Made of Sugar

When I resisted getting wet as a child, my mother used to say that I wasn't made of sugar, so I would be alright. But I am afraid this may not be the case for today’s younger generation.  According to Dr. Ben Lerner, writing in Maximized Living, “Americans consume an average of one hundred twenty pounds of sugar per year, per person, compared to five pounds per year, per family in 1900.”

Only a little research uncovers the ugly truth about the devastating results of our collective addiction to sugar. Dr. Lerner goes on to comment: "Sugar is an anti-nutrient offering insignificant amounts of vitamins and minerals and robbing your body of precious nutrient stores. This inevitably leads to diseases of the new millennium such as chronic fatigue, ADD, ADHD, heart disease, diabetes and cancers."

Yet the Globe and Mail reported this spring (May 25, 2011) that, while other parts of the economy have been struggling recently, the $26-billion (US) sweets and snacks industry has experienced a 2.5 percent growth this past year, which is double the growth of all other groceries.

This raises an interesting observation. When economic times are tough, we like to gorge on treats, especially sweet treats. Apparently it is an “affordable” indulgence. This helps to explain my own observations while living in an under-developed country some years ago. It seemed that no matter how poor people were, there was usually enough money to buy candy.

But even in developed countries like Canada we witness more and more people loading up on sugar. Every day I see groups of youngsters walking down the street sucking on slurpees – sugar, water and coloring! Convenience stores are loaded with sugar-laden pop and candies. It is not uncommon to see people spending twelve dollars on cigarettes and the same amount on sugar treats at the same time.

Will we ever learn? When will intelligent and informed adults begin to decrease their sugar intake and encourage their children to do the same? Is it not time to set the sweets and snacks industry back on its heels instead of allowing it to flourish during tough economic times? But that will take disciplined resolve, something we apparently lack when it comes to our addictions.

Last August I noted in an article, Candy Mania, that at least half of the participants in the August Long Weekend  parade in Steinbach had showered our kids with candies. I suggested that with a little creativity and determination we could do better as a society. Our children should not intuitively be bringing ice-cream buckets to the parade to collect their stash of candies.

This year I am challenging all parade participants ahead of time to find a way to delight our youngsters in other ways than showering them with candy. Some of us concerned adults will be watching and reporting on how well we do this year in transitioning away from the annual candy shower. See you at the parade!

Jack Heppner