A major print magazine in New Zealand read our book and asked nutrition researchers in New Zealand for comment. This was published in the November edition of 'North and South'. It is hosted here with permission from the editor-at-large Donna Chisholm.
Diamond's Love Foundation was established by Sugar Shane Mosley in remembrance of his late nephew Diamond Johnson and to provide assistance to underserved communities. The Foundation offers various programs focused on education, health, fitness, and quality of life. These programs include youth sports leagues, nutrition workshops, affordable housing assistance, and programs for at-risk youth, fathers, and faith-based collaboration to build stronger local communities. The Foundation aims to honor Diamond's memory and lay the groundwork for healthier tomorrows through community-focused solutions.
Access to subsidised nicotine replacement therapy in South AucklandSimon Thornley
1) The study examined rates of subsidized nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) claimed in Counties Manukau District Health Board in 2007 and found that overall, NRT was infrequently claimed, with only about 0.5% of residents obtaining NRT that year.
2) When adjusted for demographic factors, Pacific peoples were 60% less likely than Europeans to claim NRT, despite having higher smoking rates. Māori also had lower rates of NRT claims than Europeans after adjusting for smoking prevalence.
3) The majority (74%) of those who claimed NRT only obtained one month's supply, suggesting most smokers are not using NRT long enough (guidelines recommend at least 8 weeks
This document discusses sugar consumption trends in New Zealand and the potential health risks of high sugar intake. It notes that average daily sugar consumption in New Zealand increased 25% between 1961 and 2005, exceeding World Health Organization recommendations. While sugar provides calories, its high fructose content may impair glycemic control and metabolic health when consumed in large amounts. The document argues that sugar exhibits properties of an addictive substance and that population-level interventions, like sugar taxes, may be needed to curb consumption and related health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
This document summarizes the evidence linking sugar intake to cardiovascular disease risk. It finds relatively consistent evidence that markers of sugar intake are associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the disease itself. In contrast, the evidence linking saturated fat and salt to cardiovascular outcomes is weaker. The document also reviews the history of dietary guidelines focusing on fat and sugar, and how views have changed over time regarding sugar's role in disease risk.
The importance of treating tobacco dependenceSimon Thornley
1) Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Stopping smoking significantly reduces this risk and provides both short-term and long-term health benefits.
2) Healthcare providers should identify smokers and ensure they receive evidence-based cessation treatments including behavioral support and pharmacotherapy to maximize chances of long-term abstinence.
3) Physicians play a key role by advising patients to quit smoking and offering cessation support through brief counseling and recommending combinations of behavioral support and medication.
Diamond's Love Foundation was established by Sugar Shane Mosley in remembrance of his late nephew Diamond Johnson and to provide assistance to underserved communities. The Foundation offers various programs focused on education, health, fitness, and quality of life. These programs include youth sports leagues, nutrition workshops, affordable housing assistance, and programs for at-risk youth, fathers, and faith-based collaboration to build stronger local communities. The Foundation aims to honor Diamond's memory and lay the groundwork for healthier tomorrows through community-focused solutions.
Access to subsidised nicotine replacement therapy in South AucklandSimon Thornley
1) The study examined rates of subsidized nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) claimed in Counties Manukau District Health Board in 2007 and found that overall, NRT was infrequently claimed, with only about 0.5% of residents obtaining NRT that year.
2) When adjusted for demographic factors, Pacific peoples were 60% less likely than Europeans to claim NRT, despite having higher smoking rates. Māori also had lower rates of NRT claims than Europeans after adjusting for smoking prevalence.
3) The majority (74%) of those who claimed NRT only obtained one month's supply, suggesting most smokers are not using NRT long enough (guidelines recommend at least 8 weeks
This document discusses sugar consumption trends in New Zealand and the potential health risks of high sugar intake. It notes that average daily sugar consumption in New Zealand increased 25% between 1961 and 2005, exceeding World Health Organization recommendations. While sugar provides calories, its high fructose content may impair glycemic control and metabolic health when consumed in large amounts. The document argues that sugar exhibits properties of an addictive substance and that population-level interventions, like sugar taxes, may be needed to curb consumption and related health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
This document summarizes the evidence linking sugar intake to cardiovascular disease risk. It finds relatively consistent evidence that markers of sugar intake are associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the disease itself. In contrast, the evidence linking saturated fat and salt to cardiovascular outcomes is weaker. The document also reviews the history of dietary guidelines focusing on fat and sugar, and how views have changed over time regarding sugar's role in disease risk.
