blog home

Word for Wednesday: Sugar


Sugar, sukere, zucchero, all originate from the Arabic word sukkar, as it was Arabic traders who introduced Europe to this substance. Throughout the medieval period, sugar was considered a luxury, in the same realm as gold. Despite its status as a ‘treasure’, the rise of this sweet, soluble, crystalline, carbohydrate has associations that are not so appetising; it was through slave labour in plantations that sugar became readily available and affordable.

‘Sugar’ is now a word frequently heard in the western world, usually in the context of excessive consumption and resultant health risks. Sugar is an addictive substance, which initiates a pleasurable dopamine release in the brain. Why are so many of us a guilty of the occasional ‘sugar binge’? Do we really have a sweet tooth? Or are food manufacturers manipulating our brain chemicals, to reinforce our cravings for sugary snacks?

Healthier alternatives to sugar such as artificial sweeteners and natural syrups are a media fixation, however, specialists state that all sugars are bad for us regardless of their form or origin. Sugar substitutes do not “curb a sweet tooth” but instead “send confusing messages to the brain, which can lead to over eating” claims the nutritional therapist, Kerry Torrens.

Think twice before you next reach for your favourite sugar-filled snack!


17 Feb 2016
blog home

Comments

Courteney Curtis, student - subscribed - Feb 24 2016 at 10:16 GMT

sugar

Add a comment

If you are subscribed to Spellzone please login to comment.

Print this page
share this page:

Sign up to remove this advert

Remove this advert

"This is a fantastic opportunity for our students!  I'm sure Spellzone will be invaluable in helping them to improve their spellings and therefore improve the quality of their writing in all subject areas!"
Teacher, High School, UK

Help...

If you need help logging into your account, or you need more information, we are here to help.

Help