Sugar is Killing us Slowly.

   The existence of sugars and sweeteners, artificial or not, has been an important one for many years, whether it be through slave trades or modern corporations, and the onslaught of articles stating how bad sugars are, or alternatively how overreactive society has become. There is no doubt that sugar is a major part of our lives — we crave the sweet, the sweet and salty, and all things artificial. Is this simply because we are unable to moderate ourselves through no fault of any company but our own desire to eat, eat, eat, or as some might claim; we are addicted to sugar and it is killing us much without our knowing?

Many scientists and health professionals will argue that most artificial sweeteners are cancer inducing and, all sugars, in excess will lead to things such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and so on and so forth. The wide availability of sugar as well as its appeal to young, impressional children, is a a large factor in getting the population addicted to the sugars used and, subsequently, overeating those foods and being susceptible to aforementioned diseases. Those with this point of view believe in the heavy regulation and taxation of food and drink containing sugar. Others, however, yet argue that only unrealistic amounts of sugar rich sustenance is of concern, and believe that a balanced diet with lots of exercise is a cure all for sugar.

With that in mind, it is difficult for me not to take the first side of the presented argument. In the article, scientists who claim things such as ‘the key to good health is a balanced and varied diet in a lifestyle that includes plenty of physical activity’ are simply living in a world where they cannot possibly point the smoking gun at food companies. The excessive sugars spoken of before are brought not by the consumers, but the shove down the throat of marketing and ad campaigns, and an excess in production. By creating cheap alternatives to sugar, it is only logical for companies to put more of it in, knowing fully well of its addictive properties, to have people come back for more. Young children are being handed a sugary coke and told to drink, as it is the cheapest drink one might buy instead of water. I completely agree with the side claiming that sugar is in fact killing the world’s population bit by bit, and it should be regulated far more.