The Evolutionary Significance of Sugar in Human Diets

Sugar is a highly motivating substance for humans due to its palatability, rewarding nature, and seductive properties. The brain is hardwired to like sugar, as it signals valuable sources of nutrition such as fruit and honey in ancestral environments. Hunter gatherers, like the Hodza in the African Rift Valley, obtain a significant portion of their calories from honey, which provides essential nutrition for their survival in challenging environments. The human brain and eating behavior are not only motivated by sugar but also by fat and protein, and understanding the broader context is essential to fully grasp the evolutionary significance of human diets.