Why We Love Sugar, Fat and Salt!
So, What Took Us So Long?
In this article, we’re going to explain some of the reasons why we all love sugar, fat and salt so much. And, we’ll also give you a few tips on how you can wean yourself off this addictive trilogy of ingredients. The added bonus, of course, is that after reading this, you will be able to control how much you eat. And also, if you’re trying to lose weight, you will find that much easier too!
So, the highly talented food scientists around the world are all scratching their heads, quietly asking each other the same question. “Why did it take so long to develop Salted Caramel Chocolate?”. And similarly, why the delay in creating the Salted Caramel version of Baileys? They’ve known for decades that Sugar, Fat and Salt, when combined in just the right proportions, are the most addictive, edible substances on the planet. Some even say this combination is more addictive than cocaine!
The things we just can’t get enough of….
Why? Because they are the three components of processed food that drive cravings in our brains like nothing else. In his book, “Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us“, Michael Moss details how the processed food industry uses prodigious amounts of salt, sugar and fat in foods and beverages.They do it very intentionally, to get the hook in, to addict consumers. So, it’s similar to drug dealers really….Once you start, you cannot stop…It’s scientifically engineered that way….
The Bliss Point – For your wallet
Adding Sugar, Fat and Salt to food makes perfect sense from the point of the food industry. These ingredients drive over-consumption. Also, because they’re cheap and readily available, it maximises their profit margins! Of course the fact that their shelf life is almost off the scale, is an additional bonus. The food scientists are constantly searching for what is known as the ‘Bliss Point’. We also have a page revealing some fast food restaurant top secrets and lies.
The Bliss Point, ‘Blissy Food’
So, a perfect example of a “blissy food” is Pizza. The food scientists carefully manipulate the chemical structure of the fats, to enhance their “mouthfeel” – the warm, melt-in-the-mouth sensation you get when you bite into your favourite, cheese-stuffed pizza. The entire experience is engineered to hook you, and it will, not many people can refuse a second slice. You can read more information on Empower Health website.
Why We Love Sugar Fat and Salt
They can all kill you….
One way or another they can each be deadly. Firstly, let’s start with salt: it is said that if you deprive a person of salt, they will die in a few weeks. Conversely, deprive the population of sugar and the top ten cancers on the planet will be eliminated, and of course the level of obesity would spiral downwards….
So, back to salt: a person can only survive for around four weeks without salt, less than that, if he sweats. Perspiration is virtually the only way the body excretes salt. Our kidneys are very effective at maintaining salt levels in our bodies. Of course, from a taste perspective, salt is wonderfully addictive. Take a look at Eat Chocolate To Lose Weight Page.
Why We Love Sugar Fat and Salt
The smell of vinegar, mixed with salt, on hot fries, is undeniably pleasant. Salt is used to flavour hundreds of dishes. It is both incredibly tasty, and incredibly dangerous. If you consume too much, of course, it will kill you. It is widely accepted that excess salt consumption will result in an elevated risk of both Stroke and Heart Disease. But we literally can’t live without it. We are all addicted.
So what about Sugar?
Sugar is so good at disguise. You will find plentiful amounts hiding undercover. As an example, it’s hiding away in bread, and fruit. Think about pasta, potatoes, and many root vegetables. Have you ever wondered why fried onions smell and taste so good…? Well, it’s all down to sugar…as they are fried they caramelise! Sugar rots your teeth, and is as addictive as either cocaine, or morphine. And yet we carry on…
Why We Love Sugar Fat and Salt
Sugar encourages the release of the hunger hormone Ghrelin. Do you ever find yourself at the end of a bar of chocolate thinking: “Why did I eat all that?” It’s OK; it really wasn’t your fault. It is a very highly addictive substance. Within just a few minutes of eating any carbohydrate/sugar, the Ghrelin will be coursing through your veins. At that point, of course, you are no longer calling the shots…it is literally out of your control.
