Key Points at a Glance
- During the warmer months, it's easier for us to avoid refined sugar.
- It’s true that we can’t go completely sugar-free—but our lifestyle is still healthier in the spring and summer than in the fall and winter.
- But what influences these eating habits?
- One thing is certain: several factors contribute to this dietary pattern. Evolution is also likely to play a role.
It should be noted that even in the spring and summer, we can hardly get by without sugar, but that is more the responsibility of food manufacturers. There’s hardly any bread or muesli available that doesn’t contain sugar. In that sense, it would be more accurate to speak of a reduced-sugar diet during the warmer months rather than a completely sugar-free one.
From an evolutionary biology perspective, sugar provides a sense of security
As soon as the warmest days of the year are finally behind us in October—or by then at the latest—most supermarkets fill their shelves with sweets that are actually supposed to be available only during Advent: Chocolate St. Nicholas figures and Santa Clauses, along with gingerbread, marzipan dominoes, and much more, suddenly appear on store shelves overnight. Although the festive mood is still completely absent, the food industry knows that some of us are already craving sweets.
There are two reasons for this. The first is that, from an evolutionary perspective, we want to put on winter fat, just as many animals do. And sugar is simply the easiest way to do that. The second reason: In the spring and summer, sugary treats just don’t taste as good. Chocolate at 25 degrees and above? That’s usually a bad combination. Plus, nature showers us with sweet fruits during these seasons. And who really feels like eating pralines and chocolate when you can get fresh strawberries, cherries, raspberries, or blueberries?
Enjoy Alcohol in Moderation in the Summer and Spring
A refreshing, sugary alternative to these fruits is, at most, an occasional scoop of ice cream. And it just goes so well with the fruits mentioned. The best thirst-quenchers in the summer are mineral water and lukewarm, unsweetened tea; sugary soda just makes you even thirstier, and alcohol (which is fermented sugar) is harmful to the body in high temperatures. What’s more, alcohol draws even more fluid from our cells than is already lost due to the heat.
But back to ice cream. With some varieties, you can immediately tell that they’re industrially produced and have a high sugar content. Yet it’s very easy to avoid even this refined sugar: you can easily make ice cream yourself. To do this, take an ice cube tray and fill each compartment with a mixture of water and juice—or, even better, water and fruit you’ve pureed yourself—then let it freeze in the freezer for at least two hours. You can try out different varieties and experiment with the ratio of water to fruit until the flavor is just right.
If you're in the mood for something sweet…
Of course, sometimes we get a craving for something sweet even in the summer or spring. And if you happen to celebrate your birthday during those seasons, you don’t necessarily have to trade in your birthday cake for (admittedly healthy, but tart) rhubarb compote. By stepping away from old habits just a little, you can enjoy sweet treats even without refined sugar—for example, by replacing sugar with agave syrup, birch sugar, or fruit puree.