The importance of treating tobacco dependenceSimon Thornley
1) Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Stopping smoking significantly reduces this risk and provides both short-term and long-term health benefits.
2) Healthcare providers should identify smokers and ensure they receive evidence-based cessation treatments including behavioral support and pharmacotherapy to maximize chances of long-term abstinence.
3) Physicians play a key role by advising patients to quit smoking and offering cessation support through brief counseling and recommending combinations of behavioral support and medication.
This document discusses making healthcare reform focus more on wellness and prevention rather than just sickness. It advocates for educating people about lifestyle choices that can improve health outcomes and reduce strain on the healthcare system. The author wants to start a wellness movement and lists 10 essentials for health and wellness, including getting proper nutrition, sleep, and developing emotional well-being practices like forgiveness. The rest of the document provides more details on specific health topics like homocysteine levels and recommends products like HCY Guard to support overall wellness goals.
The document discusses various topics related to health, nutrition, and weight loss. It provides quotes from experts on topics like the standard American diet being unhealthy, the role of food in chronic disease, and complexity of weight loss. It also shares tips for healthy eating like choosing whole foods, eating more plants, and focusing on satiety and taste rather than deprivation.
This document discusses how diet affects lifespan and health. Some key points:
1) Americans have a relatively high standard of living but also have unhealthy diets that are lowering lifespans. On average, Americans live to around 75 but diet-related diseases are stealing 20 good years of life.
2) Unhealthy foods like animal fats, vegetable oils, sugar, and salt contribute to diseases like heart attacks, cancer, and hypertension and are major culprits in reducing lifespans.
3) However, cutting back on fats, cholesterol, processed sugar, and increasing fiber intake can help prevent dieseases and extend healthy lifespans. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight through calorie control
Libby Doubler became overweight and depressed after caring for her sick husband for many years. She realized she needed to make changes when she looked at herself and didn't like what she saw. The document discusses how modern life exposes people to many environmental toxins through food, consumer products, and other sources. It provides information on common toxins, their sources and health effects. The author advocates reducing toxin exposure through diet and lifestyle changes. She also recommends using foods and herbs to support the body's natural detoxification processes and doing regular, supervised detoxes for health and weight loss.
Rethinking Diabetes: What Science Reveals About Diet, Insulin, and Successful...Lucky Gods
Break Free from the Blood Sugar Rollercoaster: Rethinking Diabetes insulin, diet, effective treatments
Forget everything you thought you knew about diabetes! This isn't a one-size-fits-all story, it's a transformative journey through the cutting-edge science of managing your blood sugar and thriving. ✨
Imagine this:
Waking up energized, your body a temple of strength and vitality.
Fueling your days with delicious, nutritious meals that don't feel like restrictions.
Taming stress and conquering cravings with science-backed tools.
**Unlocking the secrets of insulin and metabolic flexibility for lasting results.
Discovering a thriving community of support and understanding.
This ebook is your cheat code to unlocking a healthier, happier you. We'll equip you with the knowledge and tools to:
Ditch the myths and embrace the evidence-based truth about diabetes.
Craft a personalized plan for success, based on your unique needs and preferences.
Master the art of mindful eating and discover the power of food as medicine.
Unleash the potential of your own body with effective exercise and lifestyle strategies. ♀️
Navigate the world of medications and treatments with confidence.
Build resilience, overcome challenges, and celebrate every victory along the way.
This isn't just about managing diabetes; it's about reclaiming your health and embracing a vibrant, fulfilling life.
So, ditch the doubt, grab your curiosity, and let's rewrite the story of diabetes together!