And what of Fat?
Fat has been completely demonised in the past few decades, and saturated fat in particular. But is it really as bad as we are lead to believe? We associate fat with cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, and high blood pressure because of fat building up in your arteries. However, research has shown that the real culprit in all these condition is actually sugar and NOT fat! The only really unhealthy dietary fat we can eat is hydrogenated, or trans fat.
Fat Tastes So Good!
Why We Love Sugar Fat and Salt
It’s weird, but in fact we can’t actually taste fat. When fat is cooked, it releases chemicals into the air by the heat of cooking. That’s why you can taste sizzling bacon, even before you eat it – because some of the flavour molecules are already in your nose and mouth. But what about texture? Oh well of course, fatty foods have a special mouth feel, a special texture. Chocolate, for example, melts at body temperature. When chocolate melts in your mouth, it creates a smooth, full, coating sensation that most people agree is pleasant. It was engineered to do that.
Fats also help distribute salts and other seasonings throughout foods, so that they make more contact with your tongue, and give a deeper flavour. Bottom line: Fat concentrates smells and flavours in food. It gives foods a smooth creamy texture that most of us enjoy. Since fat gives us more energy than proteins or carbohydrates, it makes us feel full faster. This makes our brains release hormones that makes us feel content. Written by Daniela Breitman for earthsky.org.
Why We Love Sugar, Fat and Salt!
For those people trying to either lose, or even maintain their weight, the “holy trinity” addictive combination of Sugar, Fat and Salt requires special attention. Dieters should stop beating themselves up when they find themselves over indulging in certain foods. Evolution dictates that we will always seek out high calorie, high fat foods, to ensure we survive.
So, in conclusion, you don’t need a science degree to know that sugary, salty and fatty foods taste good. Also that the ‘Love Affair’ is not a recent phenomenon, it has been part of our lives for centuries. For most people, these flavors conjure up happy childhood memories of holidays and celebrations, and it’s impossible not to crave these treats on a regular basis.
And if you’re feeling stressed out or depressed, the last thing you want to do is deprive yourself of the very things that make you feel better (albeit temporarily). Another issue to remember, stop beating yourself up – Sugar produces the same reactions in our brain as cocaine does.
Weaning Yourself off The Junk Food
In the UK, on average, around 60% of people’s daily calories comes from highly processed, or “junk food”. There are two ways to wean yourself off. Firstly, you can simply go “cold turkey”, which some of us might find a bit too drastic. The alternative is to gradually start introducing healthier food choices, over a few days, or even weeks. It’s important to make sure you consume plenty of protein, fresh vegetables and healthy fats. This helps to keep you satisfied and control cravings.
At first, your palette will notice a big difference in the flavour of your food, but over time, you will realise that healthy, unprocessed foods really do taste better. It’s also helpful to plan ahead and make sure you stock up with plenty of healthy options at home. That way you won’t be tempted to grab unhealthy, convenience foods, whenever you feel hungry. A particularly useful tip is to stay away from the centre aisles of the supermarket. Start shopping on the outer aisles instead, because that’s where all the fresh and healthy foods are stored!
And finally, a couple of lifestyle changes will certainly help you stay away from the sugar, fat, salt trap. Firstly, manage your stress levels, and secondly aim to get between 7 and 8 hours sleep each night. Why do we advise this? Because scientific studies have found that people under stress and lacking sleep are much more likely to crave junk food!
You can read further down the page about the work that Martin and Marion have done to help over a thousand people take permanent control of their weight. You can also read a verified case study regarding Sarah Hart photo above, with their help she lost over 140 pounds. They also of course, taught her how to take control of her SF&S addictions.
Why We Love Sugar Fat and Salt
The Top Ten Questions.
