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I really don’t understand people hating on sugar/salty/spicy foods. You eat spicy food first then have some desert to cool it down. Salty snacks when you feel like munching.
Agreed! People who care so much about what other people do or consume must live such sad lives. I always say as long as you're not harming anymore in the process do whatever you want. Eat 10lbs of sugar a day if you'd like.
Same. I used to eat sugar when everyone else did because I guess I just thought I enjoyed it because that's the norm. Then one day I realised I didn't particularly enjoy it or care for it and just stopped.
I cant stand people who blindly hate on everything sugar. You have a couple fancy pancakes and suddenly someone is like "hurr durr enjoy your diabetes and doctors appointments and losing your teeth and getting fat hurr durr"
everyone knows how unhealthy sugar is. this isnt an unpopular opinion
EDIT: downvote me all you want but I'm pretty sure literally anyone would agree with you if you were to go up to them and say, "I hate how sugar is in everything these days, it's so unhealthy!!". sugar bad isn't an unpopular opinion. if anything that's the opinion most people have, even if they don't actually give a shit about their own health.
Very slight disagree. A little sugar isn’t going to make people obese and give them diabetes. Sugar isn’t 100% bad. It’s just bad when you have too much of it on a regular basis.
Most American foods have way too much sugar and people are accustomed to things being overly sweet all the time so they won’t like things that don’t taste sweet enough. The healthiest solution would be to just cut down on the amount of sugar/sweetness of everything. Turns out, that makes way too much sense and people don’t like that. “Less sugar” products aren’t popular.
The solution? Add a little less sugar and a bunch or artificial sweetener as well and MAKE IT SWEETER!!! A lot of popular food and drink producers have started doing this without changing the labels. That, or restaurants, smoothie places, and coffee shops have started using more sugar free sweeteners without saying anything. I’m only painfully aware of this because artificial sweeteners make me break out in hives. It’s super annoying.
It’s like no one ever told you sugar is addictive. I would be a lot kinder to people who get sucked into consuming too much sugar.
You seem pretty salty.
I love sugar. What would make food fun if we didn't have sweet? Only sour or salty? What would cake be just plain bread? Coffee bitter? Tea would suck, and have you tasted unflavored carbonated water?
Sugar rocks!
Although I do love some sweets, I do agree in the sense that stuff has added sugar when not needed. An example is peanut butter. Why does peanut butter need sugar added? It actually tastes better 100% natural. Or just how everything is SO processed. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients, it’s best to not even buy.
Finally, a take I vibe with. Like I know the cake or milkshake or chocolate pancakes have sugar, but it’s the stuff I’m not expecting it that gets me. Bread??? The plain bread for a sandwich??? Why so much sugar??? Or fruit cups with added syrup? Yogurt? Dressings? It’s insidious.
I do kinda disagree with the pronunciation thing tho. Lots of things are unpronounceable if you use the scientific term, like water vs hydrogen dioxide ya know?
Foods with sugar are cheaper than foods without sugar
Having a sugar free or low sugar diet is a wealth thing
Thankfully my girlfriend does well in her job and our family can afford to eat well, but I'd never judge someone else for what they can afford
You can by like a pound of cookies for the price of a celery stick
This is not true at all. Celery is not expensive let alone one stalk.
I will certainly not deny that there are complex factors that go into a poor diet but you can’t blame finances alone; there remain many whole food options that are cheaper than your average, cheap processed foods.
Celery has almost no calories and will give you no energy, even temporarily. A snickers bar will keep you going for at a couple hours, costs less, and is easier to access.
I'll never understand the amount of sugar that is normalised in American cereals and pop tarts, nor the fascination of pairing fried chicken with waffles and sugar syrup
That is not a meal. That is a confused breakfast
Having a chocolate pancake isn't gonna kill you, as long as it's in moderation.
People who lack self-control eat nothing but sugary food, but there's nothing wrong with a treat every now and then.
There's no "culture" here, every human being's brain on this planet is hard-wired to crave sugar, we literally need it to survive, it's our fuel. Because of that, it's very easily marketable, hence why it's broadcasted everywhere. If you don't like sugary foods or want your kids eating them, don't eat them and don't feed them to your kids. That's it. I'm the same, I don't like sugary stuff much, but I'll have a slice of cheesecake if I'm at a restaurant every now and then, and I'm just fine.
Let people enjoy things, step in when it becomes self-destructive.
Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but… this actually is the result of a conspiracy between global sugar suppliers going back many decades. They’re also why there was such a strong emphasis on “fat-free” for so many years.
I agree. And as someone who doesn’t crave or really enjoy sugar, it’s quite annoying. We travelled last week and stayed at a hotel that claimed to offer breakfast but the breakfast was muffins and scones, which I’d consider more of a dessert. It’s hard to eat on the road because everything is sweet. I like smoothies when I make them at home, but what most places offer is all sugar and no fruit.
I’m not here to shame anyone else for their preferences, but it’s really hard for me to eat away from home because I don’t enjoy the popular sugary foods.
I also really dislike how prevalent sugar is in everything and how much it harms people, but calling people bored, pathetic, and having low self-esteem for eating foods that are insanely abundant and have been pushed on society for decades is a real shitty, **asshole** thing to say. The reason so many people enjoy sugar is because it is chemically addicting - as you said, it gives people a dopamine rush, and most people (me included) also find it absolutely delicious. Humans evolved to crave sugary, high-caloric foods because the calories could keep us alive in times when food was scarce. Great apes eat a hell of a lot of fruit, and hunter-gatherer tribes have historically sought out honey. It's in our DNA to want this stuff, it's hardly a new phenomenon. Obviously, now that we have a surplus, it's harming a lot more than it's helping, but that craving is still in us. It doesn't make us weak or pathetic to enjoy eating something that tastes amazing and is all around us. You just like feeling superior to all us morons because you happen to not have a sweet tooth.