This document provides a summary of a November 2009 newsletter from TriVita.com that includes the following:
1) An offer for a free product, FREE ENERGY NOW!, with the purchase of two other products, Nopalea and Sublingual B-12.
2) Stories about how Nopalea helped ease aches and pains from injuries in a rodeo rider and how it and Sublingual B-12 work as an anti-inflammatory duo.
3) A message from the CEO of TriVita about pursuing health reform that encourages supplementation and healthy lifestyle choices rather than just focusing on political debates over healthcare.
Fresh Start: The Instant Cure For Diabetes Fresh Start
Many diabetics put a lot of effort in trying to control their blood sugar for years, and still reach their goal. They add more pills and start injecting insulin. Yet blood sugar is still 21 in morning. However it is not only possible to control diabetes, but also to GET RID OF IT COMPLETELY. Just read out this document to know how you can get rid of this disease.
The document discusses the health risks of consuming too much sugar and the sugar industry's efforts to fight recommendations to reduce sugar intake. It notes that the WHO recommends consuming less than 10% of calories from sugar, compared to previous recommendations of 25-30%, due to links between excess sugar and obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. However, the sugar industry lobbies governments and politicians to protect profits and undermine the WHO report. It also discusses how sugar is hidden in many processed foods and drinks, contributing to rising obesity rates worldwide.
Did you know that the basic, type II diabetic can eliminate their condition through proper nutrition? Did you know it only takes about 30 days to be diabetes free? Watch and learn.
This document discusses the diabetes and obesity epidemics. It argues that type 2 diabetes is caused by the body's inability to properly metabolize fats and oils, rather than carbohydrates as traditionally believed. The rise of type 2 diabetes in the 1930s coincided with the introduction of processed vegetable oils and hydrogenated fats into the food supply. While early physicians recognized diet could treat this "insulin-resistant diabetes", later medical groups advised high-carb, low-fat diets that have exacerbated the epidemics. The document advocates replacing processed fats with healthy natural fats.
The document discusses diabetes and obesity. It defines the three main types of diabetes - type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is most common and is associated with obesity. The document also defines obesity clinically as a BMI over 30 kg/m^2. It notes that approximately 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are obese. The South region of the US has the highest obesity rates, which may be due to factors like poverty, fried foods, and limited access to healthy foods. There is a strong positive correlation between obesity and type 2 diabetes.
This chapter introduces the concept of "cold spots" - areas of the world where rates of chronic diseases like obesity, heart disease, and depression are remarkably low. The author tells the story of her patient Angela, who experienced dramatic weight loss and improved health and energy during extended stays in her family's village in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, but regained the weight and lost her vitality when returning to urban life. This piqued the author's curiosity. During her own month-long stay in a remote Peruvian village in the Amazon, she observed the villagers were generally fit and free from chronic diseases, unlike visitors who ate a typical Western diet. She began to investigate what factors in the indigenous diets and l
Diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure pose major health problems in the United States. Diabetes affects over 23 million Americans and costs $116 billion annually. Obesity is now the number one cause of liver disease and ranks as harmful as smoking. Many common foods and drinks contain high amounts of sugar that contribute to weight gain and health issues when consumed in excess. Alternative weight loss methods like HCG aim to help people safely lose weight and fat.
Food matters healthy choices for body & brainOther Mother
The document discusses obesity trends globally and in the United States. Some key points:
- Over 1 billion adults and over 40 million children under 5 are overweight or obese worldwide.
- In the US, over 2/3 of adults and over 1/3 of children are overweight or obese.
- Obesity is linked to increased risk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.
- Many factors contribute to obesity, including diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugars, lack of physical activity, sleep deprivation, stress, and consumption of processed foods.
- Adopting a low-carbohydrate diet focusing on proteins, fats, and non-starchy vegetables can help manage weight
The document discusses ways to keep your heart healthy on World Heart Day. It encourages people to make promises to live healthier lifestyles by eating well, being active, not smoking, managing stress, and learning CPR. The document provides tips in these areas and emphasizes that small changes can reduce heart disease risks and improve quality of life. It aims to inspire people to become "heart heroes" and take charge of their heart health.
