Sugar and National Obesity
Sugar addiction is responsible for one of the scourges of modern society and a significant problem in the United States among other countries. While a general predisposition toward “fast food culture” and a collective psyche that suggests adequate food preparation time to be inefficient may be a big part of the problem, many experts point towards sugared beverages and sodas.
In the last thirty years, the average caloric intake of most Americans has increased by between 150 and 300 per day. It is also true to say that the average American does not “trade” those calories for cardiovascular activities, and thus those calories are not serving any real purpose other than adding to the national obesity statistics.
Rather than take a holistic nutrition approach, we often opt to take the shortcut and go for foods that we know will give us a little “buzz” of activity, thus assuring ourselves that these particular types of food must be good for us. Little could be further from the truth, however and it’s no surprise that the American Heart Association has now set specific limits on the amount of sugar that they suggest we eat or drink per day.
The amount of fructose in our diet, which is widely used in processed foods, has more than doubled since the 1970s. It is estimated that we consume on average more than 22 teaspoons of sugar every day, with young people taking in considerably more, no doubt due to their penchant for those cans of soda drinks. It is apparent that sugar is a precursor to over eating, as its effect on the brain can trigger the body into thinking that it is undernourished and needs more food.
A restricted sugar diet should be part of holistic health solutions considered by everyone individually. It should not be necessary for politicians to suggest additional legislation to discourage us, as is being considered by the city of San Francisco for example, in the form of a “soda tax.”
Being overweight can contribute to many different health conditions and can place considerable strain on your heart and most of the major organs. Obesity is a national epidemic in the US, probably more so than in any other country in the world. It is also linked to a lack of productivity, depression and other illnesses.
The number one thing consumers should do to create a path toward a healthier existence is to start reading food labels. Be particularly careful when it comes to the amount of sugar added to processed foods and always pay attention to portion size. This can be very misleading and almost invariably, the size of the portion of food that ends up on your plate is much larger than the referenced portion size on the label!
Take an individual stance and cut back, as the national sugar addiction appears to be getting worse as each year goes by.
