Just 100 years ago, there was only cane sugar, molasses, sorghum, honey and maple syrup available, and Americans each ate less than two pounds a year of them, total.
But today, whether from soda, snacks, cereal, pasta, bread or other packaged foods, Americans each eat the equivalent of 22 teaspoons of sugar a day, adding up to about 130 pounds of sugar per person, per year! And in just 32 ounces of soda, you (or your teenager) can easily consume at least a quarter pound of sugar a day!
According to a recent paper published in the American Heart Association (AHA) journal Circulation, too much sugar not only makes Americans fat, but also is a key culprit in diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. The typical American high-sugar diet is also a major factor in the development of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease too. No wonder these diseases are now epidemic!
Sugar raises blood glucose and triggers abnormal insulin surges, which makes us hungry and fat. It also reduces HDL cholesterol (the “good” kind), skyrockets triglycerides, converts the less-harmful large LDL particles to the much more harmful small LDL particles, and contributes greatly to inflammation in the body.
Some scientists even think that sugar is a slow-acting poison.
So How Much is Too Much?
The Heart Association report recommends that most women should consume no more than 6 teaspoons a day, or 24 grams of added sugar—the sweeteners and syrups that are added to foods during processing, preparation or at the table. For most men, the recommended limit is 9.5 teaspoons, or 38 grams.
This means that one 6-ounce cup of store-bought, flavored yogurt, with the equivalent of about 10 teaspoons of sugar, would put you over your sugar limit for the whole day!
Worldwide consumption of sugar has tripled during the past 50 years, and along with it, obesity and chronic disease have become pandemic. In fact, sugar has recently been found to be so toxic to the body, that some scientists have argued for its regulation, like alcohol or tobacco.
Regulation on corporate food processors, sugar taxation, removal of farm subsidies, and/or public health education might not be such bad ideas, given that the high-sugar, Standard American Diet contributes to more disease and death than alcohol and tobacco combined.
The following infographic about “Nursing Your Sweet Tooth” puts it all in perspective:
Resources
- Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sugar
- Stevia: Traditional Medicinal or Modern Pseudo-Food?
- Agave Syrup is Bad For You!
- The Skinny on Fat, Part 2: Sugar and Carbohydrates
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
This is really great information. I try not to eat much sugar. I causes me to swell, same with flour, but I can tell you my husband and son eat a lot of sugar. I need to show them this. Thank you so much for sharing with Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party last week. This weeks Link Party is opened at
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/09/simple-anti-aging-moisturizer-and.html
from Wednesday until Sunday.
Hope to see you there.
Debi Bolocofsky
Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
SOOOOOOOOOOO TRUE!!! LOVE IT! Thank you for sharing with us at Healthy 2Day Wednesday! My favorite line, which is truth, is “sugar is as addictive as cocaine.” You might find this article helpful and in agreement with your post: 113 ways sugar can harm your health http://younglivingoillady.com/home/sugar-and-your-health/
Great info! I used to be so unaware of how much sugar I ate before I was diagnosed with food allergies and started paying attention to ingredient labels. That dumpster example seems most shocking!
Those are frightening statistics, and I agree, sugar is very addictive. The infographic is excellent. Thank you for sharing this informative and interesting post.
And, when you eat jawbreaker candy – it cracks your molars (guilty as charged).
Popped in from the Tuesday Time Out blog hop.
thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com
OUCH!
WOW.
And I have to admit I have experienced the addictive powers. I know if I cut sugar out COMPLETELY I will be craving free in a few days. Instead I let myself have some, and that turns to constant cravings, and having more, and more and more….
Great info.
Emily
http://www.weakandloved.com
It is sooo hard to quit sugar! Eating more fermented foods like pickles and sauerkraut really helps me a lot.
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