Market

Market

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

DIETARY SUGAR "ABSOLVED"-LINK WITH BMI UNPROVEN


Sound science seems to have won the day for sugar that has been derided day in and day out, blaming its consumption for every conceivable human disease that stalks this planet. The so called "Modern" science "invented" the "truth" that sugar causes obesity through metabolic disorders leading to further health complications for human beings, forgetting conveniently the old sound scientific finding that excess calorie consumption, in whatever form, can cause disequilibrium in any living system and such excess calories can come from a variety of carbohydrates and fats contained in the diet. The clamor for fixing an upper limit for sugar consumption has been brewing for some time now and some experts even suggest an upper limit of 44 gm of sugars a day which does not seem to have any logic. Probably the latest pronouncement from European safety agency should put to rest any such move by any country.

"Advocates for severely limiting sugar intake in the name of fighting obesity received another set back last week at the hands of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The EFSA, Europe's food regulatory body, found no scientific evidence to recommend a limit on the amount of sugar people should consume. This finding is consistent with the 2002 U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine report, which stated scientific evidence did not justify setting an upper level for sugars intake and found "no clear and consistent association between increased intakes of added sugars and [body mass index]." Sugars have become a focal point of the obesity debate and some are advocating for strict limits that would target many everyday foods, such as a cup of yogurt, a carton of chocolate milk, or an unbuttered piece of toast with jelly. "Obesity is a problem that America must address," said Andy Briscoe, president and CEO of the Sugar Association, "but dietary guidelines need to be the result of sound science. Caloric sweetener consumption is down nearly 10 percent over the past 10 years, according to the USDA, yet obesity rates have risen".

Of course the above judgment does not give a clean chit to unlimited consumption of sugar which obviously will have disastrous consequences. Any substance consumed improperly and at uncontrolled levels is considered a "substance abuse" event requiring harsh remedial measures. Same applies to sugar also and probably to every substance man consumes through oral-gastro system!

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

No comments: