An article in Forbes magazine in 2013 highlighted the Credit Suisse report on sugar which is worth highlighting.
30% – 40% of healthcare expenditures in the USA go to help address issues that are closely tied to the excess consumption of sugar.” Credit Suisse Report
Assuming a U.S. National Healthcare Expenditure of $3 trillion per year – and further assuming we simply take 33% (the lower end of the Credit Suisse range), the calculation is easy. Basically, the U.S. healthcare system spends about $1 trillion per year (and possibly more) fighting the effects of excess sugar consumption.
The health effects around that excessive consumption of sugar include coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Other known risks – mostly around being overweight and/or obese – include osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gout, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cancer. A broader summary list of findings in the 40 page report include these:
The 2012 Global Burden of Disease report highlighted obesity as a more significant health crisis globally than hunger and/or malnourishment.
– More than half a billion adults (over age 20) worldwide are obese.
– The world average daily intake of sugar and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is now 70 grams (17 teaspoons).
– A scientific statement issued by the American heart Association in 2009 recommends that women take no more than six teaspoons of added sugar a day and men no more than nine.
– A single, 12 ounce can of regular soda has about 8 teaspoons of sugar.
While the toxic health effects of sugar are generally well known, there is mounting evidence to suggest that sugar has addictive properties as well.
“Sugar may not pose the clear addictive characteristics of illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin, but to us it does meet the criteria for being a potentially addictive substance.” Credit Suisse
SOURCE : FORBES
