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:
(1)
the excess calories go to body fat;
(2)
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,
(3)
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.
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