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Anngilee DeVaney

Professor Brenda Sieczkowski

English 2010

05/02/2020

The Danger of America’s Sugar Intake

Today in America, more than ever before in history, our people are suffering from the

quiet and ill effects of sugar. More adults, as well as children, suffer from serious health

concerns due to a rise in our consumption of sugar as part of the standard American diet. The

sugar in many of today’s food and drinks limit our quality of life, manifesting through an array

of health issues including, but not limited to, headaches, low energy levels, addiction, obesity,

cardiovascular disease, mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, arthritis, type 2 diabetes,

and even cancer (The Sweet Danger of Sugar). Such a diverse set of side effects caused by sugar

make it difficult for consumers to connect the dots and see that sugar is the root cause of many

health concerns. It’s no wonder people don’t recognize that sugar is the root cause of their health

problems, growing numbers of these sugar-linked health issues show that Americans are

struggling in the fight for their health and need help. The road to true health is out there, but

many are not sure where to start. Wither it is due to ignorance, addiction or low income, we must

take action for our health and overcome the destructive hold sugar has on us. To reduce sugar

related health problems and deaths in America, American’s need to be educated on the dangers

of high sugar diets, utilize programs that teach about nutrition, gardening and healthy food

preparation, and commit to nutrient rich diets and sugar avoidance.

According to the American Sugar Alliance the United States is currently the fifth largest

sugar producer in the world, producing both sugar beets and sugarcane around the country. The
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production of sugar from these plants began in the Americas in the early 16th century and greatly

increased production through the 17th and 19th centuries (U.S. Sugar Production). What started

out as a sparingly indulgent treat of the wealthy soon spread to all levels of society as sugar

became widely produced around the world. Soon after, companies started finding sugar

alternatives that cost less and yielded more; one of those being the now widely known and

controversial high fructose corn syrup derived from corn. Once companies learned how to utilize

high fructose corn syrup for taste, texture and stabilizing shelf life, it was integrated into many

common food items beyond candies and desserts and now includes items such as yogurts, sauces,

variety of breads and fruit juices. This lower cost of production facilitated lower grocery store

prices which help to feed low-income Americans but also quickly created an unknown

dependency on these foods as well.

Sugars are more prevalent in the production of food nowadays than ever before. With the

rise of sugar consumption, health professionals and scientists are beginning to stress the

importance that individuals need to learn which foods contain sugars and limit the amounts we

ingest each day to avoid serious health problems (Healey). The first issue with sugar

consumption is that it provides a high number of empty calories which may give you short spikes

in energy but won’t leave you full for long, and will often lead you to eating more food more

often to make up for the lack of nutrient dense calories. This all leads to consuming more

calories than your body can process and the excess is slowly stored as fat, leading to gradual

weight gain and obesity through time. Weight issues are of serious concern to doctors since the

severe health problems that can, and often do, accompany obesity such as cardiovascular disease,

which is currently the number one killer in America. On top of this, when we eat sugar, it

prompts dopamine receptors in our brain to flare up. Dopamine is the hormone in our brains
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responsible for creating a happy and content feeling, and eating too much sugar can create a

dependency on dopamine, compelling us to eat even more sweet foods to retain those feelings.

Through constant indulgence over a period time (this period is different for each person), this

dependency leads to a raised possibility of developing secondary issues such as the before

mentioned cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes.

Justin Healey, author of “Sugar Consumption”, describes how sugar can lead to diabetes.

He explains that our bodies need glucose and will secrete a hormone called insulin to help

regulate the glucose throughout the body. However, if glucose levels become too high for too

long, the insulin may become inefficient or inadequate to control the glucose and that person will

very often develop diabetes which requires them to receive insulin shots to help regulate the

body’s sugar levels for the rest of their life. It is because of this invasive way sugar reacts in our

bodies that the government has set up guidelines to help Americans avoid these problems

associated with sugar. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (provided by The

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) states that people should limit calories from

added sugars to no more than 10% each day. People need to understand and comprehend what

this means for them to help them make better choices. Ten percent is roughly 12 teaspoons, (200

calories) for a 2,000 calorie diet. The American Heart Association goes even further by

suggesting men have no more than 9 teaspoons (150 calories) per day and women no more than

6 teaspoons (100 calories). All of which is hard to do when you realize that one 12-oz can of

soda already contains roughly 140 calories from sugar (almost 9 teaspoons), and that’s just one

soft drink!

Schools across the nation are also trying to tackle this guideline by teaching these

principles in classes, implementing school lunch programs with healthier options and replacing
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sugary vending machine snacks and drinks with better selections (The National School Lunch

Program). Schools recognize the need for children to have access to healthy foods, but new

reports show that these efforts only have a slight impact on the weight and overall health of

school aged children (Schanzenbach). School programs understand that many children are not

getting adequate nutrition in the home and are constantly reassessing what programs can be

created to help. Such programs in schools are paramount in the lives of children that otherwise

wouldn’t have access to well-rounded meals in low income homes, But foods in school cafeterias

are limited by state and federal budgets thus limiting what can be done. In addition to this

perhaps we are approaching the problem of balanced nutrition from the wrong angle, as they are

restricted on how much they can support and influence each child outside of school. Giving

healthy food is different than teaching the importance of avoiding bad foods. For this reason, in

addition to current programs in place, more programs that encourage and teach parents and

children to grow gardens, cook from scratch and understand the importance of balanced nutrition

are needed. American’s need to be taught the dangers associated with consuming sugar and distil

in them responsibility for themselves.

