Talk about something that's slowly eating people; health wise, and you will find sugar in the conversation. This is actually not talked about much in relation to the role it could play on a person's health, depending on their level of consumption. While the conversations mostly revolve around the disturbing effects of drug use, alcohol, smoking and the like, this is silently eating its way into many lives.
My mind flashes back to an experience when I was small. One time I was at one of my aunt's place; my cousin brother, was sent to buy some things from a shop nearby. We went together. After buying all we needed, the shop owner gave my cousin a little sachet of sugar. It seemed like a gift, which he was supposed to give when we reached home. Well, he didn't. He hid it, poured it into a cup of water and drank the “sweet water.”
Reflecting on this makes me laugh. Like, he would go to that extent to enjoy the sweetness of sugar? At that point in life, there wasn't much that looked like it would make us change our minds from enjoying the sugar experience. We always wanted our beverages and anything that sugar would be added to have that taste so much on our tongues. But then, even sweet things can be harmful to a person. Something we ignore about sugar.
Sugar is a substance that we all need and use. Though, there are persons who substitute its use with honey. Even at that, only when we've decided we won't take some drinks or eat some of the flour-made foods do we escape sugar consumption. I recall having a conversation on the effects of sugar with a friend. He talked about how sugar is equally as destructive a substance as alcohol is viewed; or even more of a threat. Yet, it's neglected, something he wished would be considered and reconciled as a deadly concern as well.
Now, to the question if sugar should be banned. Or maybe a regulation on its intake. I can't say sugar should be banned, entirely. If a substance to substitute for it, like honey, could be made readily and widely available for consumption, it would be nice. I'm also considering the monopoly that might be created for honey, and how expensive it could get. But if that benefits human health more, then maybe so. We shouldn't always run to the things that destroy us because there's a financial concern.
Rather than a ban, a regulation could be set to limit the use. First, the masses should be well educated on the harmful effects of too much sugar consumption. We know of diabetes, especially among adults. This tells that the sugar effects show up sometime later in life, and this makes youth feel invincible, until they are old. Looking at the effects and the rate of mortality caused by this sweet consumption, there's a need to educate people about it. And then put a regulation.
If smokers are said to be liable to die young, alcohol is not sold to under-18s; something should be done about sugar too. First, the sensitisation should be done, and then the regulation passed with instructions for consumption; like using one or two tea spoonfuls. Maybe a limit on production and distribution can be set to control the level of consumption. I don't know, but sugar can be very harmful, such that some measures to address its consumption look necessary.