The document discusses how the internet has enabled people with diabetes to connect through blogs and social networking sites. It introduces Diabetes Advocates, a collective of individuals and organizations that offers expertise, resources, and support to those touched by diabetes. Their goal is to help people with diabetes feel less alone by sharing experiences, treatment information, and inspiring dialogue between patients and medical providers. Brief profiles of three diabetes advocates are provided - Mila, who blogs in Spanish about life with her son who has type 1 diabetes in Puerto Rico; Simon, who discusses accepting his diabetes diagnosis and finding community online; and Mike, who founded DiabetesMine and discusses how connecting online helped overcome feelings of isolation.
This document provides a story about a boy named Brady who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 4. It describes the challenges of managing his condition through insulin injections and monitoring his blood sugar levels. At age 6, Brady started using an insulin pump which helped control his blood sugar more consistently compared to multiple daily injections, though he still experiences occasional dangerous highs or lows. The article highlights November as National Diabetes Awareness Month and hopes that continued research funding will lead to advancements and a potential cure for this chronic disease.
Keep Your Heart Healthy: 5 Heart Health Tips for SeniorsGriswold Home Care
February is a great time to think about your heart. Not only is it the month in which we celebrate love and romance, it’s also American Heart Month. But sadly, many of us give the hearts in our Valentine’s Day cards more thought than we do the hearts in our bodies. Start making your most valuable organ your top priority with these five tips to keep your heart healthy for a lifetime.
1) Indoor air pollution levels were measured before, during, and after a national smoking ban was implemented in New Zealand prisons.
2) Fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations were measured in a staff area of a maximum-security prison.
3) The geometric mean PM2.5 level declined from 6.58 μg/m3 before the ban to 5.17 μg/m3 during a tobacco sales ban, and further declined to 2.44 μg/m3 after a complete smoking ban was enforced - a 57% overall reduction.
This study analyzed a cohort of 1,182 people in New Zealand who were identified as having inadequate housing based on hospital admission records from 2002-2014. 10.7% of the cohort died during a median follow-up of 5.7 years. The median survival of the cohort was 63.5 years, about 20 years less than the general population. Within the cohort, Māori individuals and those diagnosed with substance use disorders or diabetes were at significantly higher risk of premature death.
More Related Content
Similar to Sweet Misery. Cover story featured in 'North and South'
This document discusses making healthcare reform focus more on wellness and prevention rather than just sickness. It advocates for educating people about lifestyle choices that can improve health outcomes and reduce strain on the healthcare system. The author wants to start a wellness movement and lists 10 essentials for health and wellness, including getting proper nutrition, sleep, and developing emotional well-being practices like forgiveness. The rest of the document provides more details on specific health topics like homocysteine levels and recommends products like HCY Guard to support overall wellness goals.
The document discusses various topics related to health, nutrition, and weight loss. It provides quotes from experts on topics like the standard American diet being unhealthy, the role of food in chronic disease, and complexity of weight loss. It also shares tips for healthy eating like choosing whole foods, eating more plants, and focusing on satiety and taste rather than deprivation.
This document discusses how diet affects lifespan and health. Some key points:
1) Americans have a relatively high standard of living but also have unhealthy diets that are lowering lifespans. On average, Americans live to around 75 but diet-related diseases are stealing 20 good years of life.
2) Unhealthy foods like animal fats, vegetable oils, sugar, and salt contribute to diseases like heart attacks, cancer, and hypertension and are major culprits in reducing lifespans.
3) However, cutting back on fats, cholesterol, processed sugar, and increasing fiber intake can help prevent dieseases and extend healthy lifespans. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight through calorie control
Libby Doubler became overweight and depressed after caring for her sick husband for many years. She realized she needed to make changes when she looked at herself and didn't like what she saw. The document discusses how modern life exposes people to many environmental toxins through food, consumer products, and other sources. It provides information on common toxins, their sources and health effects. The author advocates reducing toxin exposure through diet and lifestyle changes. She also recommends using foods and herbs to support the body's natural detoxification processes and doing regular, supervised detoxes for health and weight loss.