1. Is using sugar substitutes a good idea if I am trying to lose weight?
ANSWER: Artificial, low-calorie sweeteners have had a lot of bad press over the years, and some have even been taken off the market at times. However, certain sweeteners, such as Stevia, Erythritol, and Monk Fruit, are regarded as “less bad” than others. This is possibly because they are plant-based initially, rather than being completely manufactured in a laboratory.
Randomised trials have shown modest but significant decreases in weight, BMI, and waist size for people who switched from sugary drinks to artificially sweetened ones.
2. Are zero calorie mixers really sugar free?
ANSWER: Artificial sweeteners don’t contain sugar, but they are so many times sweeter than sugar that you only need a very small amount to achieve the same level of sweetness as sugar. They are also either very low, or even zero calorie, and have a minimal effect on a person’s blood sugar and insulin levels.
Zero Calorie Zero Sugar
As with everything, it’s best to be cautious and only consume small amounts, because unfortunately artificial sweeteners can potentially fuel your cravings for sweet foods.
3. Can we live without salt?
ANSWER: The answer to this question is very simple: the human body cannot survive without salt. According to Harvard Health: “It’s needed to transmit nerve impulses, contract and relax muscle fibers (including those in the heart and blood vessels), and maintain a proper fluid balance.” A prolonged lack of salt can cause you to go into shock, or a coma, or possibly die.
4. Why is Sugar, Fat and Salt so addictive?
ANSWER: Individually, sugar is well-known to have addictive properties. But when sugar is combined with fat and salt in the right proportions the result is a highly-palatable food, which triggers the reward centre in the brain to release the neurotransmitter, dopamine.
Higher levels of dopamine can lead to feelings of euphoria, bliss, and enhanced motivation and concentration. Therefore, exposure to substances and activities that increase dopamine can become addictive to some people. (info taken from Medical News Today)
5. Do all vegetables have sugar in them?
ANSWER: All vegetables contain carbohydrate, which the body processes as sugar. However, different vegetables contain different amounts. A useful way to remember about the sugar content of vegetables is that those which grow above the ground have fewer carbs than those which grow underground.
Sugar and veggies
It’s also worth noting that vegetables also contain a lot of healthy, dietary fibre, as well as being rich in nutrients, containing many different vitamins and minerals.
6. Is the sugar in fruit as bad as white table sugar?
ANSWER: The largest low carb website in the world, dietdoctor.com, describes fruit as “nature’s candy” because it does contain a lot of sugar. And, of course, that’s why fruit is sweet!
Fruit is nature’s candy…
So, when it comes to choosing which fruit to favour, berries have the least amount of sugar, whereas bananas and grapes have the most.
Fruit is generally regarded as healthy, and something we should all be eating a lot of. However, our hunter gatherer ancestors could only eat fruit for a limited period of time when it was in season – they definitely would not have consumed it every single day in massive quantities!
The sugar in fruit is predominantly fructose, whereas table sugar is a combination of glucose and fructose. If you eat whole fruits the body takes longer to absorb the sugar than when you consume processed, added sugar. Just remember to stay away from fruit juice, because, according to Insider.com, studies have found that drinking pure fruit juice every day can potentially be as much of a health risk as table sugar!
7. Is it true that eating fat can help you lose weight?
ANSWER: Fat is officially the most filling and satiating food that we can eat. So, you don’t need to eat very much to feel completely satisfied. This also means that although fat contains more calories per gram than protein and carbohydrates, you will be consuming fewer calories overall by choosing higher fat foods!
Eat fat and lose weight!
So, yes: eating fat really can help you to lose weight!
8. Is it true that eating too much sugar will give me diabetes?
ANSWER: Research into the connection between sugar consumption and type 2 diabetes is ongoing. However, it’s true that obesity and an inactive lifestyle are responsible for 90-95% of diabetes cases, and excessive sugar consumption is a well-known, accepted cause of obesity.
Sugar and diabetes...
