As adults, we know sugar is bad for our bodies, yet for some reason, we allow our children to go door to door, gathering as much candy as possible on Halloween.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the average American consumes 152 pounds of sugar per year which is the equivalent of 6 cups per week. 1
Seems like a lot when you look at it this way, right?
It is a lot - it's WAY too much, in fact.
There is NO reason to add sugar to food or drinks. None. This also includes sucrose, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, etc.
From a nutritional standpoint, glucose is essential to sustaining life, and plenty of glucose is synthesized in our liver from the fats and proteins we eat. However, this overload of sugar is wreaking havoc on our blood glucose which causes the pancreas to response by secreting lots of insulin, sometimes in a chronic state termed hyperinsulinemia.
Every day we read about the obesity and diabetes epidemic raging in the United States and have friends and family members who struggle to manage these diet-driven health problems. Plenty of research has shown that sugar is addictive in a manner similar to cocaine.2 Even worse, sugar feeds rapidly dividing malignant cells which is why all cancer patients are advised to stop all simple sugar consumption. 3
The Centers for Disease Control reports that childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States putting kids at risk for poor health. "Despite recent declines in the prevalence among preschool-aged children, obesity amongst all children is still too - about 17% and affects about 12.7 million children and adolescents." 4
What can you do this Halloween to demonstrate that you don't support this sugar frenzy?
Try handing out these treats instead:
1. Mini Play Doh
2. Satsumas
3. Mini Pretzels
4. Mini packs of nuts
5. Mini comic books in a pack of 25 for $5.00
If you choose one or more of these options, let me know how it goes.
REFERENCES
1.Department of Health and Human Services.
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/nhp/documents/sugar.pdf
2 Lenoir M, Serre F, Cantin L, et al. Intense Sweetness surpasses cocaine reward. PLoS One, 2007:2(9):e698.
3. Liu H, Huang D, McArthur DL, et al. Fructose induces transketolase flux to promote pancreatic cancer growth. Cancer Res. 2010: 70(15):6368-76.
4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Childhood Obesity and Facts
https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html