The bitter side of sugar
The disadvantages of high sugar consumption have been revealed, now the ball is in the court of sugar-lovers.
For the last two years there have been debates and discussions about the South African National Treasury’s proposed sugar tax.
The government’s aim is to make South Africans reduce their high sugar consumption, which is one of the reasons why so many people live with diabetes or are obese.
Director of Health in the Treasury, Aparna Kollipara, said non-communicable diseases which result in early retirement and employees being away without official leave, cost the country about seven per cent of gross domestic product in 2015.
At first the proposed tax was 2,29 cents per gram, which the Treasury cut to 2,1 cents per gram of sugar. After negotiations regarding the possibility of job losses that could add fuel to the already high unemployment rate, the sugar tax will be implemented in April next year.
Parliamentary Deputy Co-ordinator of Cosatu, Matthew Parks, said this has been one of the most extensive public consultations on a Bill.
“We do not want the country’s health to collapse. However, [implementing the tax] will lead to unemployment of at least 36 per cent, therefore we are concerned about the job losses [the tax will cause],” said Parks.
Physical and mental health are also affected by high sugar consumption. The World Health Organisation pointed out the significance of a reduction in the amount of added sugar in our diet, stating that added sugar, such as is found in foods like cupcakes and beverages like soft drinks, should be avoided. Sugar that is good for you and adds essential nutrients to your diet is natural sugar like that found in fruits, vegetables, honey and so forth. Added sugar intake should be reduced to less than five per cent of energy intake, or not more than six teaspoons per day.
According to Dr Graham Simpson, Chief Medical Officer of the New York-based multivitamin company, West-Martin Longevity, there are six life-threatening diseases that are caused by high sugar consumption. They are cancer, obesity, cardiovascular or heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s, which disturbs how the brain works.
Added sugar is also an enemy of white, healthy teeth. Healthyteeth.org said sugar plays a significant role in tooth decay, as the bacteria that become plaque use sugar as a form of energy. In the long run, sugar causes the bacteria to multiply faster, thus increasing the amount of plaque and thickening it. This process makes it harder for the bacteria to be washed away by your saliva.
Considering all these facts that are not so sweet, cutting down on sugar will do wonders for your health and soon, a sugar detox might also save you money.
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