Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a new guideline on sugars intake for adults and children. In short, we should not consume more than 50 grams (12 teaspoons) of added sugars a day and should aim for 25 grams a day (6 teaspoons). This could help us avoid diabetes, obesity, heart disease and a variety of other conditions.
When I picture 12 teaspoons of sugar, it seems easy enough - I just won’t add them to my tea. But when we start reading labels on food products, especially on processed foods, suddenly questions begin to emerge. How is it possible that a can of Cola contains more than 8 teaspoons of sugar? The same amount of tea or coffee with this amount of sugar would be undrinkable. What is sugar doing in my bread? And if sugar is so unhealthy, why products stuffed with insane amounts of sugar are advertised to kids?
It is estimated that if Europeans wanted to reach the lower target of 6 teaspoons a day, we would have to cut our average sugar intake by two-thirds. That means no more candy, sweetened drinks (which leaves us with water), yoghurts, cookies, cereal and probably most of processed foods including peanut butter and ketchup.
Please read the following text:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/sugar-guideline/en/
I would like to invite you to a discussion on the following topics:
1. Do you agree with the statement that we're consuming too much sugar? What do you think of WHO's recommendations?
2. What measures would have to be taken in Europe in order to make it possible for us to meet those targets (6/12 teaspoons)?
3. And finally - who can we blame for this situation?
Thanks for your article recommendation. Some time ago I decided to stay away from sugar, and refined carbohydrates in general, meaning I consumed basically only non-starchy vegetables, meat, healthy fats and water (occasionally tea). During the 75 days of my challenge I lost 15 kilograms of weight, reaching my ideal body mass. During those 75 days the challenge was not to eat more than 20 grams of carbs a day. At first it was hard to overcome sweet cravings but the things I read about sugar and refined carbohydrates kept me motivated to stay away from them. Currently I still try to avoid carbs or at least search for a better alternative, i.e. instead of sugar I sweeten my tea with stevia.
ReplyDelete1. Do you agree with the statement that we're consuming too much sugar? What do you think of WHO's recommendations?
There are numerous reports and scientific evidence for the sugars harmful effects on people. Basically I would recommend everyone to stay away from it, since it is a simple carb with no added benefits (it provides only energy/calories). However it can cause serious trouble like diabetes, teeth decay, its an inflammatory food and therefore flares up your immune system. It encourages cancer growth too.
2. What measures would have to be taken in Europe in order to make it possible for us to meet those targets (6/12 teaspoons)?
Consumers should look at the food labels more often and not only look at the calories but also the composition of sugars and unhealthy fats. On a side note high-fructose corn syrup is the worst type (present in most sodas).
3. And finally - who can we blame for this situation?
Mostly the companies that produce the products. Some of them even bribed researchers to provide false results of consumption tests because its profitable for them to do so.
Hi Michail,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments and for sharing your personal experience. 15 kg in 2.5 months is very impressive!
I agree that reading food labels helps, but I think that they’re often overly complicated. As if someone didn’t want us to know what’s inside :) For instance, if everyone knew that ‘E120’, ‘Natural red 4’ or ‘Cochineal’ in their yoghurt means ’red insects’, it would affect their appetite (I’m never eating a strawberry yoghurt again, although many manufacturers started switching to other dyes).
Also I heard about an idea to give quantities of added sugar in teaspoons instead of grams, as it’s easier to grasp. I think it’s a good idea - it’s easy to picture two teaspoons while 8 grams tells me nothing.
I enjoyed watching this short video on misleading food labeling:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaCKn-m1-Mk
1. Do you agree with the statement that we're consuming too much sugar? What do you think of WHO's recommendations?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I don`t know how much sugar other people consume. I can say that my daily sugar consuming is about 6 tea spoons. Coming back to the WHO's recommendations in my opinion ascertainment “intake of free sugars to less than 10% of their total energy intake” is not clear. It is far better to say 25 grams (6 teaspoons). I took a look on “Sugars intake for adults and children Guidline” – it is very oppressive - too much information. Of course it doesn`t mean it shouldn`t have been published. For me it should be compiled into a leaflet with hazards and recommendations.
I agree that grams or teaspoons are easier to understand than percentage. Although a lumberjack can probably consume much more calories than a librarian, so maybe for some extreme cases percentage is better.
Delete2. What measures would have to be taken in Europe in order to make it possible for us to meet those targets (6/12 teaspoons)?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the measures should be more touchable. I think that we can divide our daily physical activities and then to adjust daily sugar consumption expressed in tea spoons. For example:
2 km walk – 2 tea spoons.
30 min. of housework – 1 teas spoon.
Moreover it should be compiled a list “How much sugar there is inside a different kind of product”. For example:
Coca-Cola (0,33 l) – 4 teaspoons.
Strawberries (1 kg) – 10 teaspoons.
I agree that this kind of information should be clear and easy to understand. I think that such information should also be provided on food labels, so all consumers could make more informed choices.
