Life in Cuba:
In 1991, Mr. Castro declared a “special period” of drastic reductions in food and other rations. Average daily caloric intake fell by 40%. . . . When friends got together during those times, Ms. Sánchez recalls, a single topic dominated conversation: food. To stave off hunger pangs, Ms. Sánchez gobbled spoonfuls of sugar.
If there were several cheap foods to chose from this suggests that sugar reduced hunger more than other foods. From an excellent WSJ article about a Cuban blogger.
Thanks to Santosh Anagol.
Seth,
Not on-topic for this post, but this fits in nicely with your interest in the aquatic ape hypothesis:
https://www.drmccleary.com/2007/12/21/BecomingABrain.aspx
the first time i heard of ‘the special period’ was in this video, which is very good:
https://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5350731284170267256
I don’t think this implies that sugar is more hunger reducing. Sugar may just have been a very cheap or easily available source of calories.
David, good point. I have added that qualification.