|
One of the stories about the effects of high gas prices mentioned the increase in candy bar sales at gas stations. Apparently after paying upwards of $40.00 for gas (and sometimes much more) people pay another dollar for a candy bar. It is unclear whether the reasons are: a) What is an extra dollar?
b) I need a treat after the shock of filling the tank or c) I guess I will be doing a lot of walking so I can afford the calories.
Whatever the reason, it is interesting that despite all the negatives written about candy, people still eat sweet snacks. I was thinking about this today during my town’s 4th of July parade. It is a tradition for the people on the floats, along with the guys driving the fire engines and police cars, to throw wrapped candy at the spectators. Tiny Tootsie Rolls were the most abundant but some other wrapped candies were also thrown. We were sitting on the sidewalk next to a group of kids and most of the candy was thrown in their direction. However, all the adults around us scrambled to get their share as the pieces landed around them. Pretty soon, the whole street was happily munching away. Fortunately, there was no float hauling the “wicked witch of the low carb world” to warn us of the perils of eating something with sugar in it.
What is amazing is that there still are many people who believe that eating anything with sugar will be devastating to their health, both physical and mental. They regard a miniature Tootsie Roll, or a dollop of ketchup, with horror. “ It has sugar, sugar is bad for you, I never eat anything with sugar,” they will cry.
Obviously, a diet loaded with sugar is bad because sugary foods usually lack the vitamins, minerals and protein that nourish us. They also tend to be low in fiber and high in fat. Think of cookies, doughnuts, chocolate bars, brownies, ice cream and sheet cake with frosting. They may be more appealing than broiled halibut, Brussels sprouts and brown rice but contain nowhere near the nutrient value. Indeed, they have just about no nutrient value at all.
But sugar is not without its virtues. To begin with, sugary foods taste good. That is why having a Tootsie Roll thrown at parade watchers rather than a turnip is so appealing. Sugary foods are also treats. Treats are not a steady diet; they are foods dolled out for special occasions or after certain chores or tasks are completed. Birthday cakes tend to be sweet, as do wedding cakes.
Sugar does the same thing for the brain as starchy foods. When eaten, it gets the brain to produce the brain chemical serotonin. And serotonin helps us feel better, calmer, more focused and, just as important, less hungry.
We hear all the time from nutrition people and health professionals that we should eat a variety of foods and eat everything in moderation, from wine to wieners. And it should be the same with something containing sugar. A small piece of candy at a parade, or a small candy bar when you fill up the car (and if you walk more, you will fill it up less often), is certainly not overdoing the sugary snacks. And if it makes you feel less grouchy about fuel prices, it might be worth it.
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Eric Cressey is the owner of Cressey Performance, a facility with locations in Hudson and Framingham, Massachusetts. A highly sought-after coach for healthy and injured athletes alike, Eric has helped athletes at all levels - from youth sports to the professional and Olympic ranks - achieve their highest levels of performance in a variety of sports. 
Paul Goldberg has worked with Olympic and professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and NCAA, among others. He currently works with the Colorado Avalanche hockey team and continues to train athletes in many different sports. He is a certified strength-and-conditioning specialist and a registered dietitian. He is also the author of a new book called 
Calorie Bargain: TRX Home Training Bundle
Calorie Bargain: The Recipe Link (
