Artificial Sweeteners, Cognitive Concerns

Our preference for sweet tastes represents an elegant evolutionary adaptation. The ability to detect sweet substances likely evolved to identify energy-rich sources, primarily sugars in fruits, plants, and breast milk, providing essential metabolic fuel. This evolutionary pattern varies across species. While some carnivorous animals, like cats, lost functional sweet taste receptors, the ability to recognize and seek carbohydrates remained crucial for our survival, helping identify food sources suitable for cultivation.