Lady Carla Davis, MPH
Specializing in Nutrition
SWEET TREAT ADDICTION:
The Scourge of Sugar - Part 3
Sugar consumption is an important factor in public health. A high sugar diet is linked to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, poor dental health, high blood pressure, lymphatic and respiratory illnesses, cancer, gut/brain/behavioral problems, immunity, and obesity.
Throughout most of human history, consumption of refined sugar was zero. Then, about 2,000 years ago, with the discovery of sugar cane, things began to change. By 1700, the average per capita consumption of refined sugar in the developed world was approximately 4 pounds per annum, which accounted for less than 1% of caloric intake. By 1800, it was approximately 18 pounds per annum. By 1900, per capita consumption of refined sugar had risen to 60 pounds per annum.
In 1985, world sugar consumption was 98 million metric tons. In 2008, the American total per capita consumption of sugar and sweeteners, exclusive of artificial sweeteners, equalled 136.18 pounds (61.9kg) per year. This consisted of 65.23 pounds (29.65kg) of refined sugar and 68.2 pounds (31kg) of corn derived sweeteners. By 2010, world refined sugar consumption soared to 160 million metric tons. In 2011, the world produced about 168 million metric tons of sugar, and the average person consumed about 52.8 pounds (24kg) of sugar and 72.82 (33.1 kg) pounds in industrialized countries.