As obesity is becoming more common in the USA, instead of cutting intake, Americans are eating more sugar than ever before – gorging on ice creams, chilled sodas, and frozen desserts, a new study has revealed.
While this may sound peculiar at first, the reason has been attributed to global warming, which has increased temperatures, prompting people to consume more liquid sugars, including sweetened beverages and soda. Higher temperatures can lead people to prefer colder food items to beat the heat, and these may include sugary and high-calorie desserts that can contribute to the obesity crisis in the long run.
According to American Heart Association, men should consume no more than 9 teaspoons of added sugar per day, while women should restrict themselves to 6 teaspoons per day.
The study published on Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change, tracked Americans’ grocery receipts over several years. It was discovered that people consume more sugar in the summer, as evidenced by the increased intake of sugary beverages such as sodas, energy drinks, and sweetened juices.
A team of researchers in the US and UK involved in the study said that an increase in temperature is connected to more than 100 million pounds of added sugar (358 million kilograms) consumed in a year, compared to 15 years earlier.
“Climate change is shaping what you eat and how you eat and that might have a bad effect on your health,” said study co-author Duo Chan, a climate scientist at the University of Southampton.
“People tend to take in more sweetened beverages as the temperature is getting higher and higher,” Chan said. “Obviously under a warming climate that would cause you to drink more or take in more sugar. And that is going to be a severe problem when it comes to health.”
Going by the current sugar consumption patterns, the crisis may deepen significantly by 2100 when an average American could take in over a pound of additional sugar per year, according to Chan, a climate scientist at the University of Southampton and one of the study’s authors.
Sugar consumption went up by about 0.7 grams or about an eighth of a teaspoon per day for every degree Celsius hotter it got. On an average, Americans consume 22 teaspoons of added sugar daily, as per WebMD.
Risks of consuming liquid sugar
Sugar-sweetened drinks are more harmful than solid desserts as they lack any fibre, protein, fat to slow down digestion. Fructose, when supplied in high doses, gets converted to fat in your liver, which can fuel metabolic disorders like hepatic insulin resistance, leading to type 2 diabetes.
Even fruit juice, can increase your risk for weight gain and insulin resistance compared to natural fruits.
According to PubMed Central, consuming liquid sugars such as soft drinks poses a greater risk of metabolic syndrome compared to solid sugar.
A review published in the journal Advances in Nutrition found that drinking sugary beverages like soda may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes more than eating sugary foods like cookies and cakes.
Healthy hydrating foods and beverages
Coconut water, buttermilk, raw mango cooler, iced green tea, herbal-infused water, and lemon juice are some of the healthier beverages with no added sugar that one can have when the temperatures rise.
To improve hydration levels, include water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables. Water should be consumed throughout the day.
Add soups and broths to your meals for boosting hydration.