Rethinking Diabetes: What Science Reveals About Diet, Insulin, and Successful...Lucky Gods
Break Free from the Blood Sugar Rollercoaster: Rethinking Diabetes insulin, diet, effective treatments
Forget everything you thought you knew about diabetes! This isn't a one-size-fits-all story, it's a transformative journey through the cutting-edge science of managing your blood sugar and thriving. ✨
Imagine this:
Waking up energized, your body a temple of strength and vitality.
Fueling your days with delicious, nutritious meals that don't feel like restrictions.
Taming stress and conquering cravings with science-backed tools.
**Unlocking the secrets of insulin and metabolic flexibility for lasting results.
Discovering a thriving community of support and understanding.
This ebook is your cheat code to unlocking a healthier, happier you. We'll equip you with the knowledge and tools to:
Ditch the myths and embrace the evidence-based truth about diabetes.
Craft a personalized plan for success, based on your unique needs and preferences.
Master the art of mindful eating and discover the power of food as medicine.
Unleash the potential of your own body with effective exercise and lifestyle strategies. ♀️
Navigate the world of medications and treatments with confidence.
Build resilience, overcome challenges, and celebrate every victory along the way.
This isn't just about managing diabetes; it's about reclaiming your health and embracing a vibrant, fulfilling life.
So, ditch the doubt, grab your curiosity, and let's rewrite the story of diabetes together!
This document provides a summary of a November 2009 newsletter from TriVita.com that includes the following:
1) An offer for a free product, FREE ENERGY NOW!, with the purchase of two other products, Nopalea and Sublingual B-12.
2) Stories about how Nopalea helped ease aches and pains from injuries in a rodeo rider and how it and Sublingual B-12 work as an anti-inflammatory duo.
3) A message from the CEO of TriVita about pursuing health reform that encourages supplementation and healthy lifestyle choices rather than just focusing on political debates over healthcare.
Fresh Start: The Instant Cure For Diabetes Fresh Start
Many diabetics put a lot of effort in trying to control their blood sugar for years, and still reach their goal. They add more pills and start injecting insulin. Yet blood sugar is still 21 in morning. However it is not only possible to control diabetes, but also to GET RID OF IT COMPLETELY. Just read out this document to know how you can get rid of this disease.
The document discusses the health risks of consuming too much sugar and the sugar industry's efforts to fight recommendations to reduce sugar intake. It notes that the WHO recommends consuming less than 10% of calories from sugar, compared to previous recommendations of 25-30%, due to links between excess sugar and obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. However, the sugar industry lobbies governments and politicians to protect profits and undermine the WHO report. It also discusses how sugar is hidden in many processed foods and drinks, contributing to rising obesity rates worldwide.
Did you know that the basic, type II diabetic can eliminate their condition through proper nutrition? Did you know it only takes about 30 days to be diabetes free? Watch and learn.
This document discusses the diabetes and obesity epidemics. It argues that type 2 diabetes is caused by the body's inability to properly metabolize fats and oils, rather than carbohydrates as traditionally believed. The rise of type 2 diabetes in the 1930s coincided with the introduction of processed vegetable oils and hydrogenated fats into the food supply. While early physicians recognized diet could treat this "insulin-resistant diabetes", later medical groups advised high-carb, low-fat diets that have exacerbated the epidemics. The document advocates replacing processed fats with healthy natural fats.
The document discusses diabetes and obesity. It defines the three main types of diabetes - type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is most common and is associated with obesity. The document also defines obesity clinically as a BMI over 30 kg/m^2. It notes that approximately 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are obese. The South region of the US has the highest obesity rates, which may be due to factors like poverty, fried foods, and limited access to healthy foods. There is a strong positive correlation between obesity and type 2 diabetes.