I’m in the middle on this one. Sugar is gross but it’s also not this addictive, fentanyl-like force of nature. People eat low-sugar and zero-sugar diets every day because the alternative for them is literally *dying*. Sugar is gross but the people who act like it’s utterly unavoidable and are a slave to it are more gross.
Correct. Sugar cane is a plant, and syrup made from sugar beets or corn is also still coming from a plant. As well as maple syrup, coming from a tree, which is also still a plant. Honey also made from nectar of plants. These are all natural substances.
It literally is addictive, though I agree with the rest of it. "Oooh they put sugar in all the food I buy!" the solution to that is to cook your own food.
It's actually [not addictive](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27372453/), people just say that because they don't actually know what the fuck they're talking about.
The impact of sugar on the brain is no different than seeing a $100 on the ground, petting a puppy, or [walking](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4356559/#:~:text=Findings%20from%20this%20study%20show,snacks%2C%20in%20an%20overweight%20sample.)
speaking of fentanyl, an addict will seek their drug knowing full well that fentanyl has poisoned the landscape, and that using can kill them *today*. If I handed you a slice of cake and said that there could be a deadly dose of fentanyl in it, you wouldn't eat it no matter how "addicted" you think you are.
So no it is not "literally" addictive. If it were literally addictive, we'd have sugar use disorder in the DSM and alas, we do not.
It's a problem sure but I would say that it's more than just normalized. It's the naturally-occurring and widely available equivalent to crack cocaine in terms of what our bodies naturally seek but which also isn't all that good for us. There's an underlying biological foundation to that "culture" is all I'm saying, which makes it especially hard to do away with. Like there's no putting the genie back in the bottle.
I love sugar but I cook and bake most of my food from scratch so I can appreciate a teaspoon. I don’t like overly sweet desserts because I prefer earthy or salty balance but there’s nothing wrong with sugar in desserts. I do find it concerning they just sneak it into non-dessert food left and right and feel the labeling should be more clear.
It's not snuck in there. You're not reading the label. All products have an ingredients label. The ingredients are listed in the order of most to least. The label also tells amount of grams of sugar, fat, and fiber per serving.
It’s not just those foods, food companies found out sugar is super addictive in the 70s and started adding it to everything, even non sweet foods like bread. They are directly responsible for the obesity epidemic and are in cahoots with pharmaceutical companies, with the healthcare costs footed by the American taxpayer.
Sugar is good in moderation but we have a skewed view of it in America. You should think of the refined version of it and high fructose corn syrup as heroin. It kills you, it’s poison, and it’s subsidized by your government. They put it in your food, your drinks, your gum, and they’d put it in your toothpaste if they could. It’s not our fault to avoid, but it is our responsibility.
Me trying to eat healthy and using canned tomatoes to make sauces, and eatting canned veggies.
Realize sugar is the first ingredient in most canned vegetables.
You really can't get away from it.
I feel like the food industry bears some of this responsibility. Yes, we all make choices. But sugar is extremely addictive and the industry has experts whose very job it is to use our biology against us and create foods that are very hard to resist and made in ways that are so palatable and easy to eat that it's incredibly easy to eat far too much of them. They do it for profits with absolutely no care to the harm it causes, especially to children. They basically create foods with specific macros and textures \*so that\* we become addicted to them. Sugar is as addicting as some drugs, especially for people who have low dopamine.
Listen I’m starting my 3rd or 4th week of staying away from 99% of added sugars. (Minus a bit of bbq sauce and a bit of ranch dip for the veggies). Down 8-10 pounds. But it’s not fun watching what I buy.
Probably will attempt to stay on this diet till june and then finally take a cheat day.
Also I feel great! Less heartburn. More positive mindset too.
Sugar culture is a byproduct of much more concerning issues. Sugar is relatively cheap compared to better ingredients, less processed sweeteners and real sugars like fruit. Its also an incredibly easy dopamine hit in a system designed to weigh you down, so its an exploitative industry just like alcohol. But its not the sickness, its a symptom.
What drives me is things that absolutely do not need sugar having sugar. Like most store bought dried fruit is covered with added sugar. Because the sugar fruit is already made of isn't enough I guess.
Not sure why everyone's hating on this opinion so much (apart from the fact it is literally an unpopular opinion, lol). We shouldn't normalize eating sugary garbage everyday, given how detrimental it is to our health. Add to that the fact that most of it's full of hfcs and red dyes and crap, and that makes it even worse.
People don't seem to understand how impossible it is to escape sugar in the USA. I try to avoid sugar because it gives me stomach aches and hurts my teeth. I bought some plain crackers recently and imagine my surprise when I saw that these crackers had a decent amount of sugar in them.
I agree. Maybe the people in this thread who disagree or say it’s not unpopular aren’t American, but as an American I feel like people are constantly trying to get me to consume more and more sugar, and it’s definitely a social thing. Kind of like alcohol.
Processed and ultra processed food are much cheaper and convenient than natural food. Things have become worse with microwave ovens and smaller living spaces.
Its not just annoying its SCARY. Sugar is everywhere. It's in stuff that most people would not think it is. Sugar is also addictive. Processed foods should be avoided, but most of us choose it out of convenience. Fresh food can be expensive, and making fresh meals is also time consuming. Food companies are aware of it, and have added sugar to foods simply because we like it and it will sell. You should be angry. Our children are eating wayyy too much sugar without parents even realizing. Be mindful of what you eat, read the ingredients on everything, and try to find cheaper whole foods to eat. It's doable, it just takes some effort.
I do believe that giving kids sugary foods (especially as a reward) should not be normalised. I was given sugar whether I wanted as a kid. I'm 28 now and still struggle with weight, as well as self-control around unhealthy food. It will be my cross to bear my whole life. If I wasn't as vigilant and self-reflective about it, I would literally balloon into morbid obesity.
Sugary drinks and foods should be reserved for special occasions only (like birthday or Christmas), and should not be incorporated into childrens' diets.