So, the bottom line is: limit your consumption of sugar to maintain a healthy weight, and also to significantly reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
9. Are some fats worse than others for our health?
ANSWER: Fat, and especially saturated fat, has received a lot of bad press over the last few decades. In fact fat has been demonised to the extent that people have been encouraged to avoid eating it, and instead choose low-fat options, whenever possible. However, dietary fat is an essential part of a healthy diet.
Additionally, scientific research studies have found no link between saturated fat and increased risk of heart disease. So, contrary to popular belief, saturated fat isn’t detrimental to your health.
But not all fat is good for us. In fact, the most unhealthy fat you can consume is hydrogenated, or trans fats, which tend to be found in commercial baked goods and processed foods.
10. Does eating too much fat increase my cholesterol?
ANSWER: Harvard Health states that: “Contrary to past dietary advice promoting low-fat diets, newer research shows that healthy fats are necessary and beneficial for health.”
The dietdoctor.com website explains in detail about the link between fat and cholesterol, and how there’s absolutely no need to be afraid of consuming fat, as long as you limit your intake of carbohydrates.
Below is a selection of weight-loss tips that everyone can start using straight away. And, if you enroll in the My Weigh Less Course, you will learn many more of our helpful tips and techniques about how to achieve successful, permanent weight loss.
Tip No. 1 – Drink a Glass or Two of Water Before Your Meal!
Reduce your calorie intake by over 20%, with almost with no effort! Research results, published by Harvard Medical showed that people who drank two large glasses of water, just before eating, consumed, on average, around 20% less food than previously. This is possibly as a result of the stretching and fullness sensation in the stomach.
Tip No. 2- Eat Your Favourite Foods on the Plate First!
You may not be aware of how important this tip is, but the order in which you eat your food can actually have a big impact on how much you consume! It’s quite common for overweight people to “save the best til last” when eating. In other words they only eat their favourite food right at the end. It’s not so surprising then, that they also tend to eat everything on their plate, regardless of how uncomfortably full they feel. Because, of course, they don’t want to miss out on the “best bit”!
However, our advice is to eat your favourite things first. Not only will you enjoy it more, but it’s also much easier to stop when you’ve eaten just the right amount and leave the rest on the plate.
Tip No. 3 – Eat Slowly and Mindfully!
A growing number of studies have consistently found a correlation between speed of eating and weight, so it is officially accepted now that faster eaters are definitely more likely to become overweight. Studies have also shown that people are much more likely to eat more when their eating is mindless, as opposed to mindful. So, make meal times an occasion by sitting down at a table, with no distractions. Then eat slowly and savour every mouthful. You will naturally eat less food and also find it easier to lose weight as a result!
A Permanent Solution to Weight Loss
Are you tired of trying an endless list of diets that just don’t work? Are you becoming weary of your efforts, always resulting in you regaining all the lost weight? Has your approach to dieting made you fear social events?
Are you looking for a Medically Endorsed solution; one based on thousands of hours of experience? Do you dream of finding a ‘Permanent Weight Loss’ treatment? Have you searched on Google in the hope of finding a proven programme? Maybe something that doesn’t involve undertaking a restrictive diet, doing lots of exercise, or having invasive surgery… And no need to buy any “Meal Replacement” products!
So, go ahead, relax, and take a few minutes to daydream… What would it be like to be slim and healthy, to be at your target weight? Can you imagine if you never had to go on a diet again, or be afraid of food? What if you were able to enjoy every social event, with the amazing feeling of extra energy, and improved self-esteem?
Award-Winning Weight-Loss Solution
Read on to find out about our award-winning solution! But first, allow us to introduce ourselves. We are Martin and Marion Shirran, and we have worked in the field of weight loss for almost 20 years. We are both clinical therapists, and the developers of the globally acclaimed Gastric Mind Band Permanent Weight-Loss Treatment.
Martin and Marion Shirran
Articles about our successful clients have appeared in many different newspapers, including the Daily Mail, The Times, The Telegraph and the Express. Additionally, magazines such as Vogue, Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping, Hello, Woman, Reader’s Digest and Psychologies have featured our work.
