French
fries. Pizza. Ice cream. If you think of your favorite foods, there is
probably a common denominator: sugar, salt, and fat. Why do humans crave
foods we know are unhealthy?
Throughout our history,
individuals needed high caloric diets to keep up with the rigors of
life. Taste buds evolved to favor foods dense in calories, which
complemented the energy levels required to function and thrive
.
Activity was high, as hunting, finding food and water, and escaping
predators were full time priorities. Storing fat was necessary for times
when food was an uncertainty.
However, as technology and
agriculture expanded suddenly, daily life became increasingly sedentary.
Even though humans are wired to crave these foods, few now expend the
amount of energy required to keep up with the diets of our ancestors. As
such, global obesity is on the rise. As of 2010, 1.4 billion adults
around the world are considered overweight or obese. Diseases related to
obesity, such as Type II Diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and
reproductive malfunction, cost the U.S. healthcare system over $140
billion annually.
For more information: http://www.time.com/time/
Photo credit: Reuters
French
fries. Pizza. Ice cream. If you think of your favorite foods, there is
probably a common denominator: sugar, salt, and fat. Why do humans crave
foods we know are unhealthy?
Throughout our history, individuals needed high caloric diets to keep up with the rigors of life. Taste buds evolved to favor foods dense in calories, which complemented the energy levels required to function and thrive
Throughout our history, individuals needed high caloric diets to keep up with the rigors of life. Taste buds evolved to favor foods dense in calories, which complemented the energy levels required to function and thrive
.
Activity was high, as hunting, finding food and water, and escaping
predators were full time priorities. Storing fat was necessary for times
when food was an uncertainty.
However, as technology and agriculture expanded suddenly, daily life became increasingly sedentary. Even though humans are wired to crave these foods, few now expend the amount of energy required to keep up with the diets of our ancestors. As such, global obesity is on the rise. As of 2010, 1.4 billion adults around the world are considered overweight or obese. Diseases related to obesity, such as Type II Diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and reproductive malfunction, cost the U.S. healthcare system over $140 billion annually.
For more information: http://www.time.com/time/
Photo credit: Reuters
However, as technology and agriculture expanded suddenly, daily life became increasingly sedentary. Even though humans are wired to crave these foods, few now expend the amount of energy required to keep up with the diets of our ancestors. As such, global obesity is on the rise. As of 2010, 1.4 billion adults around the world are considered overweight or obese. Diseases related to obesity, such as Type II Diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and reproductive malfunction, cost the U.S. healthcare system over $140 billion annually.
For more information: http://www.time.com/time/
Photo credit: Reuters
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