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Sugar is everywhere, from our morning coffee to our evening snack. But behind its sweet taste lies a bitter reality—how sugar is destroying our health. This pervasive ingredient is linked to a host of serious health issues, from obesity and diabetes to heart disease and beyond. Yet, it’s hidden in almost everything we eat, making it difficult to avoid. As we dive deeper into the impact of sugar, it becomes clear that understanding its dangers is crucial to protecting our well-being and future.
You must be aware of how important sugar is for a common family, whether it is a festival or a guest has come to the house. Sugar is a necessity in most Indian households. I am sure that applies to other households across the world too. However, some medical professionals also call sugar a slow poison. Furthermore, between 1990 and 2015, the number of diabetes-related deaths increased dramatically in India.
In fact, in recent years, many sources have referred to India as the diabetes capital of the world. The main reason for this is the excessive consumption of sugar in India. According to research, the average Indian consumes almost 50 grams (10 teaspoons) of sugar every day. Contrarily, WHO suggests that an average individual consumes roughly 25 grams (5 teaspoons) of sugar per day. India didn’t become the world’s diabetes capital overnight. India has been battling this issue for a long time. This is the responsibility of big companies, politicians, and consumers.
Different types of Sugar and how sugar is destroying our health
First and foremost, let us understand what sugar is. Apart from white sugar, India has a variety of traditional sweeteners like Jaggery and Khand. All three are made from sugarcane juice; however, the way they are processed differs significantly. Sugar lacks nutrients because it is manufactured through refining processes. That is why, of all the sweeteners, sugar is the most unhealthy, whereas jaggery has little nutrients. If you look around, you’ll notice more sugar than jaggery.
History of sugar
For Indians, sugar and sweets have been a symbol of happiness and celebration. However, the history of sugar contains a great deal of bitterness. The story begins in the 17th century when Europeans colonized most of the world. At that time, honey was traded mostly by Europeans, but the quantity of honey was very limited.
Then Europeans discovered that some countries in the Western Hemisphere were ideal for growing sugarcane. These countries were located on the Caribbean islands. However, sugarcane cultivation required a lot of effort and labour, and it was not easy to find local manpower in these countries. As a result, Europeans dealt with this problem by establishing the slave trade. Europeans brought many African slaves to these countries. Apart from this, the Britishers forcibly deported millions of poor Indians to colonized areas. In simple terms, sugar was so easily available in Europe because a lot of slaves were forced to work on sugar plantations.
How Sugar Came to India
According to research, sugarcane cultivation and preparation is found in the Indian religious textbook Atharvaveda. It is thought that sugar was originally produced in India before anywhere else in the world. In India, jaggery is traditionally used to add sweetness to anything.
However, this sugar was introduced to India in the late 19th century, when Britain began large-scale industrial production of refined white sugar. This sugar is also present in biscuits, sweets, and chocolate. The modern sugar industry in India began in the 1930s when the government directly patronized the industry. After that, both sugar mills and sugar production expanded.
In fact, between 1930 and 1935, production increased by 460%. Subsequently, in 1954, the Indian government introduced an additional license scheme that served to bolster the sugar sector. After Brazil, India is currently the world’s second-largest producer of sugarcane. During independence, 2/3 of the sugarcane crop was utilized to make jaggery, but this has now been decreased to 1/3. In consequence, a large portion of sugarcane is used for the production of white sugar. It’s easy to understand why, because sugar is cheap due to industrial production, and consumers demand more sugar.
How Sugar is destroying our health
- First, it has “empty calories.” It means that sugar provides calories and also energy, but it has no nutritional value. Whereas jaggery contains very few nutrients.
- Second, white sugar makes people crave it more. When we consume sugar, our body releases a neurotransmitter in our brain called dopamine, which is a hormone that affects the way we feel pleasure. Due to this, we want to eat more sugar, and the cycle continues. And this dopamine is released not only after eating sugar but also during smoking. In the end, people find it harder to quit smoking.
- Third, Consuming excessive amounts of white sugar raises the risk of diabetes. And you’re probably aware that diabetes can raise the risk of heart attacks and other long-term health issues.
According to a study, people who regularly consume sugar-sweetened beverages are 25% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. However, consuming fruits and vegetables reduces the risk because they contain less sugar. And whatever sugar is there, there is natural sugar which is not so harmful.
For example: 100 grams of oranges contain 9 grams of sugar, while 100 grams of KitKat contain 51 grams of sugar. Sugar is not only unhealthy for our health, but it is also damaging our ecosystem. This is how sugar is destroying our health.
Why Sugar is Popular?
There are several reasons why white sugar is popular in India, and these reasons resonate globally as well. White sugar’s affordability and availability make it a go-to sweetener in households and food industries around the world. Its versatility in enhancing the flavour of a wide range of dishes, from traditional sweets to modern desserts, has solidified its place in global cuisine.
Additionally, white sugar’s long shelf life and ease of use have made it a staple in kitchens everywhere. However, as the demand for this sweetener grows, so does the need to address how sugar is destroying our health. Despite its widespread appeal, the increasing consumption of white sugar is contributing to serious health problems, highlighting the urgent need for global awareness and change.
- The first reason is the packaged food industry. According to popular nutrition experts, consuming sugar through home-cooked meals is not particularly dangerous; Adding 1 teaspoon of sugar to tea or sweets once a week causes no problems. The problem arises when people consume too many packaged meals without realizing how much sugar these products contain.
- Fruit juices, yoghurt, and breakfast cereals that are promoted as healthy options are often loaded with added sugar.
- Talking about healthy drinks like Horlicks and Complan. Horlicks claims that it is clinically proven to help children grow taller, stronger, and sharper. While the Complan claims that it is clinically proven, it aids 2X faster growth in children.
All these advertisements are showing us that all these things are very healthy. According to health experts, it is said that all these things do not deserve the healthy tag.
What is the solution?
Can we consume jaggery instead of sugar? Is jaggery healthier than sugar?
The answer is yes, but very marginally. Because sugar has 100% sucrose, whereas jaggery contains 85% sucrose. Therefore, there is not much difference between sugar and jaggery for the body.
Yes, jaggery has a distinct taste, and our Indian food tastes even more delicious with jaggery. So if you enjoy jaggery, go ahead. However, drinking coffee with jaggery does not eliminate sugar. This is important to understand.
In conclusion, it’s clear that how sugar is destroying our health cannot be ignored. While white sugar has become a global staple, its harmful effects are undeniable. A simple yet effective solution lies in using jaggery, a natural sweetener long embraced by Indians. Unlike white sugar, jaggery offers health benefits, providing essential nutrients while satisfying sweet cravings. By choosing jaggery over white sugar, we can take a significant step toward protecting our health and well-being.