Over a thousand people, including medical professionals, celebrities, and members of the public, have travelled from around the world, to experience our weight-loss treatment. They invested their time and money because we are regarded as specialists in the weight-loss arena.
Successful Weight Loss
Some clients simply want to shed their excess weight to look better, however others tell us that health is the main reason. Many of our past clients have successfully reversed medical conditions such as insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, and fatty liver disease, whereas others have managed to avoid having knee, or hip replacement surgery.
Our weight-loss approach has been the subject of continued research and development over the last fifteen years. Sharon, above, lost 75 pounds. Our youngest client was just fourteen, and the oldest, eighty-six. You may be interested to read about some of our successful clients and see a selection of before and after photos on our Success Stories page.
Some clients wished to lose just a few pounds to fit into their wedding dress. However, Katie, above, lost 100 pounds, and Sarah, below, went on to lose over 140 pounds. As a result, she was featured globally on the TV and in the press. Follow this link to sign up for our course now, and you can start your weight-loss journey today.
Psychology-Focused Weight-Loss Method
The treatment is based on proven science, incorporating Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Clinical Hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Neuroplasticity. It also includes our own Life Architecture Therapy, along with TCBT, our upgraded version of CBT, which is the subject of our bestselling book, published globally by Hay House. Professor Windy Dryden, of Goldsmiths University in London, endorsed the book, and Professor Philip Zimbardo, of Stanford University in the USA, wrote the foreword.
You can feel comfortable in the knowledge that our weight-loss approach has been the treatment of choice by many different medical specialists, including doctors, dentists, nurses, anaesthetists and consultant surgeons. You may like to read more details on our Medical Endorsements page.
So, how would you feel, if you had the opportunity today, to sit down over an ever-flowing cup of coffee,with two experienced, weight-loss specialists? And, what if, over the course of 12 hours, we explained everything you need to know to effortlessly achieve permanent weight loss? And we also shared with you all the tips, techniques and secrets we normally reserve exclusively for our visiting international clients?
My Weigh Less Downloadable Weight-Loss Course
Well, the good news is you can! And that’s because we have spent many months completely reformatting our unique, phenomenally successful approach to weight loss. As a result, the course is now instantly available to download to your phone, tablet, or computer. This also means that you can complete the entire course, without having to leave the comfort and security of your own home. Welcome to the ‘My Weigh Less Master Class’!
Read on the pages of this website how the award-winning ‘My Weigh Less’ downloadable treatment is successfully delivering what is surely ‘utopia’ to dieters; a medically endorsed, proven, weight-loss approach that provides permanent results. The programme is also based on over 15,000 1:1 clinical treatment hours. My Weigh Less can help you reach your weight-loss goals. Follow this link to sign up for our course now, and you can start your weight-loss journey.
10 Things You Need to Know About Dieting
My Weigh Less Delivers…
– Permanent Weight Loss –
– No Diet or Exercise Required –
– Medically Endorsed –
– 15,000 1:1 Clinical Hours Experience –
– Fully Downloadable –
– Featured in Global Media –
– Award-Winning Programme –
Registered Stakeholder in NICE – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Marion Shirran, as a director of Oxford Therapeutics Limited, is proud to be a registered Stakeholder in NICE – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Marion is involved in the government’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity.
We were proud to be awarded the ‘Most Innovative Obesity Psychological Therapy Service’ in the UK Mental Health Awards 2022.
We also appeared on the This Morning TV show, with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
In 2010 we travelled to New York to be interviewed on the Good Morning America TV Show.
We are also co-authors of two, bestselling books, on the topic of non-surgical weight loss, published by Hay House.
Martin and Marion Shirran are Directors of Oxford Therapeutics Limited, which owns the Intellectual Property rights of My Weigh Less product.
You can download the complete course, and start your weight-loss journey today.
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