“Sugar, without question, is the number one murderer in the history of humanity—much more lethal than opium or radioactive fallout.” ~~Dr. Nyoiti Sakurazawa
An acquired taste for sweets has evolved over centuries. In ancient times, people would satisfy the desire for sweets with raw honey. However, today we generally seek out something made with refined sugar, called sucrose, to satisfy a “sweet tooth.” And sweeten things we do. In fact, the typical American diet is so laden with sucrose that it should be declared a national disaster.
At the turn of the century, 66% of carbohydrates consumed by Americans came from complex sources. Today, nearly 50% of the carbohydrates that are consumed are made with refined, simple sugars. The average American consumes 17 teaspoons (71.14 grams) every day. That translates into about 57 pounds (about 27 kg) of sugar per person each year!
That’s 129 cups per year or 1/3 cup of sugar per day consumed in candy, cookies, breakfast cereals, and Starbucks’ frappuccinos, to name but a very short list of sweet foods. Soft drinks are the primary source of sucrose in the diet. Some sodas contain as much as 12 teaspoons per can.
It has been said that if you were to drink just one 12-ounce can of a sugar-sweetened soft drink every day and not cut back on calories elsewhere, you would gain at least 5 pounds per year!
If you don’t think that you eat that much sugar, think again. As much as 76% of the refined sugar in foods is “hidden.” Sugar is the #1 food additive and can show up unaware in salad dressings, soups, peanut butter, canned goods, and catsup. Refined sugar not only adds pounds to the waistline, it has been implicated in diseases ranging from hyperactivity and hypertension to cancer.
https://drtenpenny.substack.com/p/the-sweetest-poison-on-the-shelf