Sugar nation

By mudlark • September 4th, 2008

Did you know that the average American consumes 34 teaspoons of sugar per day? Yikes! Sugar content is high in things you’d probably anticipate – sodas, sugary cereals – but it’s also high in items you wouldn’t normally considered high in sugar, like ketchup, yogurt, cranberry juice, toothpaste, bread, sports drinks, peanut butter, barbeque sauce and baked beans, and the list goes on.

The massive amounts of sugar we consume contribute to skyrocketing rates of diabetes, a growing trend of obesity, rising rates of cancer, as well as other problems. It weakens the immune system, contributes to depression and hyperactivity, interferes with absorption of vitamins and minerals causing osteoporosis and nutritional deficiencies, speeds the aging process, causes food allergies and migraines, as well as a host of other problems. In fact, studies have shown that once sugar intake rises above 20 teaspoons a day the risk of chronic disease increases exponentially.

34 teaspoons a day. That’s sobering.

Comments(8) Food & drink, Health, Lifestyle

Comments

By Jennifer Richard on September 9th, 2008 at 10:36 pm

How I miss my friend. Just haven’t kept up like I should. You inspire me.

By O shea on September 10th, 2008 at 1:01 pm

That post about sugar was an eye opener for me. I never knew that sugar can be so dangerous for us. Sugar is a prime source for diabetes and many other deceases as well.

Thanks for increasing my knowledge.

By Pinky on September 19th, 2008 at 2:21 am

WOW!! what a post, Well written, comprehensive, to the point and very informative. i know that sugar is not good for health but dont know such facts. Thanks for sharing it with us

By Jagad Guru on September 19th, 2008 at 6:34 am

Cutting down the amount of sugar you eat, or eliminating it altogether – is one of the best things you can do for your health. Also, sugar masks the natural flavors of food. When I stopped adding sugar to my morning oatmeal I discovered that nuts and grains have a natural sweetness to them. I started to experience the real flavors of food.

By mommyknows on September 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 am

Yikes! I really need to be more careful about what I eat. I am so strict with my children and not with myself. Now I have even more reason cut out sugar.

By Bottle Opener on October 16th, 2008 at 12:23 am

Wow I never realized that Toothpaste and Katsup have sugar in them or for that matter barbeque sauce or baked beans, thanks for the heads up I have a question though maybe you or someone else here can answer what if you have low sugar would eating more sugar which you actually need in this case age you more still

By mudlark on October 16th, 2008 at 6:55 am

Bottle Opener, I’d suggest talking to your doctor about your sugar intake. There are certain health conditions that ‘common sense’ nutrition wouldn’t really work on. For instance, high salt intake causes high blood pressure. But if you have blood pressure that’s too low, increasing salt intake isn’t going to work for you.