Sugar--the Secret Killer
- Author Woodrow Wilson
- Published August 10, 2017
- Word count 507
The average American eats his or her own weight in sugar every year. This is beyond healthy. Rising sugar consumption has created deadly obesity and type II diabetes epidemics nationwide. Once problems of the elderly, both are now plaguing teens and even preteens. Sugar has been implicated in a dozen other mental and physical health disorders as well. Sweets give two-year-olds tantrums; their parents get anxious and violent. Teens get acne; they're growing up to high blood pressure and hardened arteries.
Sugar is a stealth toxin. Nobody is sitting around eating sugar straight out of the bowl. It's hiding in the prepared foods we Americans eat and drink. A single 12 oz. soft drink contains just a little more than your recommended maximum daily sugar intake. The rest of your day's snacks and meals compound the overdose. It's not just the donuts and pancake syrup either. Prepared foods are laced with sugar. Manufacturers add a lot of it because it's inexpensive and noncontroversial. It's everywhere from condiments to canned goods waiting to ambush you.
There was a time when a normal healthy diet derived 20% of its calories from fats and oils. The sugar industry coveted that 20% market share and went after it aggressively in the 1960's. They courted Senators and Representatives. Those included Senator George McGovern—a subsequent Democratic candidate for president. His committee badgered medical expert witnesses claiming Congress didn't need data to reach a conclusion. McGovern's PhD in American History apparently trumped their medical experience. The government issued dietary standards contrary to the unanimous opinion of the medical community. The standards' condemnation of fats and oils in the American diet launched the current epidemics of obesity and type II diabetes. Their ongoing health effects have disabled millions of people and killed millions more.
The sugar industry is no stranger to influencing medical reporting. The Sugar Research Foundation funded two Harvard medical scientists. Their reports would add the prestigious Harvard name to a dubious collection of "research" downplaying the role of sugar in cardiac health. They published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Their reports denigrated studies connecting sugar consumption with heart disease; they demonized healthy fats and oils as causing cardiac disease. Even before the 1960's, the sugar industry had dissuaded the American Dental Association from a campaign associating sugar consumption with tooth decay. They even supported a "research" program purporting to show that candy prevented kids' cavities.
Avoiding hidden sugar isn't easy. Bottled water is safe. For everything else, read the label. The ingredients are listed in decreasing order of the amount included. If sugar is in the top three, there's a lot of it in there. Sugar—like all proper villains—goes by a lot of aliases. Watch for glucose, sucrose, fructose, high-fructose corn syrup, and more. They're all just sugar.
Better yet: avoid prepared foods altogether. Sugar can't hide in food you cook yourself. Home chefs chose from a selection of healthy alternatives to sugar-laden prepared foods. Cut back on sugar and save desserts for special occasions. You'll be glad you did.
Woody Wilson is a retired rocket scientist, a retired Toastmaster executive, and a relapsed workaholic, He is a Caltech PhD chemist who brings creativity out of the lab and into your life. His original recipes brighten your day from brunch to dinner. Find healthy recipes in his "The Champagne Taste/Beer Budget Cookbook" Visit his website http://www.woodrow-wilson.com for more information.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- Popular Chinese New Year Snacks to Include in Your Corporate Gifts
- From Pizza to Apps: The Evolution and Future of Online Food Delivery
- Exploring the mechanisms behind the impact of alcoholic beverages on social behavior and health
- Discover the Top Affordable Pasta Catering in Perth
- How Acidic Foods And Drinks Can Erode Your Enamel And How To Protect It
- Is brown sugar good in coffee?
- Conquering Perth's Dinnertime Dilemma: How Tommy Sugo Saves the Day
- Against Molecular Mixology and the Cancer-Causing Powders
- How To Cater To Diverse Dietary Needs And Preferences
- Discovering Central Asian Food: A Culinary Journey
- Nutritious and delicious: 10 remarkable health benefits of eating Alphonso mangos
- Fishing Rod Rental Panama City Beach
- Deep-Fried Everything: The Glorious Food Creations of a County Fair
- Authentic Nigerian Spices and Where to Find Them in the UK
- FutureCommPR Talks with Three Female Entrepreneurs
- The Art and Joy of Latte Art: How to Draw on Latte
- How to Grow Healthy Tomatoes from Seeds
- Unlock the Secrets Behind Our Christmas Dinner Traditions!
- Affordable Ways To Eat Healthy: How To Nourish Your Body Without Breaking The Bank
- Cooking as a Form of Self-Care
- Title: Nutrition and Diet: A Comprehensive Guide
- The Delightful World of Food: Exploring Flavors, Cultures, and Nourishment
- Processed Foods and Their Implications for Public Health in Western Societies (Western Diets vs Eastern Cuisine)
- Zanti Cucina Italiana
- The Surprising Health Benefits Of Eating Spicy Food
- 3 Food Experiences To Try Before You Die
- Why is Cardamom "The Queen of Spices"?
- Valentine’s Day Cooking Love: 4 Romantic Meals to Cook
- Mabroc Tea
- Is Spanish food really all that?