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NaturalWay – Margit Slimáková

care about your health

Sugar is as damaging and addictive as alcohol or tobacco

Sugar acts in the same areas of the brain as alcohol and tobacco to encourage a subsequent intake and according to Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, the government should regulate sugar in the same way as it regulates alcohol and tobacco.

Sugar is a fuelling of a global obesity pandemic and lies behind 35 millions deaths worldwide because it contributes to the non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes, which now pose a greater threat worldwide than infectious diseases. In the US, about 75% of healthcare costs are spent on treating these diseases and the disabilities associated with them.

Added sugar at the levels which are today usually consumed changes our metabolism such as disruption of the metabolism and leads to diseases like diabetes, lipid problems, heart and liver disease. Sugar also raises blood pressure, critically alters the signaling of hormones that turn hunger on and off, and can damage the pancreas.

The authors argue that many of the changes that governments have made worldwide to reduce alcohol and tobacco consumption can be models for reducing sugar consumption. These include special sales taxes, controlling access and tightening licensing on vending machines and snack bars, which sell high sugar products in schools, workplaces and other public areas.

 

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/30972

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/241133.php

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16822533

http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2012/02/11437/societal-control-sugar-essential-ease-public-health-burden

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/01/health/opinion-regulate-sugar-alcohol/index.html

 

My comment

There is an enormous gap between what we know from science and what we practice in the reality. It looks that more and more experts understand the health risks of unhealthy nutrition and they are asking for government regulations to make sugar consumption less convenient and at the same time to support healthy choices.

On the other side food industry is hard working to attract their consumer’s especially the youngest ones. In many of our schools there are today sweets and other junk food offered via vending machines or direct sell in the cafeterias; junk food is offered in cinemas and on the streets. It is used as reward for children and attacks them via advertisement. I fully agree with the authors of this study that children should be protected against all unhealthy addictive substances and for example it is my opinion, sweets and other junk food do not belong to the schools at all.