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Sugar -
Sugar 2008
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Written by Frank Mangano
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Tuesday, 23 December 2008 21:59 |
Truffle Trap
Generally speaking, I’m not a stickler when it comes to the occasional “indulgence”. So long as the sugary sweet is in moderation, and so long as it’s a sporadic rather than regular indulgence, I have no problem with someone enjoying a chunk of chocolate.
But my laid back nature would become more stickler-like were I to know the personality tendencies of the indulger, as some people are more prone to continue their indulgence once their sweet tooth is tapped. In those instances, I’d advise people to avoid troublesome truffles like the plague.
According to a new body of research published by researchers from the University of Miami, occasional indulgences for some people is one indulgence too many, as that one indulgence leads to another…and another…and another.
Before I get to the more in-depth findings of the study, the study itself involved about 300 graduate students who were given truffles to eat. The researchers then observed whether or not the students ate the truffles and if they did, whether or not they reached for more, or if one was enough.
What they found was that those who ate one truffle tended to go for seconds or thirds. Those who didn’t eat truffles avoided eating the truffle entirely. In other words, people were more prone to either eat in excess or avoid the truffle altogether in favor of health. The researchers say this shows how people tend to make decisions as though they were goals: Those who indulged in the truffle continued eating the truffle until their indulgence goal was satisfied; those who gave the truffle the cold shoulder pursued the goal of healthy eating by simply not eating the truffle.
But the findings didn’t end there. In subsequent tests, when groups were shown various images of foods they’d like to eat right now were they available, they found that the indulgers tended to choose images that were high in fat. The non-indulgers tended to choose healthier-food images.
Here’s where things got a bit tricky.
At the conclusion of the study, the researchers offered the participants various foods to take “for the road,” as a way to say thanks for participating. Interestingly, they found the indulgers tended to choose healthier food options, like a granola bar instead of a chocolate-chip cookie.
Researchers believe this is due to something called the “rebound” effect, where once people feel as though their goal has been achieved, they leave that goal and go on to something else – in this case opting for healthier fare after indulging in unhealthy helpings.
This is an interesting study into analyzing how the brain works and what “types” people are: indulgers or non-indulgers. But when it comes right down to it, one has to know what “type” you are. Are you someone who can easily resist temptations? If so, the occasional indulgence is of little consequence to overall health. But if you’re an indulger, you need to be more careful about even occasional indulgences, as you may be more likely to keep indulging until that “itch is scratched.”
In sum, as it’s inscribed on the Temple of Apollo in Greece: Know Thyself. Truly knowing how you operate around tempting cues will help determine your state of health now and into the future.
 
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