DeleteUnfortunately Coca-cola contains a bit more than 4 teaspoons of sugar :)
3. And finally - who can we blame for this situation?
ReplyDeleteI`ve know idea completely. Perhaps The Ministry of Health and Minister Arłukowicz :)
Oh come on, there's plenty of people to blame! Some examples that come to my mind:
Delete- Evil companies for messing with our food.
- Advertisers and television for airing candy commercials for children.
- Stores for putting candy next to checkouts.
- Schools for allowing vending machines and junk food.
- Our parents and grandparents for not teaching us healthy habits and celebrating birthdays and achievements with sugar :)
- Cartoon and film makers for selling licences to junk food manufacturers.
- Junk food manufacturers for buying those licences! :)
Oh, come on Łukasz!!! It was a joke :). But you are right. There are many of them to blame for.
DeleteI already sent him an angry letter :(
Delete1. Do you agree with the statement that we're consuming too much sugar? What do you think of WHO's recommendations?
ReplyDeleteI was under the impression that at least in our country obesity isn't as much of a problem compared to other highly developed countries. But maybe it is changing for the worse?
Either way I think this should be a personal responsibility, although to make the right decision, recommendations such as these about sugar are helpful.
2. What measures would have to be taken in Europe in order to make it possible for us to meet those targets (6/12 teaspoons)?
I wouldn't underestimate the effect of social trends here. Fitness seems to be more fashionable in recent times, partly as a counter-trend to the perceived obesity epidemic, but also thanks to technological developments such as the Apple Watch. So rather than trying to create legislative measures I would hope that above all people want to be healthy and will do what's in their best interest as long as they are well informed about the consequences.
New York has recently introduced a much ridiculed ban on large sweetened drinks:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugary_Drinks_Portion_Cap_Rule
I don't think this is the way to go.
3. And finally - who can we blame for this situation?
Other than ourselves, I don't know. It wasn't that long ago when we had food shortages. We're lucky to have this problem!
2. Propagation of a healthy lifestyle is definitely a way to go and I agree that things like Apple Watch (or any similar device) can probably help you remember to try to stay fit and healthy.
ReplyDeleteI guess educating people that large sweetened drinks are bad would be better than banning them.
3. Oh come on, what about Halloween, Willy Wonka and Cola Santa Claus? :)
Here's an interesting paper about "Food Advertising and Marketing Directed at Children and Adolescents in the US":
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC416565/
It says that "It is estimated that US children may view between 20,000 – 40,000 commercials each year" and "Food is the most frequently advertised product category on US children's television and food ads account for over 50% of all ads targeting children.". I doubt they're advertising salad and carrots.
Yes, the bans would be ineffective, there's no way to police what everyone is eating. And how do you create a popular holiday around eating salad and carrots? Not even the Pope could do that, I'm afraid.
DeleteThe data about advertising may be alarming, but it's a sad day when cereal box toys are banned for this reason.
Maybe not carrots, but Halloween already has pumpkins, thanksgiving has turkey and sweet potatoes (super healthy), easter has.. well eggs. Just remove the chocolate and candy and we're there :)
DeleteThe only thing left is to put Santa Claus on a diet :)
DeleteKnock that coke bottle out of his hand and replace it with a carrot...
Delete1. Do you agree with the statement that we're consuming too much sugar? What do you think of WHO's recommendations?
ReplyDeleteBut we also consume too much fat. How we reduce this? And is it healthy to eat only proteins? However the initiative is good. Consumption of sweet sodas and sweeten juices is far too high. It’s essential to fight against obesity, diabetes and other disease. Not only for promoting healthy life style but to reduce costs of healing people and increasement of countries productivity
2. What measures would have to be taken in Europe in order to make it possible for us to meet those targets (6/12 teaspoons)?
Well we should force food producer to product more healthy food for reasonable price. But there is always be a businessman who is going to sell cheaper and perhaps more testy food with some amount of artificial sweeters. The only way is to ban some chemical substances from food market and promote more balanced food diet.
3. And finally - who can we blame for this situation?
There is always tendency to focus on particular person to blame for all situation but in my opinion the only persons to blame are ourselves. We want to buy cheap, eat more tasty food and store it for longer. Everything has a price and only reasonable move to change this tendency it is to start from us. Stop saving on food. Spend more time for preparing more healthy dishes. Think before you choose to eat something more tasty than healthy. If we change our habits the market will be forced to change.
Hi Peter, thanks for your comments.
Delete1. I'm not an expert, but I think that limiting saturated fats and refined sugars is step one. Then we should probably start replacing things like mayo, bacon and chocolate with carrots.
2. I find it very annoying that there is such a big price difference between regular and 'organic' food.
3. I agree that consumers are creating demand, so more conscious and demanding consumers enforce better products. But whose responsibility is it to build this consciousness? :)
1. Do you agree with the statement that we're consuming too much sugar? What do you think of WHO's recommendations?
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement that we're consuming too much sugar But when we see lunch teens, not to go to the canteen of the school, with a shawarma sandwich covered with a mound of fries and mayonnaise, one may ask what are the WHO recommendations and think sugar is not the only cause!