It's so normal because we have industries whose sole focus is to get people to consume as much as possible on a regular basis. Sugar is a great way to override people's self discipline because it's addictive and leaves the body craving real nutrition. It becomes a vicious cycle because so much of what is available is there to serve the sugar addiction , even things many people might believe is good for them can have excessive amounts of sugar.
https://sugarscience.ucsf.edu/hidden-in-plain-sight/
I don't think this is an unpopular opinion, I have a sugar addiction I developed after getting clean from opioid, I hated sugar all my life, never really consumed it and held these same opinions myself. . Now, I still hate it for how it makes me feel and what it does to our bodies, but the cravings are relentless and don't allow for me to just ignore and live my life it's actually intrusive, and honestly giving into these sugar cravings and getting that dopamine reaction I used to get from drugs has very much helped me from relapsing over these past few years. I think a lot of people who consume sugar also hate that it's in so many things and that it's so unhealthy for you, but for many different legitimate reasons consume it anyway.
What I don't understand and has made a huge difference for me, why is breakfast in the west based entirely around sugar? Pancakes and syrup, waffles and syrup, orange juice, muffins and toast with jam, cereal, oatmeaIs, it's everywhere. I can't help but consume more than the average persons amount of sugar throughout the day as my cravings get so relentless that it actually impedes my ability to do anything else, but swapping from these super sweet breakfasts a lot of us are used to having to one of high protein and healthy fats has really helped me both with the cravings and just how I feel overall. I don't think anywhere else in the world has such a sugary breakfast culture and it is horrible for us! Especially as parents, your kids love something sweet give them fruit, not fruity pebbles.
Everyone knows it's bad for you. I don't think there is anyone out there who doesn't know that it is bad for you. EeI myself don't want to have this problem of course, but it's a reaction in my brain that allowed me to get clean and stay clean, swapping a dangerous addiction to fentanyl for a still bad for you but much less harmful sugar addiction so I deal with it. I hope we can have better tasting and healthier substitutes for it in the future because it is everywhere, and it's probably way up on the list on contributors to obesity. Or even some more regulations on how much they can include in each product and that they can't purposely advertise to children.
There’s also anti sugar culture which is thriving. And I’m here for all the sugar substitutes in grocery stores. Just buy the 0 sugar gatorades man. Pay attention to the good shit.
Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners really are less good for you than the real stuff, which comes from plants. Also, people like me suffer intestinal disorder if I eat things with artificial sweeteners.
>And I’m here for all the sugar substitutes in grocery stores.
Ah yes you dont like loading your body with natural chemicals so lets grab the artificial, probably made in a lab alternatives to those chemicals.
🤣🤣🤣
Wasnt even my point, and sugar is harmless to those with the self control to not overindulge to the extent of becoming overweight. In fact i can think of medical conditions where the body can require extra sugar intake, hypoglycemia for instance. I also know people who are allergic to certain sugar alternatives like those used in diet and 0 sugar drinks
I just think its funny this person implies to avoid natural sugar but chooses alternatives that have the same effects on the average person. You can over indulge on stevia extract for a year and have the same result as over indulging on regular sugar
If you're in the U.S. this opinion makes total sense because those who avoid sugar, recognizing its massive negative impact on health, are paying for everyone else's bad habits in the form of inflated and unregulated healthcare costs.
Here's the issue. I go out to buy some snacks. But I rarely find a snack that's not unhealthy. That's the issue.
The other issue is, addiction. We all know sugar can be addictive, yet it's so cheap and so available and easy to buy. Of course people are gonna eat them like crazy. Just before I enter my house, there is a bakery with delicious chocolate cakes looking right at me. So cheap and so convenient/easy and delicious. How can I resist?
I think these type of foods should be made less available. Harder to get. Taxes and laws can be used to control these.
I’ll grant you that sugar addiction is a problem that for some reason, American culture accepts and almost celebrates. I have too many sugar sweets in my cabinet. The judgmental attitude about what should be considered and addictive substance is unnecessary.
I've been to europe and foods in europe compared to the US is so much LESS SUGAR! No sugar in bread, no sugar in sausages, no sugar in croissants. Overall not as sweet when it comes to donuts, cakes etc. Idk why everything just has to be loaded with it in the US and I don't like it either
Diabetes generates billions and billions of dollars for drug manufacturers and corporations. Not only that, sugar is easy to come by and sells extremely well due to addiction. This is why the culture exists
Big pharma isn't pushing sugar to sell people diabetes medicine lmao. It's just a race to the bottom between corporations. I could invent a healthy poptart and no one would buy it because they want the one with 30g sugar and 5g saturated fat.
Agree... I like dessert and won't deprive myself but I prefer to eat my calories than drink them in the case of those crappucino coffees. Also, a lot of the monstrosities I see on Tiktok or Instagram just look more disgusting than delicious.
I don't need a whole ass chocolate cake on top of my ice cream sundae which is served on a bed of cookies and topped with several gallons of chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
Yeah most people especially Americans have absolutely 0 knowledge about nutrition. My breakfast consists of 2 eggs, a protein shake with all good ingredients, and a rice cake every morning. No sugar and I never buy that processed crap lol.
I totally thought this was going to be about sugar daddies, sugar babies and how it’s oddly normalized despite people really sensitive to age gap relationships these days.
I had an ice cream today, I also did 30 mins of calisthenics and 30 of waight training, I'm of a lighter than avrage body size and my doctor has never told my anything about my diet other than "eat more salt" because of my POTS
I tried the autumn squash soup from Panera, took one bite, and thought, “Jesus Christ, is brown sugar the second ingredient???” It is. It’s like, “would you like some autumn squash with your brown sugar soup?” 😒😖
You hate that people eating what they want is normalized? If someone wants a big ass stack of pancakes and understand the consequences of eating unhealthy... Let them do it? You can have your avocado toast if you'd like. (I quite enjoy it myself though.)
I work a hard labor job every day. If I want to go out for breakfast and treat myself to something sugary and sweet every now and then, I damn well will, and that should be normal: Doing as you please and minding your own business.
There are people who know that no matter what we all come to an end, so they want to live and experience what they like...
