The human population today is faced with various challenges, which reduce chances of existence and the period of time each person lives. The major challenge in the modern world is a combination of health problems. The human health is quite challenged with various diseases, and it is time people knew what the causes and effects are and how to counter them. Of major concern is obesity, a health condition which, though it seems less lethal than HIV, cancer and diabetes, is more lethal than both. This is because it leads to cancer and diabetes in one way or the other. It is arguable that the health problems that exist among most people in America have a lot of false impression about the consequences of excessive amounts of sugars in diets, which could be solved by taking action at the both the personal and national level (Erian 1).
America is the most affected nation as far as obesity and its related illnesses are concerned. This is due to the type of food consumed. In particular, most foods in the American market comprise of a very high percent of ingredients, which are sugars (bad sugar in this case). Sugars such as glucose, dextrose, high-fructose added sugars and others, are quite dangerous and lead to obesity and expose one to several other conditions. Good sugar, as per experts, research and facts, is the sugar contained in natural foods such as vegetables and fruits, and has no negative effects on human health (Erian 1).
However, there are several cases in which industries in America confuse the public. These are some of the misconceptions that are killing people in America. For instance, manufactures indicate that their products have fructose – the good sugar – while in reality they contain other bad sugars in large quantities (Alterman and Kullman 24). In addition, lack of public awareness, the high prices of good food plus poor public health laws and regulations have led to massive manufacture, sale and consumption of junk foods. Thus, nutritional diseases are on the increase. This has gone to an extent of having our children and adults getting diabetes and its related illnesses such as cancer, stroke and heart diseases (Erian 1).
The people can solve this on both the national and personal level. For example, the system could increase the awareness of sugar and its effects, regulate food advertisements, and make healthy foods less expensive for people to afford. In addition, it is possible to control the sale of soft drinks to the public, especially to children and adolescents. On the personal level, people should reduce the amount of sugar in the food they cook in homes, strive to stick to foods with good sugar like fruits and vegetables, and those without added sugars, and make others get the information and help them reduce the amount of sugar they eat (Alterman and Kullman 24).
Works Cited
Alterman, Seymour., and Kullman, Donald. How to Prevent, Control & Cure Diabetes: Minimize the Impact Diabetes Has on Your Life. New York: Frederick Fell Publishers, 2004. Print.
Erian, Hans. No More Sugar! Cengage Learning: Sample Speeches and Outlines. 2007. Web. 7 March, 2011.
