned, to safeguard their well-being. Research identifies the prevalence of fast food advertising on Thai television as a significant factor in fostering unhealthy eating habits. In 2007, the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Public Relations Department restricted food advertisements targeting children during prime-time television.

According to research studies, Thailand has become one of the countries with the highest prevalence of obesity in Asia, second only to Malaysia. As Thailand's per capita GDP surged, obesity rates may have risen as well. By 2009, 41% of females, 28% of males, and nearly 10% of Thai children were obese. In response, the Thai government set up a number of campaigns, and  prohibited sugary drinks sold in educational institutions, as well as added sugar found in milk powder for babies.

Sugar overconsumption disrupts neurobiological brain function, which alters emotional states and behaviours, resulting in various health issues such as weight gain, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, chronic inflammation, mood swings, and negative emotions, making daily life challenging..

A diet high in sugars has been linked to cognitive impairments, negative neuroplasticity, and emotional disorders like anxiety and depression. It presents a classic chicken-or-egg dilemma –is the sugar causing the anxiety, or are you already anxious and reaching for the sugar?

A vicious cycle occurs when one problem exacerbates another. To break free, address the physical aspect by avoiding sweets and refined carbs, and the psychological aspect by understanding the root causes of anxiety.

Sugar overconsumption disrupts neurobiological brain function, which alters emotional states and behaviours, resulting in various health issues such as weight gain, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, chronic inflammation, mood swings, and negative emotions, making daily life challenging.

My mother provided healthier homemade sweets, and despite indulging in baked goods daily, I never faced weight issues or symptoms of sugar addiction, highlighting the importance of quality and moderation.

In the face of the challenges posed by long, demanding work hours, heightened loneliness, disconnection from nature, and modern anxieties, the allure of quick, convenient comfort can be deceptive. It's crucial to recognise and resist this new paradigm, prioritising a balanced lifestyle and resilience to stress.

Incorporating bitter gourd, a plethora of green leafy vegetables, and various herbs into your daily routine can be transformative, as it was for me. Although it wasn't easy to develop a taste for them, I eventually got hooked; when properly cooked, their flavour is surprisingly pleasant. While it may take some adjustment, consider experimenting with the addition of rocket to your salads, embracing watercress, and incorporating thinly sliced radish, cabbage, and onions into your meals. In traditional Thai food culture, herbs and leafy greens feature prominently.

When you have a sugary treat, opt for healthier options, top-quality homemade sweets, or from a premium patisserie rather than industrial choices. Make sure this doesn’t become a daily habit. Close your eyes and savour this high-quality treat, fully immersing yourself in the experience, as sweet, connected moments are precious in life.

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