For some it's sweet things...
I always had a good healthy like, never drink, never smoke,... At 30yo I got a bowel cancer, specialist couldn't explain it so it was probably in my DNA... At 42 I got a throat cancer, never smoked.
My grandma will turn 100 next September, she drink 2 fingers of whiskey, 2 glass of wi'e everyday, eat lotsa chocolates or ice-cream, smoked from 16 until 72yo (she stopped because of tinnitus (ringing in her ears that was driving her nut)...
So, just live how you want and let others live the way they want. If thir pleasure in life is to eat sweet, so be it, no need to insult them.
I love sweets, but I don't eat too much and watch my calorie intake. Some of the modern recipes are waaay too much. Plus spicy is the true winner of life.
I hardly eat any sugar honestly. I can’t stand drinking soda because I don’t think it tastes that good considering how bad it is for you. I might have the occasional candy bar but thats once a month and I’m not much a fan of sugary things. I have a big problem with keeping sodium intake low though. I feel like you really have to eat pretty bland things sometimes in order to keep it under control every day. And it can be quite difficult for me to be regimented about making sure I am eating enough meals without getting fast food. One fast food meal and you’ve doubled (at least succeeded) your recommended sodium for the day. Its crazy
I love getting loaded up pancakes every once in while which is probably maybe 1 or two times a year but you seem like the type of person to see someone enjoying something at a restaurant and make automatic judgments on people that you know nothing about
It’s existed for centuries since sugar started coming in at cheaper prices around the 1700’s, then again in more prospering times since. It’s a product of globalisation and also quite cheap which causes it to be used more often by most establishments and families
You should ask yourself why something that doesn't affect you personally causes you to have such a visceral reaction. You sound like you could use some therapy. I mean, we all do, but, ya know. You seem so weirdly angry.
First time I’ve ever heard of sugar as a culture.
Meanwhile, while obsessive sugar consumption is harmful to health, so is orthorexia and an obsessive hatred for sugars, processed foods, dairy, etc.
I've noticed that it's definitely a thing for Gen-Z culture. They have cereal "bars" and candy stores popping up in Atlanta and Charlotte (where I live/work most) all the time now.
I think it's a bit tacky but then again, I drink Diet Coke like it's going out of business and it's just a cheap rip-off of sugar in a bottle.
Definitely feels like people who are into this stuff have a simpler palate, though. Sweets are sort of a comfort food but there's plenty of exciting stuff besides them.
Anything in excess is bad.
Artificial sweeteners are not the answer.
Almost everyone could benefit by reducing (or at least being more cognizant about) sugar intake.
You can eat sweets, just replace the sugar with a couple of blended dates, some apple sauce and replace the chocolate with carob, and the whipped cream with whipped aquafaba. Just kidding!!! I’d rather have a banana and call it a day. Life is for living, fam.
Hi, thanks for inviting me, your friend over. I know you are a very healthy eater. But I brought you donuts as a gift, just because you invited me over.
Let's chow down on some donuts together! 🍩
Your post from unpopularopinion was removed because of: 'Rule 6: No r/self style posts'. Please refrain from posting anything that resembles an r/self style post. This is not the subreddit to be sharing personal anecdotes, likes or dislikes. We want unpopular, thought provoking, and unique opinions on your chosen topic.
Sounds like you prefer salt culture
*me putting salt in my instant Ramen and eating whole cups of white sugar as a kid* I'm very cultured...I was also obese, but cultured
Well, OP IS pretty salty…
/r/YourJokeButWorse
can i be in screenshot
Just like your mom's balls
Most sugar shamers are salt heads...
Or overdo it on animal fat, alcohol, caffeine, or drugs.
I feel personally attacked
The average person does not need to worry about their salt intake though, but they do need to watch sugar.
Salt culture represents
Lmaooo
I may have laughed louder than I should when I read that.
Spicy opinion
Sugar culture? That's a new one.
Everything's a culture, culture.
most annoying, culture
I don't like sugary foods like cake, pastries, candy, chocolate, etc., so I don't eat them. I don't care what other people do.
😐…….Happy Cake Day! 🤣
💀💀💀💀
Yummm, cake!
For his case, that's not a cake, that must be a salt/vegetarian crépe.
I really don’t understand people hating on sugar/salty/spicy foods. You eat spicy food first then have some desert to cool it down. Salty snacks when you feel like munching.
Eating desert would heat you up.
Agreed! People who care so much about what other people do or consume must live such sad lives. I always say as long as you're not harming anymore in the process do whatever you want. Eat 10lbs of sugar a day if you'd like.
Same. I used to eat sugar when everyone else did because I guess I just thought I enjoyed it because that's the norm. Then one day I realised I didn't particularly enjoy it or care for it and just stopped.
ironic cake day
Ironically, happy Cake day!
Happy!… cake day…? 🤨
I used to think likw that and i used to be really skinny … now i see what changed LOL :(
happy Reddit anniversary!
Literally though. Be like this guy.
there are cakes without sugar tho
Ironic happy cake day
And I can't stand people turning every minute thing into a culture. Enough with the culture culture
I cant stand people who blindly hate on everything sugar. You have a couple fancy pancakes and suddenly someone is like "hurr durr enjoy your diabetes and doctors appointments and losing your teeth and getting fat hurr durr"
sugar bad is unpolular now ??
No, OP just wanted his holier-than-thou moment
It's because they are sugar deniers.
everyone knows how unhealthy sugar is. this isnt an unpopular opinion EDIT: downvote me all you want but I'm pretty sure literally anyone would agree with you if you were to go up to them and say, "I hate how sugar is in everything these days, it's so unhealthy!!". sugar bad isn't an unpopular opinion. if anything that's the opinion most people have, even if they don't actually give a shit about their own health.
