Sugar

The Go Green Report

Episode 4, December 10, 2014

This is Episode 4 of The Go Green Report for December 10, 2014. This episode is brought to you by Control-n-Roll. A Household product that helps you save toilet paper and paper towels with every pull. To find out more visit controlnroll.com

A new trailer has hit the internet for a documentary entitled “That Sugar Film.” In the movie, the filmmaker chronicles a 60 days diet that includes the same amount of sugar that North American adolescents consume on average. The aim of the film is to outline the negative effects that sugar has on the human body.

According to forbes.com, Americans eat roughly 130 pounds of sugar every year. And, while The American Heart Association recommends that we consume no more than 9.5 teaspoons per day, reality is that the average American adult will actually eat 22 teaspoons per day, while the average American child consumes closer to 32 teaspoons of sugar a day.

This is a problem in that according to wellnessmama.com, sugar is linked to obesity, high blood pressure, depression, acne, violent behavior, diabetes, and a plethora of other maladies. It has no nutritional value whatsoever, and adds hundred of extra calories to our daily diet.

Some studies have shown that sugar is as addictive as cocaine. Because of this, and of the way it changes the chemistry of our brains, food companies have made it common practice to include sugar or high fructose corn syrup, a cost-effective sugar alternative, into almost every food product available.

The highest source of sugar intake, however, is the beverages that we consume. Beverage companies have recently been accused of immoral advertising practices by targeting youth with their sugar-rich sodas and juices. According to a study by the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, there has been a noticeable increase in advertising to youth via smartphone apps, social media sites, and mobile gaming platforms over the last few years. These companies also “target Black and Latino youth, who have higher rates of obesity than white youth,” according to this study.

It is imperative that we take measures to protect our families from the dangers of a sugar-abundant diet. Care2.com offers seven steps to help reduce your sugar cravings. These steps include substituting sugary snacks with dried fruits and setting up strict guidelines for dessert. Sparkpeople.com offers a 4-week program to removing sugar from your family’s diet completely. These and many other sites aim to provide you with the tools you need to break that sugar addiction and be free from all its negative and dangerous effects.

As we approach the Holiday season, now is the time to take control of your family’s sugar intake and to begin to lay the framework for a better, healthier diet. Best of luck to you and yours and Happy Holidays from the Go Green Report.

This episode was brought to you by Control-n-Roll, a household product helping you conserve toilet paper and paper towels with every pull. Thanks for joining us on the Go Green Report, helping you take small steps towards living green… and every small step makes a big difference.

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