I was explaining this to my daughter in quite simplified terms the other day- we evolved to taste sugar and enjoy it because finding a sweet edible plant meant we had a source of energy to help us hunt that day. Pretty useful if you’re a hunter-gatherer.

So we seek out sugar. Now we can get it whenever we want it, in much more massive quantities than we are supposed to be processing. Most of us are addicted. I’m not an exception.

  • Croquette@sh.itjust.works
    7·
    16 days ago

    If you can afford it, using good quality Italian tomatoes really make a difference.

    I don’t add any sugar in my sauce and it is pretty good and the acidity is at a good level.

    • teft@lemmy.world
      51·
      16 days ago

      I only use Cento san marzanos as the base for my sauce. And i learned to make sauce from my italian grandfather. A small amount of sugar always improves the sauce.

      • Croquette@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        16 days ago

        Yes, but San Marzano tomatoes that are sweeter are still only 3g of sugar per 100g, and 2g of net carbs per 100g.

        And if you make a mirepoix for your sauce, the sugars in onions and carrots are higher.

        So for people that are afraid of sugar, a sauce made with tomatoes, carrots, onions and celery isn’t as scary as adding sugar.

        And the acidity isn’t considered as well. From experience, they are less acidic as well, so you don’t need to add sugar to mask that.

      • Croquette@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        16 days ago

        They tend to be less acidic and a bit more sweet. If you use a mirepoix and San Marzano tomatoes, it contains all the sugar you need, and the total net carb is still low.