KOCHI: Every Indian household, without an exception, would have at least that one cursed member whose medical reports have eternally transformed the hitherto ‘taken-for- granted’ humble laddoos and exotic chocolate cakes into forbidden temptations. While the rest of the family go about their meals with wild abandon, this condemned representative of the clan has to make do with satisfying sweet cravings with recollections of tastes once familiar and attainable. Welcome to the world of diabetes — the condition that has taken our nation by storm and crowned us as ‘the diabetes capital’.
Today, sugar is viewed through the lens of suspicion. We look desperately for alternatives to sweeten our tongues. We try to ignore the dessert counter at buffets, mustering every ounce of mental strength to walk past it without a pause and somehow, make it to the salad section.
We make new year resolutions to banish it from our lives for specified periods. Yes we, the newly converted health freaks, are slowly and steadily declaring our personal wars on the sweetest discovery of all time. You would then be surprised to know that the same sugar was a much sought-after symbol of luxury and fine living, centuries ago and was even lauded for its medicinal properties.
Sugar sculptures graced many banquet tables, pronouncing the wealth and power of the host. It all started with sugar being used as an artistic medium for religious purposes. The Ming Dynasty in China used a technique called sug.