For example, the Greek physician Dioscorides in the 1st century (AD) wrote: "There is a kind of coalesced honey called sakcharon [i.e. In 2017, 11.18 million metric tons of sugar were consumed in the United States. This need was met by a transatlantic slave trade, which resulted in around 12,570,000 human beings being shipped from Africa to the Americas between 1501 and 1867. What’s lacking is the public and political will to address it, in ways such as the proposed sugar tax and prominently displayed health warnings. By continuing to use our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our cookie policy. A sugar craving is usually due to an imbalance in your gut bacteria or a sign of a blood sugar crash. Meanwhile, the slaves working the plantations suffered miserable lives. Back in 2009, the consumption amount was 9.9 million metric tons. Researchers are currently hunting for early evidence of sugarcane cultivation at the Kuk Swamp in Papua New Guinea, where the domestication of related crops such as taro and banana dates back to approximately 8,000BC. As sugar consumption grew in the latter part of the 20th century, researchers began to examine whether a diet high in sugar, especially refined sugar, was damaging to human health. In 1900, individual consumption had risen to 90 pounds of sugar per year. So at this time, it pays to step back and consider the ancient origins of sugar, to understand how it has grown to present an imminent threat to our landscapes, our societies and our health. Perhaps a better comparison is our reliance on fossil fuels. While obesity per head of population increases sugar consumption per head is … Mortality rates could reach as high as up to 25% on each voyage, and between 1m and 2m dead must have been thrown overboard. The expansion of the transatlantic slave trade was, therefore, directly related to the growth of British consumption of sugar. With sugar still deeply part of our food system – in 2013, sugar crops made up 6.2% of world’s agricultural yield and 9.4% of its total monetary value – such bold socio-economic measures are needed to make the necessary changes possible. In fact, according to this infographic by Mind Body Green, the average American consumes 1610kg pounds of sugar in a lifetime. Back in the old days (1822), the average American consumed a mere 45 grams of refined sugar, or the equivalent of a 12 oz. The consumption of sugar in Malawi has been flactuating over the last five years with a major decline in 2011 (about 37000 from 166 000 in 2007) The consumption of sugar worldwide has increased from 160 million tonnes in 2007 to 180 million tonnes in 2012. In many ways, the story of sugar and tobacco are closely aligned. Fossil fuels are not just a vice or bad habit, but central to the way we live, and to the geography and politics of the territories where it is sourced. According to the latest data, sugarcane is the world’s third most valuable crop after cereals and rice, and occupies 26,942,686 hectares of land across the globe. Certainly, this incontrovertible explosion in sugar consumption cannot be ignored. This website uses cookies to improve user experience. What Are the Benefits of CBD for Athletic…, Why Alcohol-Free Drinks Are Set to Take Over…, How to Use CBD for Sleep: The Ultimate Guide. The sugar industry pulled the plug on an animal study it funded in the 1960s. All sugar, whether natural or processed, is a type of simple carbohydrate your body uses for energy. 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