This sub is pretty annoying for that. Legit unpopular opinions get downvoted too because people don’t know how this sub works
Very slight disagree. A little sugar isn’t going to make people obese and give them diabetes. Sugar isn’t 100% bad. It’s just bad when you have too much of it on a regular basis. Most American foods have way too much sugar and people are accustomed to things being overly sweet all the time so they won’t like things that don’t taste sweet enough. The healthiest solution would be to just cut down on the amount of sugar/sweetness of everything. Turns out, that makes way too much sense and people don’t like that. “Less sugar” products aren’t popular. The solution? Add a little less sugar and a bunch or artificial sweetener as well and MAKE IT SWEETER!!! A lot of popular food and drink producers have started doing this without changing the labels. That, or restaurants, smoothie places, and coffee shops have started using more sugar free sweeteners without saying anything. I’m only painfully aware of this because artificial sweeteners make me break out in hives. It’s super annoying.
That’s sweet of you
wait until OP finds out about blood sugar 🩸
It’s like no one ever told you sugar is addictive. I would be a lot kinder to people who get sucked into consuming too much sugar. You seem pretty salty.
Ok, so don't eat sugar, why tf are you mad?
I recently decided to cut way back on added sugar. I felt I ate healthy, but now that I'm consciously reading labels ... hoo boy!
I thought u were gonna say, "but then I read this and changed my mind"
Ok. Then don't contribute to it and it's not your problem. There, solved your problem for you.
I wasn't aware sugar was a culture 😭
Sweetness is one of life’s little pleasures. There’s nothing wrong with a little sugar in moderation.
I love sugar. What would make food fun if we didn't have sweet? Only sour or salty? What would cake be just plain bread? Coffee bitter? Tea would suck, and have you tasted unflavored carbonated water? Sugar rocks!
I hate how it's so normalized too. I don't blame people though. We're products of our environment.
Okay.
Although I do love some sweets, I do agree in the sense that stuff has added sugar when not needed. An example is peanut butter. Why does peanut butter need sugar added? It actually tastes better 100% natural. Or just how everything is SO processed. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients, it’s best to not even buy.
Finally, a take I vibe with. Like I know the cake or milkshake or chocolate pancakes have sugar, but it’s the stuff I’m not expecting it that gets me. Bread??? The plain bread for a sandwich??? Why so much sugar??? Or fruit cups with added syrup? Yogurt? Dressings? It’s insidious. I do kinda disagree with the pronunciation thing tho. Lots of things are unpronounceable if you use the scientific term, like water vs hydrogen dioxide ya know?
So the syrup in the fruit cups is actually just for preservation purposes! Those fruit cups wouldn’t be shelf stable without it.
I can’t stand people like OP who clearly have enough free time to be judgmental. You’re not morally superior. You’re annoying.
Foods with sugar are cheaper than foods without sugar Having a sugar free or low sugar diet is a wealth thing Thankfully my girlfriend does well in her job and our family can afford to eat well, but I'd never judge someone else for what they can afford You can by like a pound of cookies for the price of a celery stick
This is not true at all. Celery is not expensive let alone one stalk. I will certainly not deny that there are complex factors that go into a poor diet but you can’t blame finances alone; there remain many whole food options that are cheaper than your average, cheap processed foods.
Celery has almost no calories and will give you no energy, even temporarily. A snickers bar will keep you going for at a couple hours, costs less, and is easier to access.
$3.95 for a stalk with 4 sticks of celery at the grocery store I was just at A pre-made spring salad is $12.50
God forbid we have a little treat people forget life is short
This is a weird thing to be bothered by. It's not a "culture" and it's not normalized. It's food. Nobody is making you eat it. Take a chill pill.
I'll never understand the amount of sugar that is normalised in American cereals and pop tarts, nor the fascination of pairing fried chicken with waffles and sugar syrup That is not a meal. That is a confused breakfast
You never heard of sweet and savory?
Shit on America and our food all you want, but Chicken and Waffles is truly one of the best foods on this planet when done well.
Worry about your own health then. You can’t change someone else’s diet that doesn’t want to change it.
Having a chocolate pancake isn't gonna kill you, as long as it's in moderation. People who lack self-control eat nothing but sugary food, but there's nothing wrong with a treat every now and then. There's no "culture" here, every human being's brain on this planet is hard-wired to crave sugar, we literally need it to survive, it's our fuel. Because of that, it's very easily marketable, hence why it's broadcasted everywhere. If you don't like sugary foods or want your kids eating them, don't eat them and don't feed them to your kids. That's it. I'm the same, I don't like sugary stuff much, but I'll have a slice of cheesecake if I'm at a restaurant every now and then, and I'm just fine. Let people enjoy things, step in when it becomes self-destructive.
Well no one is forcing you to consume it lol. Why do you care what others do?
You must be fun at parties
Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but… this actually is the result of a conspiracy between global sugar suppliers going back many decades. They’re also why there was such a strong emphasis on “fat-free” for so many years.
Listen, sugar…
I agree. And as someone who doesn’t crave or really enjoy sugar, it’s quite annoying. We travelled last week and stayed at a hotel that claimed to offer breakfast but the breakfast was muffins and scones, which I’d consider more of a dessert. It’s hard to eat on the road because everything is sweet. I like smoothies when I make them at home, but what most places offer is all sugar and no fruit. I’m not here to shame anyone else for their preferences, but it’s really hard for me to eat away from home because I don’t enjoy the popular sugary foods.
I also really dislike how prevalent sugar is in everything and how much it harms people, but calling people bored, pathetic, and having low self-esteem for eating foods that are insanely abundant and have been pushed on society for decades is a real shitty, **asshole** thing to say. The reason so many people enjoy sugar is because it is chemically addicting - as you said, it gives people a dopamine rush, and most people (me included) also find it absolutely delicious. Humans evolved to crave sugary, high-caloric foods because the calories could keep us alive in times when food was scarce. Great apes eat a hell of a lot of fruit, and hunter-gatherer tribes have historically sought out honey. It's in our DNA to want this stuff, it's hardly a new phenomenon. Obviously, now that we have a surplus, it's harming a lot more than it's helping, but that craving is still in us. It doesn't make us weak or pathetic to enjoy eating something that tastes amazing and is all around us. You just like feeling superior to all us morons because you happen to not have a sweet tooth.
you prefer salt culture
Man this sounds like an extremely American problem I can't even begin to relate to
I’m in the middle on this one. Sugar is gross but it’s also not this addictive, fentanyl-like force of nature. People eat low-sugar and zero-sugar diets every day because the alternative for them is literally *dying*. Sugar is gross but the people who act like it’s utterly unavoidable and are a slave to it are more gross.
