How many TV shows have we watched where we were astounded to see doctors smoking in hospitals or waitresses smoking while taking an order? To our parents and older generations, this was their norm, not just fiction. But, what if I told you that the same scientist who tackled the tobacco industry and enforced serious regulations were pining after an industry near and dear to every kid’s heart: the sugar industry.
Scientist in America have an attitude of where they support businesses making money; however, they do not support business making money by poisoning people. The documentary “Sugar Coated,” digs deep into the sugar industry, comparing it thoroughly to the tobacco industry. Laws were imposed limiting access to tobacco products, such as the age requirement. It’s also mandated that health risk/warnings are printed on all tobacco labels increasing awareness of the dangers of the product and its consumption. Smoking has also been decentralized in our society’s culture. In America, there aren’t any more cigarette commercials claiming, “You’ll be cool if you smoke Camels.”
We know the above information and we know how unhealthy sugar is. According to “Sugar Coated,” what we don’t know is that the sugar industry utilizes the same tactics the tobacco industry did 40 years ago. Growing up, how many Reese’s Puff, Trix, or Lucky Charms cereal commercials did you watch? Out of those times, when were you inspired to beg your mom and dad for the cereal in the grocery aisle? Every time. While it’s not illegal to make appealing commercials to target your audience, the majority of these commercials were filled with nutritional lies. The sugar industry influences researchers to report unclear data, tricking our guardians into thinking they were feeding us nutritious foods.
Sugar is a death-dealing disease that causes diabetes, heart disease and, cancer. According to the National Institutes of Health, sugar has developed the biggest epidemic in the world: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Now, sugar itself isn’t poison– it is how we consume the sugar. This year, the average American consumes 19.5 tablespoons of added sugar a day. The American Medical Association suggests we only consume 6-9 added tablespoons. Sugar has two main ingredients: glucose and fructose. Glucose is good for you & broken down by the brain. Fructose is broken down by your liver. Too many sugary products flood your liver with fructose and your liver converts excess sugar to fat. This is how the obesity issue in our society is exemplified and spread.
Obesity is a serious issue in America. 30% of our population is obese and 40% of Americans struggle with obesity complications. This issue isn’t going away and is even being escalated. Lack of transparency is killing our youth in society. 74% of packaged food in the grocery store are spiked with added sugar. Today’s youth have been exposed to sugar, like no generation before. Studies show children today have higher chances for cardiovascular diseases, and for the first time ever, their parents might outlive them.
Now that science has made stronger evidence of sugar consumption toxicity–legislatures are being pressured to change sugar guidelines and limit the access to processed foods, potato chips, and soda beverages. Some wish to establish laws that a parent or guardian must be present with a child to buy soda. Could you imagine being carded for a Coca-Cola? Others have proposed to print warning labels on candy and sugary foods, similar to ones on tobacco products.
For the first time ever, parents have a higher chance of outliving their children.
Sugar is how we show love, from Valentine’s Day to Halloween, candy and junk food fuels our body–but how well? Carding children or requiring them to be with an adult to purchase soda seems a little drastic, but indeed may be necessary. This is a situation that I wish we did not face: we as a society have been tricked to love a substance, only to be told the way we consume it is deadly halfway through our lives. Are we ready to live in a world where sugar is the new tobacco?