Just one bite of a freshly made margherita pizza and within seconds of tasting its mozzarella cheese, sweet tomatoes and basil-laced olive oil goodness, I think to myself, “Wow, this is so good it should be illegal.”
But really, a food being illegal — as in, against the law?
A commentary focusing on the proposed regulation of sugar published in the Feb. 1 edition of “Nature,” a weekly science journal, is making a stir. The article said the sweet white crystals are “toxic,” and should be highly regulated like alcohol and tobacco.
If this regulation were to pass, a person could be turned away from a grocery store for wanting to purchase a dozen doughnuts simply because the sugar content is too high. Buyers could be barred from their monthly cup of JAMMs frozen yogurt for sprinkling a few too many Skittles on top.
The original article in “Nature” recalled the September announcement from the United Nations that said, “for the first time in human history” chronic non-communicable diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease are creating a greater threat to lives worldwide than infectious diseases annually.
The announcement continued to highlight tobacco, alcohol and diet as the troublesome trio wrecking the immune system and contributing to the death count.
Sugar is currently the most argued of the three.
Sugar can take on ninja powers and hide in some of the healthiest foods. Granola, a complex carbohydrate that can make a great breakfast, can pack up to 24 grams of sugar. That’s only four grams less than a Snickers candy bar. Even the strawberry low-fat yogurt with that sugary granola-bomb can contain a surprising 14 grams of sugar.
It’s easy to see how sugar can sneak into items that are portrayed as healthy, but is that grounds for government regulation?
First Lady Michelle Obama spoke out on her food philosophy on the Sugar Association’s website saying, “I don’t think anything like that needs to be banned. Being healthy isn’t about eliminating.”
– See more at: file:///Volumes/argonaut$/stories/sections/opinion/stories/2012/March/6/sugar_high.html#sthash.7i5So9DK.dpuf
But really, a food being illegal — as in, against the law?
A commentary focusing on the proposed regulation of sugar published in the Feb. 1 edition of “Nature,” a weekly science journal, is making a stir. The article said the sweet white crystals are “toxic,” and should be highly regulated like alcohol and tobacco.
If this regulation were to pass, a person could be turned away from a grocery store for wanting to purchase a dozen doughnuts simply because the sugar content is too high. Buyers could be barred from their monthly cup of JAMMs frozen yogurt for sprinkling a few too many Skittles on top.
The original article in “Nature” recalled the September announcement from the United Nations that said, “for the first time in human history” chronic non-communicable diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease are creating a greater threat to lives worldwide than infectious diseases annually.
The announcement continued to highlight tobacco, alcohol and diet as the troublesome trio wrecking the immune system and contributing to the death count.
Sugar is currently the most argued of the three.
Sugar can take on ninja powers and hide in some of the healthiest foods. Granola, a complex carbohydrate that can make a great breakfast, can pack up to 24 grams of sugar. That’s only four grams less than a Snickers candy bar. Even the strawberry low-fat yogurt with that sugary granola-bomb can contain a surprising 14 grams of sugar.
It’s easy to see how sugar can sneak into items that are portrayed as healthy, but is that grounds for government regulation?
First Lady Michelle Obama spoke out on her food philosophy on the Sugar Association’s website saying, “I don’t think anything like that needs to be banned. Being healthy isn’t about eliminating.”
– See more at: file:///Volumes/argonaut$/stories/sections/opinion/stories/2012/March/6/sugar_high.html#sthash.7i5So9DK.dpuf