The Reason Why Humans Crave Sugary Drinks Amid Hot Weather
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VIVA – When the weather is hot, many people usually choose to look for sugary drinks. In fact, by drinking enough water, thirst can be relieved. A 2019 study of household consumption habits in Mexico is one proof that people drink sugary drinks during hot weather.
The study of 85,000 Mexican households showed that people who preferred the taste of sugary drinks found it much harder to resist temptation as the heat increased.
The results also showed that soda and juice consumption in Mexicans increased by 20 percent in the weeks when daily temperatures rose above 32 degrees Celsius.
Cancer Council SA accredited dietitian Karissa Deutrom explains all humans have an innate preference for sweet flavors that increases on hot days plus there is a human need to rehydrate in hot weather.
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"We are programmed to crave sweetness. That is because the body uses sugar (glucose) for energy. In very hot weather, you can feel very lethargic and desperately need energy. This is why some people choose sugary drinks even though physiologically there is no reason why we should drink sugary drinks," Deutrom explained.
Deutrom also stated that there is a feel-good aspect to drinking sugary drinks that makes people more likely to choose them over plain water.
"There's also the feel-good aspect. We know that drinking sugary drinks exposes our brains to dopamine, the feel-good hormone that makes us want more," Deutrom continued.
Beverage manufacturers know this and they create sugary drinks with a point of happiness, which gives consumers the greatest enjoyment from the taste of the drink.
According to the Cancer Council SA, a typical 600 ml soft drink contains about 16 teaspoons of sugar. While as an illustration, drinking sugary drinks for adults, it is recommended not to consume more than 12 teaspoons of sugar throughout the day.
Moreover, Advertising also plays a big role in shaping our preference for sweet and cold drinks amid hot weather. "We've all seen commercials featuring sugary cold drinks being consumed by people outdoors," she said.
These ads are not a coincidence, Deutrom also said, "but we associate drinking a sweet cold drink on a hot day as fun and will provide freshness and excitement."
Drinking too many sugary drinks is not good as it can lead to serious health problems in the long run, such as cancer and diabetes.
Deutrom suggests hydrating with water instead of sugary drinks. Or if you want flavor, you can also add lemon or cucumber to it, "Try to eliminate the desire for sugary drinks because if you consume them, you will only get empty calories," she added.
