During our growing-up days, sugar was a treat - a sweet indulgence after dinner or as a special weekend dessert. It was something to look forward to, but it didn’t occupy every moment of our day. Sugar was the occasional luxury, not the daily staple it has become now.

Have you ever stopped to realize just how deeply sugar has embedded itself into everything around us - and often in ways we didn't even notice?

Sugar hasn’t always been as omnipresent as it is today. Once, it was a rare, expensive commodity. In ancient Egypt, sugar served more as a medicinal ingredient than a food item, and during the medieval period, it appeared only in small quantities as a luxury good. Things began to change when European settlers started cultivating sugar cane in the Caribbean during the 17th century. Slowly, sugar found its way into more homes, but it wasn't until the 19th century - thanks to the Industrial Revolution - that it became affordable and widely accessible. Mass production transformed sugar from a rarity to an everyday commodity.

By the 20th century, as convenience foods became more popular, sugar became the go-to ingredient - not just for cost-effectiveness but for flavor. It preserved food and, let's face it, made everything taste better. Sugar soon appeared in nearly every product. Bread, sauces, soups - you name it. It wasn’t just in typical sugary items like sodas and sweets anymore. By the late '80s, sugar had woven itself into the fabric of daily life, from snack bars to “healthy” foods we once thought were good for us.

Sugar is addictive. Our brains crave it because it triggers the release of dopamine, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter. That quick burst of energy feels satisfying, doesn't it? The problem is that our ancestors relied on this instant energy for survival. But today, where food is always available, that craving has turned unhealthy.

We’ve become so accustomed to sugar that we no longer question its presence. The average person consumes about 22 teaspoons of added sugar daily - far more than the recommended 6 teaspoons for women and 9 for men.

And the surprising part? We don’t even notice. Sugar hides in unexpected places, like pasta sauces and "healthy" snack bars.

So, what happens when we overdo it? The consequences go beyond weight gain - though that’s certainly part of the issue. Excessive sugar consumption links to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, liver damage, and more. It disrupts the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar and creates a constant state of inflammation, leading to chronic health problems.

The effects don’t stop at physical health. Sugar also affects our mental well-being. Ever notice how you feel tired, irritable, or anxious after a sugar rush? That’s no coincidence. High sugar intake messes with our moods. It becomes harder to focus and complete tasks. The cycle of highs and lows leaves us reaching for more and traps us in a constant loop of cravings.

Yes, change is happening. People are becoming more aware of sugar’s grip on their lives. We read labels more carefully, choose less processed food, and demand healthier options. There’s even a growing push for policies like sugar taxes and clearer food labeling to help consumers make informed decisions.

There’s real progress here. Companies like Nutri Intact focus on natural products - walnuts, almonds, and other wholesome foods. More people are opting for healthier snacks, like nuts, instead of sugary alternatives. We're slowly pushing back against the sugar overload that has shaped our diets for so long.

So, how can we break free from sugar’s control? Start by reading labels, cut back on processed foods, and choose more whole foods. If you're craving something sweet, try natural alternatives like dried cranberries, blueberries, apricots, or other healthy options.

Our primate ancestors developed a love for sugar through a genetic mutation that occurred about 15 million years ago. Scientists believe that during a period of global starvation, we evolved the ability to store sugar as fat - an important survival mechanism. This is how we came to associate sugar with a dopamine rush. Back then, sugar was rare, found only in small quantities in fruits and flowers.

But we’re not in survival mode anymore. Our bodies still respond to sugar the same way they did millions of years ago. The nature of the dopamine hit has changed. The difference now is that sugar has transformed from a rare energy source into an industrial product. What was once a fleeting treat has become a constant presence in our diets - something it was never meant to be.

And our bodies? They haven’t caught up yet.