This chapter introduces the concept of "cold spots" - areas of the world where rates of chronic diseases like obesity, heart disease, and depression are remarkably low. The author tells the story of her patient Angela, who experienced dramatic weight loss and improved health and energy during extended stays in her family's village in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, but regained the weight and lost her vitality when returning to urban life. This piqued the author's curiosity. During her own month-long stay in a remote Peruvian village in the Amazon, she observed the villagers were generally fit and free from chronic diseases, unlike visitors who ate a typical Western diet. She began to investigate what factors in the indigenous diets and l
Diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure pose major health problems in the United States. Diabetes affects over 23 million Americans and costs $116 billion annually. Obesity is now the number one cause of liver disease and ranks as harmful as smoking. Many common foods and drinks contain high amounts of sugar that contribute to weight gain and health issues when consumed in excess. Alternative weight loss methods like HCG aim to help people safely lose weight and fat.
Food matters healthy choices for body & brainOther Mother
The document discusses obesity trends globally and in the United States. Some key points:
- Over 1 billion adults and over 40 million children under 5 are overweight or obese worldwide.
- In the US, over 2/3 of adults and over 1/3 of children are overweight or obese.
- Obesity is linked to increased risk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.
- Many factors contribute to obesity, including diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugars, lack of physical activity, sleep deprivation, stress, and consumption of processed foods.
- Adopting a low-carbohydrate diet focusing on proteins, fats, and non-starchy vegetables can help manage weight
The document discusses ways to keep your heart healthy on World Heart Day. It encourages people to make promises to live healthier lifestyles by eating well, being active, not smoking, managing stress, and learning CPR. The document provides tips in these areas and emphasizes that small changes can reduce heart disease risks and improve quality of life. It aims to inspire people to become "heart heroes" and take charge of their heart health.
The document discusses how the internet has enabled people with diabetes to connect through blogs and social networking sites. It introduces Diabetes Advocates, a collective of individuals and organizations that offers expertise, resources, and support to those touched by diabetes. Their goal is to help people with diabetes feel less alone by sharing experiences, treatment information, and inspiring dialogue between patients and medical providers. Brief profiles of three diabetes advocates are provided - Mila, who blogs in Spanish about life with her son who has type 1 diabetes in Puerto Rico; Simon, who discusses accepting his diabetes diagnosis and finding community online; and Mike, who founded DiabetesMine and discusses how connecting online helped overcome feelings of isolation.
This document provides a story about a boy named Brady who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 4. It describes the challenges of managing his condition through insulin injections and monitoring his blood sugar levels. At age 6, Brady started using an insulin pump which helped control his blood sugar more consistently compared to multiple daily injections, though he still experiences occasional dangerous highs or lows. The article highlights November as National Diabetes Awareness Month and hopes that continued research funding will lead to advancements and a potential cure for this chronic disease.
Keep Your Heart Healthy: 5 Heart Health Tips for SeniorsGriswold Home Care
February is a great time to think about your heart. Not only is it the month in which we celebrate love and romance, it’s also American Heart Month. But sadly, many of us give the hearts in our Valentine’s Day cards more thought than we do the hearts in our bodies. Start making your most valuable organ your top priority with these five tips to keep your heart healthy for a lifetime.
Similar to Sweet Misery. Cover story featured in 'North and South' (20)
1) Indoor air pollution levels were measured before, during, and after a national smoking ban was implemented in New Zealand prisons.
2) Fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations were measured in a staff area of a maximum-security prison.
3) The geometric mean PM2.5 level declined from 6.58 μg/m3 before the ban to 5.17 μg/m3 during a tobacco sales ban, and further declined to 2.44 μg/m3 after a complete smoking ban was enforced - a 57% overall reduction.
This study analyzed a cohort of 1,182 people in New Zealand who were identified as having inadequate housing based on hospital admission records from 2002-2014. 10.7% of the cohort died during a median follow-up of 5.7 years. The median survival of the cohort was 63.5 years, about 20 years less than the general population. Within the cohort, Māori individuals and those diagnosed with substance use disorders or diabetes were at significantly higher risk of premature death.
Mental Health and Carbohydrate consumptionSimon Thornley
This document discusses the link between dopamine release in the midbrain and psychosis, addiction, and reward. It hypothesizes that consumption of refined carbohydrates may stimulate the same mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway in the brain, rewarding overeating and resulting in obesity. The theory also aims to explain weight gain from antipsychotic drugs in people with psychosis. It suggests that modified carbohydrate diets could help treat psychosis symptoms as an adjunct to medication.
