Twenty years ago the public first began hearing the "facts" about how sugar was responsible for numerous health issues: diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hyperactivity and dental caries.
Diabetes
The presence of "sugar" diabetes is, of course, blamed on the consumption of sugar – or the over-consumption. "Sugar affects people with diabetes no more damatically than do other forms of carbohydrates such as rice and potatoes. The rise in blood sugar after meals depends on total carbohydrates eaten, not on the types."
Obesity
According to the USDA, approximately 68 percent of Americans are considered overweight, with 3 percent of these considered to be morbidly obese. "Sugars, as well as other carbohydrates, are recognized by the body's appetite regulatory system and help produce satiety. Carbohydrates, such as sugar, are preferentially metabolized by the body for energy and, therefore, are converted to body fat less efficiently than dietary fat. Added sugar can also help increase consumption of fiber and other nutrients by enhancing the taste of starchy foods. Many people who avoid sugary foods compensate by eating foods high in fat."
Dental Caries
On any given day, but especially around Halloween and Easter, you can hear numerous parents inform their children how too much candy will "rot their teeth."
Hyperactivity
Many adults may be getting the message that sugar can be viewed as a positive component of a healthful, balanced diet. Nevertheless, one myth that remains hard to destroy is the notion that sugar causes "hyperactivity" in children. "America's sweet tooth may be essential for its health. The myths surrounding sugar and health are slow to disappear. Because these myths are misleading and harmful, nutrition educators need to continue to place sugar in the diet in perspective – the proper perspective."
Suger Myth
