Should Sugar Consumption be Curbed?

February 21st, 2012Food0 comments

By now we know that we should stop smoking cigarettes and that we should stop eating so much salt. But what about sugar consumption? Sugar use is connected to diseases which include high blood pressure and diabetes. In some people, sugar excesses give symptoms similar to that of drinking an alcoholic beverage.

Eating sugar is not like eating one of the four food groups. It consists of calories that are empty of all nutrients, yet it contains a great deal of caloric content. Fructose, or fruit sugar, can lead to liver disease and other chronic conditions. What this might mean is that regulation agencies and people themselves should strongly consider the idea of regulating sugar intake. In particular, the intake of fructose should be regulated.

Some things that could be considered include using a special tax on high sugar items like sodas and candies, just like governmental taxes increase the price of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Sugar should be limited in the school system and advertising products should be created to educate people about the dangers of sugar. There should also be a limit as to the age in which a person can buy sugary beverages. Kids shouldn’t be able to purchase sugary items in stores they visit during after-school hours.

While it may seem that regulating sugar is like “Big Brother watching you”, it may be necessary to control sugar consumption on a wider level than just by relying on parental control over sugar use. The government and public agencies should be able to help parents who might have trouble controlling their own children’s sugar intake. This could lead to a lifetime habit of not eating much sugar as eating habits begin in one’s youth.

But does sugar really equate with alcohol and cigarette use? Can parents really control their older children’s sugar purchasing and consumption? Should sugar regulation really be a government opposition, overcoming parental shortcomings? In some cases, it seems ridiculous to have to provide a government-issued ID tag in order to buy a donut or a sugary soda. It looks too much like the government is thinking all people are fools and are unable to make eating choices by themselves. On the other hand, it makes the eating of non-sugary items cheaper by comparison so people might buy them more often.

This leaves us with the question as to whether or not the government should actually put regulations on the consumption and purchase of sugary products. Is this really the way to go about keeping the population healthy or can education alone make the difference in the way people eat? Is sugar really the threat to our health that we need to tax it and keep it away from our children on a governmental level? We should find out more in the coming years.