Ville Magazine l Insider Access for City Lifestyle Nov/Dec / Holiday Issue 2016 | Page 42

HEALTH CHECK

A White Lie
written by Dr. Scott Mindel l photo Marcos Mesa Sam Wordley

As the holidays are upon us, our intake of sugar is sure to skyrocket. From cookies to pies and everything
in between, we find ourselves unable to resist the holiday treats. However, you may need to rethink that
second helping or gorging on the tin of shortbread cookies because you could be creating a deadly addiction.
The History
Sugar is believed to have originated over 5,000 years ago,
but the first recording of it was in 1099 in England. Western
Europeans dubbed it as “new spice,” speaking of how
pleasant it was. Only royalty and the wealthy could afford it
and considered it “white gold.”
Sugarcane was brought to the United States in 1619.
As sugar production increased so did the need for labor.
Working in sugarcane fields was dangerous and hard, so
the British West Indies imported over four million slaves
from Africa.
Once slavery ended in the United States, slave refugees
from Haiti migrated, and sugar plantations began in
Louisiana all the way to Hawaii. Through the 1800s, canning,
ice cream, and candy greatly increased the demand for the
sweet substance. The consumption of sugar for the average
American went from 4 pounds to 18 pounds in the 1800s,
increasing to 90 pounds in the 1900s. Today, the average
American consumes 180 pounds of sugar a year.
Defining Sugar
The body does require sugar, but the difference is natural
versus manufactured. Fruit may contain over 18 grams
of sugar, but it also contains fiber. Our bodies take a long
time to digest fiber so the sugar is released slowly into our
bloodstream, giving us a sustained source of energy and
keeping us full for longer periods of time.
However, manufactured table sugar and high fructose
corn syrup found in soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and
processed fruit juices is an empty calorie additive with no
vitamins, minerals, protein, or fiber. The uptake of liquid
sugar to the bloodstream happens immediately, leaving us
hungry with the tendency to overeat. It satisfies a craving
but doesn’t give your body what it needs. It is similar to
cocaine as it lights up some of the same pleasure centers of
the brain, leaving you with a thirst for more and overloading
the body.
The Effects
As sugar consumption has risen, obesity, diseases, and
42 l VILLE l THE HOLIDAY ISSUE

(infographic was created by nursingprogamsonline.com and has been modified from
the original format)