2. What measures would have to be taken in Europe in order to make it possible for us to meet those targets (6/12 teaspoons)?
ReplyDeleteMy idea? we must forget everything about this report. because the sugar today in everywhere. so it's impossible to find solution.
3. And finally - who can we blame for this situation?
ReplyDeleteFirst ourselves, after our country and finally the producer.
Hi Monem, thanks for your comments.
ReplyDelete1. Do you agree with the statement that we're consuming too much sugar? What do you think of WHO's recommendations?
ReplyDeleteSugar used to be called „White Death” not without the reason. In addition to scientifically arguments mentioned in the article, there are lot of anthropological evidences of how sugar has changed our health and body. In example no signs of caries could be found in skeletons preserved from the age of Paleolith. There is also no obese people in cultures currently living without processed sugar in diet, like South American’s Indians tribes of Amazonia. Sugar definitely is something bad for our health and addictive and I agree with all of those recommendations. I even think, that high processed products should have its own warning label, similar to those that alcohol and Tabaco products have.
2. What measures would have to be taken in Europe in order to make it possible for us to meet those targets (6/12 teaspoons)?
I completely agree with those proposing more day-reality, tactile measurements. Tea spoons would be ideal as most of the people drinking coffee or tea, usually puts some sugar into it. Sometimes we use sugar in our home cooking, where we mostly not measure indigents precisely in grams but use for example proportions. Having common measure for ready-to-eat products we buy, would make daily estimations a lot easier.
3. And finally - who can we blame for this situation?
Definitely the human’s greed. We might say about greed companies, but in the back of it there are always greedy people that want to enrich themselves at the expense of others. This is nothing new in our world and the duty of people and organizations well-wishing to others like WHO is to talk about it and struggle with it i.e. by formulating regulations that prevents pushing human beings into the troubles.
Hi Albert, thanks for your comments and for sharing all that additional information.
DeleteCigarette-like warning labels sound like a very good idea, I read that there was a proposal of such labels in the US. I'm not saying it would solve the problem, but it would definitely help a LOT.
1. Do you agree with the statement that we're consuming too much sugar? What do you think of WHO's recommendations?
ReplyDelete> I do definitely agree and a year ago personally took care of this issue. Reasonable yet not easy to fulfill recommendations. Lots of the products available today makes it unimaginably hard to pick up the proper portions. We use stevia at home to bake the sweet things. It gives the sweet taste but no sugar inside.
2. What measures would have to be taken in Europe in order to make it possible for us to meet those targets (6/12 teaspoons)?
> As far as I remember 1 ts was equal to 5 ml. Multiply it to 6 or 12.
3. And finally - who can we blame for this situation?
> I would rather blame everyone. It needs to be tasty so we buy. Price is also important. Unfortunately the cheapest form of the sugar is the one they mostly use. Wondering if we would pay 20 instead 2 for a package of biscuits.
Hi, thanks for your comments. I must start using stevia, although maybe it would be easier if I just went through a sugar detox or something. We're talking about evil sugar and all I can think about is a double chocolate chip muffin.
DeleteI do agree with the statement. As far as our health is concerned sugar gives an instant "shot" of pleasure and energy to our brains, we get used to applying ourselves these doses - whether we are aware of the danger or not - simply due to our lack of interest or understanding in what processed food really is. WHO's recommendations are justifiable, however they bear two threats to the comfortable situation we live in.
ReplyDeleteFirstly it is extremely hard to cut down on anything that we are addicted to - and as far the chemistry of our brain is concerned - this is a kind of addiction. As soon as we forget about the sugar dose our metabolism instantly informs us that we are running out of energy, we are feeling anxious and so on and so forth. WHO's recommendations are therefore a threat to feeling good - which is contrary to what guides us - we, consumers, modern people, love to feel to good. Thankfully, as with all habits - we change them, hence overcoming the situation. However here comes along another threat, and this one is more difficult to deal with.
We do exist in a system called the market - the big producers have a great interest in keeping our sugar intake level high so that they maintain their profits (this by the way is the mechanism which is to blame for the whole situation - to answer question no. 3) . If consumers cut down on sugar that means great loses to the producers and a huge threat to the market system.
In my opinion WHO's recommendations objectively are wise, however they lack clear instructions about how to deal with these market and individual consequences.
Having said that I can answer question no.2 - What measures would have to be taken in Europe in order to make it possible for us to meet those targets (6/12 teaspoons)? - the measures should be systemic. Obviously we should change consumer habits in the usual way - advertise and educate people to change their eating habits. At the same time we should look at consequences for all the actors and take accurate measures to prevent losses for the producers and provide assistance for individuals, so that they maintain the motivation to change.