Sugar - Not So Sweet / First Hour of Cola - Essay Example

The article, ‘Sugar: Not so sweet after all’ gives a clear perspective on sugar and its impact on physical and mental health of human being. The western and eastern views on sugar consumption are similar and widely discourage its excess use in daily life. The article has pointed out that in the last one hundred years the consumption of sugar has risen from four pounds per person to 150 pounds person annually. This has also contributed to massive increase in diseases like obesity, diabetes, depression, mental illness, tooth decay etc.

, especially in America. Sugar is form of carbohydrates and white sugar is immediately absorbed within the bloodstream, which upsets body’s sugar balance, producing insulin which is used to maintain sugar balance. When there is excessive intake of refined sugar, it causes diabetes, mental illnesses, obesity as it uses body’s minerals and other micro nutrients to be metabolized within the system, thus depleting body’s resources for keeping good health. Natural sugar found in fruits, vegetables and fibre are complex carbohydrates and are slowly absorbed into blood and reduce pressure on body organs like pancreas, small intestines, liver.

This is important because organs like pancreas become less sensitive to sugar and release insulin moderately so sugar balance is maintained. In fact, obesity is more correlated with sugar consumption rather than fat consumption and accounts for increased type I diabetes in children in America. Researches show artificial sweeteners are toxic and may cause different types of cancer, depression, damage kidney etc. Dietary intakes like fruits, vegetables etc are important for good health. Sugar craving caused due to nutritional deficiencies, especially protein can be overcome by eating nuts and sour, pungent food or even sweet vegetables like beets and carrot.

Supplementary therapy is useful for detoxing sugar and replenishing body minerals. Article expounds on cola intakes and informs that equivalent of 10 spoonfuls of sugar is absorbed within 10 minutes and sugar crash begins within an hour of taking cola drinks. Hence dietary consciousness must be raised amongst the people to prevent medical problems.(words: 340)Reference Article provided. Sugar: Not so sweet after all.