Christmas 2024: Christmas cookies are synonymous with the festive season. On Christmas Day, we wake up to the warm smell of freshly baked cookies right out of the oven. But, is it helping our sugar intake or our sugar restrictions? A recent study says, probably not. The study published in Acta Psychologicala states that festive, colorful cookies taste more delicious than their sugar-free counterparts, therefore increasing our sugar intake. Read this also Christmas 2024: You Must Try This Delicious Eggless Cookie Dough Pudding With Just 5 Ingredients This Holiday Season
Christmas is a time when people tend to indulge in sweets, which can lead to seasonal weight gain. The prevalence of high-sugar foods increases during the festive season, which also increases the tendency of people to reduce their appetite.
Sugary foods commonly contain nutritional labeling, which is adopted around the world to enable consumers to make informed choices about their nutritional intake. However, their effectiveness, especially during the festive season, remains unclear. Some previous studies have also indicated that nutrition labels may increase cravings in some cases.
Study findings:
The study was conducted on 58 participants aged 17 to 49, most of whom had a normal body mass index and celebrated Christmas. Participants were presented with mobile eye-views while viewing a buffet table containing four cookies (with and without sugar, and with or without Christmas associations) and two non-food items (gift-wrapped gifts labeled as Christmas or birthday gifts). Was asked to wear tracking glasses. , Read this also Delicious and easy-to-make cookies for your Christmas wish
The gaze patterns of the participants were recorded, and it was observed that objects associated with Christmas attracted more attention of the participants than their non-festive counterparts. Participants also responded that they found sugar-containing cookies more desirable than sugar-free cookies.
Sugar containing dishes vs sugar free counterparts:
When participants were given the choice between a high-calorie gingerbread cookie and a low-calorie clementine, most participants chose the higher-calorie option, indicating that sugary treats are more desired even with health awareness.
“Particular emphasis on the nutritional value of foods, especially during the Christmas season, may have results contrary to the intended goals. Aiming to prevent holiday-related weight gain should take a multi-pronged approach, avoiding an exclusive fixation on the sugar content of Christmas dishes, the researchers said. Read this also Christmas 2024: Why do we celebrate the festival on 25th December? Know the history, importance and much more
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.