The government sees the need to raise health awareness and encourage smart eating

habits, and have implemented multiple meal programs to this end (Child Nutrition Act, Child and

Adult Care Food Program, Farm to School, Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, School

Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program and Summer Food Service Program), but ultimately

it’s up to each individual to make the conscious effort to eat healthy. Many Americans know

sugar is bad for them, but they don’t see how and they may not know sugar is linked to numerous

health conditions. Home is where the central focus of healthy habits begins and lifelong habits

are created. The government is here to aid in this effort, but Americans need to take action
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themselves. To change the direction we are headed in and lower America’s top health problems

such as cardiovascular disease and obesity, we need to have a radical change in the way we view

and consume sugar. This will only happen as we are educated and understand sugar’s adverse

health effects. More studies on sugar need to be done and information needs to be spread on a

wide spread scale through commonly seen outlets such as commercials, billboards and social

media. Though important, education cannot be limited to schools and online governmental

websites.

One strong argument opposing nutrient rich diets comes from those with low incomes.

For some, it’s not that they don’t see the importance of eating healthy and avoiding sugars, but

the cost of such things can seem too much when you have little income. Many foods have been

filled with sugars to help extend their shelf life, and through time this has lowered the cost of

these foods which can be very appealing to those on a tight budget. But with a little planning it is

possible to eat a balanced diet and avoid sugar, all while not breaking the bank. The key is

buying individual ingredients instead of premade items that hold not only higher price tags, but

loads of extra preservatives and empty calories. Cooking meals from scratch can reduce grocery

bills dramatically and give the consumer control over the exact ingredients that go into the meal,

putting the consumer back in control of their nutrition.

Other areas of living that should be considered when living paycheck to paycheck is the

impact eating healthy will have on other bills. When we eat loads of highly processed, sugar

laden foods, our bodies’ immune systems are compromised and we start to develop one or more

of the health problems listed earlier. With these added health problems come doctor visits,

medications and other medical expenses. Even with insurance or other governmental help the
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cost of these expenses can become astronomical and become a burden to those with low income.

On this train of thought, it is not only cheaper to avoid sugar and unhealthy foods, but can save

not just your health, but untold amounts of money as well.

Cooking healthy, low cost meals can go beyond buying ingredients in the store and can

become a fun activity for children who otherwise would have no interest in healthy food. By

growing our own vegetables at home we encourage the awe in children who are then more likely

to eat what they took part in growing themselves. Gardening is a great way to lower the cost of

our meals at home. It takes time and attention, but can be grown in all shapes and sizes, and

involving children will create a sense of pride in what they can accomplish, which instils in them

the base for a lifetime of healthy eating habits. The government has a great program in place to

help those who are just starting on this journey called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Program (SNAP). It’s great resource for learning about how to garden and even helps with

buying seeds! Sources such as governmental programs, the library, internet and even local

communities are great sources to find information on how to grow your own food to lower your

dependence on others for your health. Putting forth the effort to learn from these sources is time

well spent, and a healthy future will be the result for Americans and their families.

We are all in this fight for health together, and while the government can help give us

guidance and information, changes start with us. It is only through our own commitment to

healthy living that our health will improve. We must take an active role in educating ourselves

by reading nutrition labels and learning to cook meals made from scratch, and then teach the next

generation the value of eating a whole foods diet. By implementing this advice, lives will be

enriched and our quality of life will improve greatly. It is only through individual personal
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commitment to healthy living that this tidal wave of disease will decrease and health will again

return to Americans.
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Works Cited

“Cut Down on Added Sugars.” Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020, U.S. Department

of Health and Human Services, Mar. 2016, health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-

10/DGA_Cut-Down-On-Added-Sugars.pdf.

“Ensuring access to nutritious food while helping to pave a pathway to long-term success”

USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 27 March 2020,

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program

“Gardening” SNAP-ED Connection, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 27 April 2020,

https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/nutrition-education/nutrition-education-materials/gardening

Healey, Justin. “Sugar Consumption.” Spinney Press, 2017. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1505746&site=eds-live.

“Key Recommendations: Components of Healthy Eating Patterns” Office of Disease Prevention

and Health Promotion, 5 April 2020, https://health.gov/our-work/food-nutrition/2015-

2020-dietary-guidelines/guidelines/chapter-1/key-recommendations/

Marcel, C, BS. “Sugar-Sweetened Soft Drinks.” CINAHL Nursing Guide, edited by RN, PhD,

FAAN Pravikoff D, Aug. 2018. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true &db =nup&AN=T902838&site=eds-live.

McConnell, Michael. “Sugar & Sweeteners.” United States Department of Agriculture Economic

Research Service, 07 April 2020, ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/sugar-sweeteners/.

Schanzenbach, Diane Whitmore. “Do School Lunches Contribute to Childhood Obesity?” The

Journal of Human Resources, 2 April 2020,

https://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/docs/publications/982412224551ec93458609.pdf
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Sugar Trap. [Electronic Resource]. Österreichischer Rundfunk, 2015. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=cat01423a&AN=slcc.100094209&site=eds-live.

“The National School Lunch Program.” United States Department of Agriculture, Nov. 2017

https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/NSLPFactSheet.pdf

“The Sweet Danger of Sugar” Harvard Health Publishing, 5 Nov. 2019,

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar.

“United States: World’s Fifth Largest Sugar Producing Country” American Sugar Alliance,

1 Jan. 2020, http://sugaralliance.org/project/united-states-worlds-fifth-largest-sugar-

prodcing-contry

“USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs” USDA National Agricultural Library, 27 March 2020,

https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/usda-nutrition-assistance-programs

“U.S. Sugar Production” United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service,

7 April 2020, https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/sugar sweeteners/ background.

aspx# production.