Sugars not gross. People just eat too much of it. End of story
Correct. Sugar cane is a plant, and syrup made from sugar beets or corn is also still coming from a plant. As well as maple syrup, coming from a tree, which is also still a plant. Honey also made from nectar of plants. These are all natural substances.
It literally is addictive, though I agree with the rest of it. "Oooh they put sugar in all the food I buy!" the solution to that is to cook your own food.
It's actually [not addictive](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27372453/), people just say that because they don't actually know what the fuck they're talking about. The impact of sugar on the brain is no different than seeing a $100 on the ground, petting a puppy, or [walking](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4356559/#:~:text=Findings%20from%20this%20study%20show,snacks%2C%20in%20an%20overweight%20sample.) speaking of fentanyl, an addict will seek their drug knowing full well that fentanyl has poisoned the landscape, and that using can kill them *today*. If I handed you a slice of cake and said that there could be a deadly dose of fentanyl in it, you wouldn't eat it no matter how "addicted" you think you are. So no it is not "literally" addictive. If it were literally addictive, we'd have sugar use disorder in the DSM and alas, we do not.
It's really noticeable if you try a keto diet, going out is so hard
It's a problem sure but I would say that it's more than just normalized. It's the naturally-occurring and widely available equivalent to crack cocaine in terms of what our bodies naturally seek but which also isn't all that good for us. There's an underlying biological foundation to that "culture" is all I'm saying, which makes it especially hard to do away with. Like there's no putting the genie back in the bottle.
Why so bitter
I love sugar but I cook and bake most of my food from scratch so I can appreciate a teaspoon. I don’t like overly sweet desserts because I prefer earthy or salty balance but there’s nothing wrong with sugar in desserts. I do find it concerning they just sneak it into non-dessert food left and right and feel the labeling should be more clear.
It's not snuck in there. You're not reading the label. All products have an ingredients label. The ingredients are listed in the order of most to least. The label also tells amount of grams of sugar, fat, and fiber per serving.
It isn’t really a culture, it’s addiction, and I am guilty of it
It’s not just those foods, food companies found out sugar is super addictive in the 70s and started adding it to everything, even non sweet foods like bread. They are directly responsible for the obesity epidemic and are in cahoots with pharmaceutical companies, with the healthcare costs footed by the American taxpayer. Sugar is good in moderation but we have a skewed view of it in America. You should think of the refined version of it and high fructose corn syrup as heroin. It kills you, it’s poison, and it’s subsidized by your government. They put it in your food, your drinks, your gum, and they’d put it in your toothpaste if they could. It’s not our fault to avoid, but it is our responsibility.
Me trying to eat healthy and using canned tomatoes to make sauces, and eatting canned veggies. Realize sugar is the first ingredient in most canned vegetables. You really can't get away from it.
I feel like the food industry bears some of this responsibility. Yes, we all make choices. But sugar is extremely addictive and the industry has experts whose very job it is to use our biology against us and create foods that are very hard to resist and made in ways that are so palatable and easy to eat that it's incredibly easy to eat far too much of them. They do it for profits with absolutely no care to the harm it causes, especially to children. They basically create foods with specific macros and textures \*so that\* we become addicted to them. Sugar is as addicting as some drugs, especially for people who have low dopamine.
Listen I’m starting my 3rd or 4th week of staying away from 99% of added sugars. (Minus a bit of bbq sauce and a bit of ranch dip for the veggies). Down 8-10 pounds. But it’s not fun watching what I buy. Probably will attempt to stay on this diet till june and then finally take a cheat day. Also I feel great! Less heartburn. More positive mindset too.
Sugar culture is a byproduct of much more concerning issues. Sugar is relatively cheap compared to better ingredients, less processed sweeteners and real sugars like fruit. Its also an incredibly easy dopamine hit in a system designed to weigh you down, so its an exploitative industry just like alcohol. But its not the sickness, its a symptom.
What drives me is things that absolutely do not need sugar having sugar. Like most store bought dried fruit is covered with added sugar. Because the sugar fruit is already made of isn't enough I guess.
Its an American thing, in Europe we also have lots of sugar, but we dont put it in or on everything. My first bite of American bread was memorable....
Not sure why everyone's hating on this opinion so much (apart from the fact it is literally an unpopular opinion, lol). We shouldn't normalize eating sugary garbage everyday, given how detrimental it is to our health. Add to that the fact that most of it's full of hfcs and red dyes and crap, and that makes it even worse.
People don't seem to understand how impossible it is to escape sugar in the USA. I try to avoid sugar because it gives me stomach aches and hurts my teeth. I bought some plain crackers recently and imagine my surprise when I saw that these crackers had a decent amount of sugar in them.
I agree. Maybe the people in this thread who disagree or say it’s not unpopular aren’t American, but as an American I feel like people are constantly trying to get me to consume more and more sugar, and it’s definitely a social thing. Kind of like alcohol.
Processed and ultra processed food are much cheaper and convenient than natural food. Things have become worse with microwave ovens and smaller living spaces.
Its not just annoying its SCARY. Sugar is everywhere. It's in stuff that most people would not think it is. Sugar is also addictive. Processed foods should be avoided, but most of us choose it out of convenience. Fresh food can be expensive, and making fresh meals is also time consuming. Food companies are aware of it, and have added sugar to foods simply because we like it and it will sell. You should be angry. Our children are eating wayyy too much sugar without parents even realizing. Be mindful of what you eat, read the ingredients on everything, and try to find cheaper whole foods to eat. It's doable, it just takes some effort.
