Is Your "Sweet Tooth" Really a "Fat Tooth"?
Think your diet is suffering from your persistent “sweet
tooth”? Think again. Our brains are designed to prompt us to seek out natural
sources of sweet carbohydrates and foods containing fat. These naturally higher
calorie foods were necessary for survival in times when food was scarce. Now we
have 24/7 access to foods manufactured to be highly desirable and loaded with
sugar and fat.
Food manufacturers continuously come up with new
combinations of sugar and fat that are cheap and easily accessible. The more we
eat, the more we crave. Most people who think they have a “sweet tooth” often
desire cookies, cake, ice-cream, donuts or chocolate that contains more fat
than sugar. These cravings add up to more calories and 12-14 more grams of fat
per day compared to people who avoid these sweets.
Take control of your “fat tooth” by cutting back on sugar
and processed fats. If you get a craving, grab a fat-free sweet, like hard
candy and ride your “crave wave” for 15 minutes until the desire subsides. You
can also give your body natural sweets like fruit. If you have diabetes, the
trick is to figure out how to satisfy your “sweet tooth” and stay within your
carbohydrate budget. Over time, your “sweet tooth” and your “fat tooth” will
calm down.