Where is sugar found?
When you hear the word sugar, what comes to mind? Cookies, candy, ice cream, donuts, anything sweet, right? Although those foods do contain high amounts of sugar, so do every day snacks like yogurt, energy drinks, granola bars, and juices.
This means even when you’re being careful sugar can hide in so-called “health” foods. So how can we be certain about the amount of sugar we really consume, when it’s hidden in almost everything?
How does sugar affect your body?
High School students in the US on average eat about 68 grams of sugar per day, and the recommended amount for an adult is 30 grams. That is a major over consumption.
We know that excessive amounts of sugar can cause physical health issues, but not many people know about its effect on mental health. In a study done by the National Library of Medicine Association, it was proven that there’s a direct link between sugar intake and mental disorders.
In fact, an increase of dietary sugar caused a 28% higher rate of depression. It also revealed other conditions like hypertension which directly affects your nervous system, leading to anxiety and higher stress levels.
Why has this issue continued?
If we know processed sugar has negative effects on our bodies, why’s it found in over 60% of our food? Wilsonville High School’s health teacher, Krista Koivunen, calls it a normalized drug and explains that our brains react the same to sugar as it does to drugs like nicotine or tobacco.
“I would love it if they put the same warning label on a candy bar as a cigarette box.” Koivunen states, “Maybe people would think about it a minute, like wait, is it really that bad? And it is, but the sugar industry shows it differently.”
Who’s being affected?
This affects all age ranges, but it can majorly affect teenagers with their busy schedules and lifestyle. When you’re already dealing with plenty of pressure from school or extracurricular activities, heightened stress levels from sugar is no help.
But it’s not like teens don’t make an effort to avoid large amounts of sugar, they’re just unaware of how much they’re consuming. One WVHS student, Madi Thomas, said she felt even when teens make an effort it’s hard because brands advertise their snacks as “healthy” when they really aren’t.
“Personally I try to eat less (sugar) but I still think it makes up 30% of my diet,” Thomas stated. “I feel like it would be hard to avoid processed sugar completely because it’s in almost everything these days.”
Why should Oregon make a change?
Everyone would benefit from awareness about the effect of sugar on their bodies, but Oregon has some of the best reasons to make a change. Regarding food, they’re official vision is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as diseases found in younger generations caused by overconsumption of sugary food.
How can we change this?
Teens may not have much control over what they eat, whether it’s school lunch or what someone makes at home. However, making a change, no matter how small, can improve their mental and physical health. In a study done by the National Library of Medicine, it was proven that practicing mindful eating habits showed positive results in 13 out of the 19 participants.
So whether it’s by advocating for policies to help make healthy food choices available for all teens in Oregon or by choosing healthier options for yourself, we can work together to stop this sugary epidemic.