What's That Rash? Is your (artificial) sweet tooth killing you?
Mar 19, 2024
Exploring the evolutionary drive for sugar consumption, the podcast discusses the appeal of sweet treats and the health implications of artificial sweeteners. It dives into the history and types of artificial sweeteners, their links to diabetes and cancer, and shares a unique tiramisu recipe featuring sucrose and alcohol.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Sweetness and Survival
- Humans are biologically predisposed to crave sweetness, with receptors on our tongues designed to detect it.
- This preference likely evolved due to the scarcity of calories and the association of sweetness with non-toxic foods.
American Sweet Tooth
- Norman Swan observed that many foods in the United States are sweeter than their Australian counterparts.
- He noted this difference after returning from a trip to the US, highlighting the varying levels of sugar added to common foods.
Artificial Sweeteners and Industrial Food
- Artificial sweeteners were developed to satisfy our craving for sugar without the calories.
- This arose from our industrial food production, which drastically increased the amount of added sugar in our diet.