In this month long journey I will attempt to track the history of our relationship with sugar; a few key facts and figures to start mapping out how this sweet, granular substance has become so pervasive in the modern diet. I once read that after consuming a teaspoon of sugar our immune system response dips significantly for around an hour. I'll be checking this fact out. I'll also try and find out some useful information about the economics of the sugar trade and the foods it finds its way into and why. I don't promise a thesis, just an insight into an area which is sometimes in the shade.
My initial hypothesis is this......Over use of sugar in the food stuffs available to us in the UK is causing significant mental and physical health problems for the nation, way over and beyond obesity.
I believe that although foods carry labels so we can make informed choices our shops and supermarkets are turning into libraries, as people, already confused by too much choice, hideously bright lighting and annoying announcements, try to decide what is best to put in their mouths. I believe sugar silently lurks and simply covers up low quality products on one hand and garishly blazes over the surface of others to tempt and allure. Maybe I'm just jealous. It is still only day two.
I look at my partner Simon. "Cake!" I say with intent. He looks at me with mild amusement. I can't remember what he says as my mind is on cake and entirely pre-occupied. This must be the cravings kicking in then. We need to visit a shop or two for food as we are going wild camping. At times I create tunnel vision using my hands to tune out various sweet treats on the shelves. Petrol stations are a disaster zone. I know let's jack up all the hot, tired drivers up on sugar and caffeine and send them out onto the nations roads! Brilliant. Viva Britannia. Performance fuel for cars seems the priority not performance fuel for people.
I look at Simon. "Chocolate!" I squeak and look at him wistfully. I adore dark chocolate. He offers some sympathy and some more humour. The cravings are regular today, luckily we are heading well away from civilisation to the coast path and sea swimming. Lunch snacks today include houmous, vine leaves, olives, tomatoes, goats cheese. All very lovely and certainly not as cheap as other gluten, dairy and sugary food stuffs. However in the UK we apparently spend a much smaller percentage of our income on food than some other nations, France for example. Supposedly they will invest up to 50% of their income on food, we Brits on average only up to 30%. Its a concession I have to make although I am on a low income, there is no other option that will help me through this. "Cake!" I pipe up, one last time. Simon looks at me and steers me down the street out of town.
My initial hypothesis is this......Over use of sugar in the food stuffs available to us in the UK is causing significant mental and physical health problems for the nation, way over and beyond obesity.
I believe that although foods carry labels so we can make informed choices our shops and supermarkets are turning into libraries, as people, already confused by too much choice, hideously bright lighting and annoying announcements, try to decide what is best to put in their mouths. I believe sugar silently lurks and simply covers up low quality products on one hand and garishly blazes over the surface of others to tempt and allure. Maybe I'm just jealous. It is still only day two.
I look at my partner Simon. "Cake!" I say with intent. He looks at me with mild amusement. I can't remember what he says as my mind is on cake and entirely pre-occupied. This must be the cravings kicking in then. We need to visit a shop or two for food as we are going wild camping. At times I create tunnel vision using my hands to tune out various sweet treats on the shelves. Petrol stations are a disaster zone. I know let's jack up all the hot, tired drivers up on sugar and caffeine and send them out onto the nations roads! Brilliant. Viva Britannia. Performance fuel for cars seems the priority not performance fuel for people.
I look at Simon. "Chocolate!" I squeak and look at him wistfully. I adore dark chocolate. He offers some sympathy and some more humour. The cravings are regular today, luckily we are heading well away from civilisation to the coast path and sea swimming. Lunch snacks today include houmous, vine leaves, olives, tomatoes, goats cheese. All very lovely and certainly not as cheap as other gluten, dairy and sugary food stuffs. However in the UK we apparently spend a much smaller percentage of our income on food than some other nations, France for example. Supposedly they will invest up to 50% of their income on food, we Brits on average only up to 30%. Its a concession I have to make although I am on a low income, there is no other option that will help me through this. "Cake!" I pipe up, one last time. Simon looks at me and steers me down the street out of town.
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