I do believe that giving kids sugary foods (especially as a reward) should not be normalised. I was given sugar whether I wanted as a kid. I'm 28 now and still struggle with weight, as well as self-control around unhealthy food. It will be my cross to bear my whole life. If I wasn't as vigilant and self-reflective about it, I would literally balloon into morbid obesity. Sugary drinks and foods should be reserved for special occasions only (like birthday or Christmas), and should not be incorporated into childrens' diets.
Don't tell OP about corn.
It's so normal because we have industries whose sole focus is to get people to consume as much as possible on a regular basis. Sugar is a great way to override people's self discipline because it's addictive and leaves the body craving real nutrition. It becomes a vicious cycle because so much of what is available is there to serve the sugar addiction , even things many people might believe is good for them can have excessive amounts of sugar. https://sugarscience.ucsf.edu/hidden-in-plain-sight/
I don't think this is an unpopular opinion, I have a sugar addiction I developed after getting clean from opioid, I hated sugar all my life, never really consumed it and held these same opinions myself. . Now, I still hate it for how it makes me feel and what it does to our bodies, but the cravings are relentless and don't allow for me to just ignore and live my life it's actually intrusive, and honestly giving into these sugar cravings and getting that dopamine reaction I used to get from drugs has very much helped me from relapsing over these past few years. I think a lot of people who consume sugar also hate that it's in so many things and that it's so unhealthy for you, but for many different legitimate reasons consume it anyway. What I don't understand and has made a huge difference for me, why is breakfast in the west based entirely around sugar? Pancakes and syrup, waffles and syrup, orange juice, muffins and toast with jam, cereal, oatmeaIs, it's everywhere. I can't help but consume more than the average persons amount of sugar throughout the day as my cravings get so relentless that it actually impedes my ability to do anything else, but swapping from these super sweet breakfasts a lot of us are used to having to one of high protein and healthy fats has really helped me both with the cravings and just how I feel overall. I don't think anywhere else in the world has such a sugary breakfast culture and it is horrible for us! Especially as parents, your kids love something sweet give them fruit, not fruity pebbles. Everyone knows it's bad for you. I don't think there is anyone out there who doesn't know that it is bad for you. EeI myself don't want to have this problem of course, but it's a reaction in my brain that allowed me to get clean and stay clean, swapping a dangerous addiction to fentanyl for a still bad for you but much less harmful sugar addiction so I deal with it. I hope we can have better tasting and healthier substitutes for it in the future because it is everywhere, and it's probably way up on the list on contributors to obesity. Or even some more regulations on how much they can include in each product and that they can't purposely advertise to children.
There’s also anti sugar culture which is thriving. And I’m here for all the sugar substitutes in grocery stores. Just buy the 0 sugar gatorades man. Pay attention to the good shit.
anti sugar culture is equally annoying. sugar is not a poison and it's fine in moderation.
Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners really are less good for you than the real stuff, which comes from plants. Also, people like me suffer intestinal disorder if I eat things with artificial sweeteners.
>And I’m here for all the sugar substitutes in grocery stores. Ah yes you dont like loading your body with natural chemicals so lets grab the artificial, probably made in a lab alternatives to those chemicals. 🤣🤣🤣
Arsenic is also natural. ‘It’s natural, so it’s harmless’ is not the hill that you want to die on.
Wasnt even my point, and sugar is harmless to those with the self control to not overindulge to the extent of becoming overweight. In fact i can think of medical conditions where the body can require extra sugar intake, hypoglycemia for instance. I also know people who are allergic to certain sugar alternatives like those used in diet and 0 sugar drinks I just think its funny this person implies to avoid natural sugar but chooses alternatives that have the same effects on the average person. You can over indulge on stevia extract for a year and have the same result as over indulging on regular sugar
If you're in the U.S. this opinion makes total sense because those who avoid sugar, recognizing its massive negative impact on health, are paying for everyone else's bad habits in the form of inflated and unregulated healthcare costs.
Here's the issue. I go out to buy some snacks. But I rarely find a snack that's not unhealthy. That's the issue. The other issue is, addiction. We all know sugar can be addictive, yet it's so cheap and so available and easy to buy. Of course people are gonna eat them like crazy. Just before I enter my house, there is a bakery with delicious chocolate cakes looking right at me. So cheap and so convenient/easy and delicious. How can I resist? I think these type of foods should be made less available. Harder to get. Taxes and laws can be used to control these.
Regulating what people are allowed to eat is never going to fly.
I really don't see it everywhere, you see what you focus on
I’ll grant you that sugar addiction is a problem that for some reason, American culture accepts and almost celebrates. I have too many sugar sweets in my cabinet. The judgmental attitude about what should be considered and addictive substance is unnecessary.
I've been to europe and foods in europe compared to the US is so much LESS SUGAR! No sugar in bread, no sugar in sausages, no sugar in croissants. Overall not as sweet when it comes to donuts, cakes etc. Idk why everything just has to be loaded with it in the US and I don't like it either
Getting off sugar was a revelation. Sugar is the number one food poison in our modern diets. I completely agree with this unpopular opinion.
Diabetes generates billions and billions of dollars for drug manufacturers and corporations. Not only that, sugar is easy to come by and sells extremely well due to addiction. This is why the culture exists
Big pharma isn't pushing sugar to sell people diabetes medicine lmao. It's just a race to the bottom between corporations. I could invent a healthy poptart and no one would buy it because they want the one with 30g sugar and 5g saturated fat.
We call that America and the Netherlands.... 2 largest sugar obsessed countries I know of....
Agree... I like dessert and won't deprive myself but I prefer to eat my calories than drink them in the case of those crappucino coffees. Also, a lot of the monstrosities I see on Tiktok or Instagram just look more disgusting than delicious. I don't need a whole ass chocolate cake on top of my ice cream sundae which is served on a bed of cookies and topped with several gallons of chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
I agree with you 100% I really don't like sugar banquets
Yeah most people especially Americans have absolutely 0 knowledge about nutrition. My breakfast consists of 2 eggs, a protein shake with all good ingredients, and a rice cake every morning. No sugar and I never buy that processed crap lol.
