Benefits Of Reducing Sugar Intake

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Benefits of reducing sugar intake are many and can be drastic. Better weight management means less risk of obesity and the many related health effects that come with it. Significantly decreased risk of type two diabetes means no daily insulin shots, no loss of feeling in extremities, and zero daily blood testing. Reducing sugar intake lowers your risk for heart disease, currently the number one killer in the United States. Together these health benefits paint a clear picture that reducing sugar intake has a significant health benefit and can possibly lead to a longer more healthy life. (McKinlay, MD, R.) By targeting parents and reinforcing these benefits, it is possible to focus on their desire for their children to grow up well.

The main issues that keep consumers from making these changes are the marketing that major beverage makers use, the dopamine response that the brain releases upon consumption of sugared beverages, and lack of knowledge about the side effects of sugar overconsumption. Sugared beverage makers are doing everything they can to market their items as ‘diet’ and an integral part of a normal happy life. They have been actively lobbying congress and the FDA to make sure that revisions to nutritional labels that add sugar with a percentage of daily value do not pass. These companies also conduct their own research into sugar and it’s effects to offset third party research. Studies by Harvard have shown that these self-promotional studies are four to eight times more likely to have findings that are in agreement with the needs of the company over the best interests of the consumers. (Economic Costs.)

Sugar addiction is another major stumbling block in an attempt to get consumers to change their behaviors. Th...

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...ts, family life, and thoughts on nutritional information of food. Sugar related knowledge and sugary beverages will not be singled out, but talked about amongst other hot topic items like calories, carbohydrates, and protein as well as different types of food to avoid bias. From this information the percentage of family units that commonly purchase sugary beverages will be established, as well as the general knowledge about sugar as a dietary source. The following year the same interview will be conducted, with the same interviewers if possible, as well as the same questions worded the exact same way to avoid bias. Again general knowledge about sugar as a dietary source will be established, as well as sugary drinks purchased in the home. During the year period it is hoped to see a decrease in the purchasing of sugary beverages by the target demographic of 8% or more.

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