Sugar – ‘if its white its killing you’

Nova Corcoran

We are a nation that is addicted to sugar. You will find it almost impossible to get through your day without it. Almost all processed foods, drinks and snacks contain some form of sugar. The term sugar generally refers to sucrose, which comes from sugar cane and sugar beet and on packets of food it can also be called names like corn syrup. Other sugars include fructose and glucose. Sugar, particularly the white refined stuff is linked to all sorts of nastiness in the history, production and final product that ends up in your sugar bowl.

Effects of sugar on health
White sugar is really the worst offender. It offers no nutritional values and in return gives us empty calories. The refining process to create white sugar also includes the addition of a number of chemicals. Excessive calories from sugar can lead to obesity which in turn can increase the risk of diabetes. Sugar is also a common cause of tooth decay. Appleton (2011) has come up with 149 reasons why sugar is bad for your health including suppression of the immune system, hyperactivity in children, premature aging and links to a whole range of health related problems. Anisman-Reiner (2006) reiterates the phrase "If it's white, it's killing you," cited by a number of holistic practitioners. She notes that the way the human body and brain process sugar (especially in excess) becomes part of an addictive pattern, so we crave more of a product that is bad for us – rather like tobacco.

Sugar and the slave trade

Did you know most of the world’s sugar comes from Brazil? In the past considerable labour was required to produce sugar, and slaves from Africa supplied this. It actually became one of the main motivations to colonise certain parts of the world (Kew 2011). Don’t be too complacent in your thinking that the slave trade disappeared with the abolition of the Slave Trade Act – In 2007 newspapers reported an anti-slavery group who freed more than 1,000 workers from a sugar cane plantation hidden in the Amazon rainforest (Hennigan 2007). Although this plant was using sugar cane for ethanol it highlights that issues around slavery still remain.

Health of sugarcane workers

Even today workers face harsh conditions in plantations. Recent studies indicate sugar cane workers experience health problems associated with eyes and the respiratory system (Robins et al 1998). A South Africa study suggests workers face severe threats to their physical and psychological well being including poor pay and living conditions, high risk of occupational hazards as well as abuse by employers and their agents (Rocha et al 2010). Survival International (2011) also highlight issues linked to the heavy reliance on indigenous labour and the taking of land from these groups.

How do you turn the white into right?

• Check snack packets – low fat can mean high sugar
• Unrefined raw sugar is a better alternative – as it does not have any chemicals added that make refined and a few minerals and nutrients
• Buy fair trade
• Consider alternatives like molasses, honey or not adding that extra sugar to your tea