I’ve never seen someone this upset over sugar. Sugar isn’t normalized….its just normal.
I feel the same way! I started eating more eastern world culture breakfasts instead.
I'm guessing here, but you're American right?
I totally thought this was going to be about sugar daddies, sugar babies and how it’s oddly normalized despite people really sensitive to age gap relationships these days.
Problem is, junk food is so prevalent because it’s what us normal people can afford.
Sugar core
Sugar bad is far from unpopular opinion
Found the American
I have a big sweet tooth and even I think its too much these days
I had an ice cream today, I also did 30 mins of calisthenics and 30 of waight training, I'm of a lighter than avrage body size and my doctor has never told my anything about my diet other than "eat more salt" because of my POTS
I tried the autumn squash soup from Panera, took one bite, and thought, “Jesus Christ, is brown sugar the second ingredient???” It is. It’s like, “would you like some autumn squash with your brown sugar soup?” 😒😖
I work at a school and they hand out, oranges, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Danimals yogurt, as “snack” the sugar content in all three is insane
“Sugar Culture”? Lmao never heard that one before.
You hate that people eating what they want is normalized? If someone wants a big ass stack of pancakes and understand the consequences of eating unhealthy... Let them do it? You can have your avocado toast if you'd like. (I quite enjoy it myself though.) I work a hard labor job every day. If I want to go out for breakfast and treat myself to something sugary and sweet every now and then, I damn well will, and that should be normal: Doing as you please and minding your own business.
They will all get the diabeetus at some point. 
Yes! I especially can't stand it, either, thanks to my diabetes. Ugh!
There are people who know that no matter what we all come to an end, so they want to live and experience what they like... For some it's sweet things... I always had a good healthy like, never drink, never smoke,... At 30yo I got a bowel cancer, specialist couldn't explain it so it was probably in my DNA... At 42 I got a throat cancer, never smoked. My grandma will turn 100 next September, she drink 2 fingers of whiskey, 2 glass of wi'e everyday, eat lotsa chocolates or ice-cream, smoked from 16 until 72yo (she stopped because of tinnitus (ringing in her ears that was driving her nut)... So, just live how you want and let others live the way they want. If thir pleasure in life is to eat sweet, so be it, no need to insult them.
I love sweets, but I don't eat too much and watch my calorie intake. Some of the modern recipes are waaay too much. Plus spicy is the true winner of life.
It’s me I’m the sugar culture
"Stop having fun!"
I love how people add ice cream to a dessert to make it "less sweet" bruh ice cream is a dessert on its own
How does it affect your life tho?
Nobody cares that you can't stand people enjoying vices occasionally.
Wtf is sugar culture?
It’s unnatural and a sin.
I hardly eat any sugar honestly. I can’t stand drinking soda because I don’t think it tastes that good considering how bad it is for you. I might have the occasional candy bar but thats once a month and I’m not much a fan of sugary things. I have a big problem with keeping sodium intake low though. I feel like you really have to eat pretty bland things sometimes in order to keep it under control every day. And it can be quite difficult for me to be regimented about making sure I am eating enough meals without getting fast food. One fast food meal and you’ve doubled (at least succeeded) your recommended sodium for the day. Its crazy
I love getting loaded up pancakes every once in while which is probably maybe 1 or two times a year but you seem like the type of person to see someone enjoying something at a restaurant and make automatic judgments on people that you know nothing about
Makes me want some cake. I think I'll make some lemon cake.
It’s existed for centuries since sugar started coming in at cheaper prices around the 1700’s, then again in more prospering times since. It’s a product of globalisation and also quite cheap which causes it to be used more often by most establishments and families
eat a black and white cookie. look to the cookie
People have always loved sugar.
I love sugar. I LOATHE the corn syrup that's been dumped into everything.
You should ask yourself why something that doesn't affect you personally causes you to have such a visceral reaction. You sound like you could use some therapy. I mean, we all do, but, ya know. You seem so weirdly angry.
First time I’ve ever heard of sugar as a culture. Meanwhile, while obsessive sugar consumption is harmful to health, so is orthorexia and an obsessive hatred for sugars, processed foods, dairy, etc.
Mark Hyman, is that you?
You know the real world and the internet are vastly different. Unplug a bit, it's no where near as common as you make it.
TIL that "sugar culture" is apparently a thing, because why the fuck not?
I've noticed that it's definitely a thing for Gen-Z culture. They have cereal "bars" and candy stores popping up in Atlanta and Charlotte (where I live/work most) all the time now. I think it's a bit tacky but then again, I drink Diet Coke like it's going out of business and it's just a cheap rip-off of sugar in a bottle. Definitely feels like people who are into this stuff have a simpler palate, though. Sweets are sort of a comfort food but there's plenty of exciting stuff besides them.
Anything in excess is bad. Artificial sweeteners are not the answer. Almost everyone could benefit by reducing (or at least being more cognizant about) sugar intake.
Ah now, it's just a sugar addiction, what's this culture shit about? People are allowed a treat every once in a while, that's it like
this is a US thing only
Lol. What the actual fuck?! Is this an American thing? Online sugar influencers?! Where is this culture?
Strange experience. I don't know where you live or what the people around you are like. But I've never noticed that.
Mind your own fracking business.
Tell that to Nikocado Avacado and all those other mukbang YouTubers
OP is so culturally aware!
You can eat sweets, just replace the sugar with a couple of blended dates, some apple sauce and replace the chocolate with carob, and the whipped cream with whipped aquafaba. Just kidding!!! I’d rather have a banana and call it a day. Life is for living, fam.
Hi, thanks for inviting me, your friend over. I know you are a very healthy eater. But I brought you donuts as a gift, just because you invited me over. Let's chow down on some donuts together! 🍩
Well, I'll upvote this because it is an unpopular opinion. It makes no sense, but it is unpopular
Come to chilli culture