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The
average American now (1999) takes in 20% more sugar than in 1986.
That's about 25 more pounds per person per year. The new estimates
for the average American's consumption of caloric sweeteners (i.e.,
sugar, corn sweeteners etc.) is approximately 152 pounds a year
according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington
based nutrition advocacy group.
(Chris
Ellis, Food for Thought, The Brattleboro Food Co-op, January 1999.)
Comment:Three
major problems with consumption of such quantities of sugar and
other caloric sweeteners are:
- The
excess calories go to body fat;
- Sugar
and caloric sweeteners are "empty" calories, i.e. they
contain no nutrients and are consumed at the expense of nutrient-rich
whole unprocessed foods; and,
- Excess
sugar and caloric sweeteners cause excess insulin release, which
means increased risk for hypoglycemia, cardiovascular disease,
obesity, diabetes and more.
What
is the right amount of sugar and caloric sweeteners? None.
© Health Equations 2002
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