Sugar: Consumption and Power

Sugar was a luxury that everybody could not afford to themselves. It was first produced in New Guine before being wildly known with its expension by the Portuguese traders.It was a sign of bourgeoisie to have sugar available at one's house. High classes people were recognized by sweet meals they offered on ceromonies. Nowadays it becomes different and we can even say that people living in poorer societies, feel greater pleasure than we when consuming sugar. Mintz also argued that diet is a social, not simply a biological matter. Society determines what, when, and how we eat. In England, by the time sugar was a luxury, working classes needed to consum it for better health. They were afraid of fresh fruits eaten in quantity. To be healthy and assume a meager supply of protein, the working classes needed sugar, because without it, many of the laborers died from bad nutrition and/or spread of gin drinking(which was common at that time).They needed sugar in order to have all elements we need for the well-being of our organism. Kowing that fact, laborers were given sugar at break times for more energy and abilities to work more. 

But, even during the centuries when sugar were entering into the diet of the English people, there was no conclusive evidence that the basic diet of most people was otherwise improving. 

Sugar became as important as other durable luxuries like gold, ivory, silk. But, from exotic luxury, it was transformed into a proletarian necessity.