This document summarizes a study that assessed the validity of diabetes prevalence data derived from health records by comparing it to a primary care database called PREDICT. The study found:
1) The diabetes prevalence rates from the algorithm and PREDICT were similar at 20.1% and 20.9% respectively.
2) There was good agreement between the two data sources, with the algorithm showing 86% sensitivity and 96% specificity compared to PREDICT.
3) Using capture-recapture analysis, the algorithm undercounted diabetes prevalence by around 15% compared to 10% for PREDICT, suggesting the algorithm provides an accurate and cost-effective method for determining diabetes prevalence.
The document discusses addiction from multiple perspectives. It defines key features of addiction like loss of control, withdrawal symptoms, and tolerance. It explains how nicotine causes addiction in the brain and smoking cessation methods like nicotine replacement therapy and behavioral support. While food consumption can show addictive-like behaviors for some, whether obesity is truly an addiction at a population level is still controversial.
This document summarizes a study that compared the effects of a 4-mg nicotine pouch to nicotine gum and a placebo pouch on relieving tobacco withdrawal symptoms. 30 adult smokers participated in a randomized, crossover trial where they reported withdrawal symptoms before and after using each product on separate study days. The nicotine pouch was found to reduce craving and irritability more than the gum. Participants also rated the pouch as more helpful for stopping smoking and more pleasant to use than the gum. The results suggest the nicotine pouch is as effective as gum at relieving craving and withdrawal and may be a preferable product for some smokers.
Regional and individual differences in cycling participationSimon Thornley
This document summarizes a study that analyzed census data from New Zealand from 1991 to 2006 to examine regional and individual differences in cycling and walking to work. The key findings were:
- Over 80% of New Zealanders drove to work privately, while 7% walked and 3% cycled. Driving increased while active commuting decreased from 1991-2006.
- Auckland had the lowest rates of cycling and walking to work, while Wellington and Nelson saw increases in walking, possibly due to infrastructure investments.
- Cycling declined with age nationally, while walking was U-shaped. Younger cycling and older walking declined substantially from 1991-2006.
- More men cycled while more women walked
The document discusses strategies for reducing tobacco harm in New Zealand. It agrees that increasing options for smokers who find quitting difficult is urgent. However, it argues that more can be done with existing nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) before introducing new tobacco products like Swedish snus. Specifically, the document suggests exploring longer-term NRT treatment and faster-acting NRT products first to help more smokers reduce harm from tobacco use. Introducing snus raises concerns about evidence of effectiveness, impacts on indigenous Māori populations, ties to the tobacco industry, and potential health risks from tobacco-specific nitrosamines.
This document describes a mathematical model of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission applied to the New Zealand Tongan population. The model predicts that with current infant vaccination coverage of 53%, chronic HBV prevalence will plateau at 2% over 250 years. However, 73% vaccination coverage is needed to eliminate HBV long-term. Improving coverage to 85% through targeted vaccination could arrest transmission within a generation and eliminate HBV, similar to outcomes in Taiwan and Alaska with similar policies. Screening and disease management may also help reduce the HBV burden, though its precise impact is hard to quantify. Mathematical models can help evaluate different control strategies for high prevalence populations.
Taupo bicycle study: fluoro colours and crash riskSimon Thornley
The document summarizes the methods and preliminary findings of the Taupo Bicycle Study, a longitudinal study of cyclists in New Zealand. The study involved an online survey of 2,469 cyclists who participated in the annual Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge. The survey collected data on demographics, cycling habits, and self-reported bicycle crashes over the past year that led to injuries requiring at least one day of missed daily activities or medical care. Preliminary findings showed that the annual incidence of injurious crashes was 0.5 per cyclist and the average days of work missed due to crashes was 0.39 per cyclist. Wearing fluorescent colors was associated with a lower rate of days off work due to crashes after
Taupo bicycle study: fluoro colours and crash risk
Sweet Misery. Cover story featured in 'North and South'
1. + Cover story
Sweet
Misery
Is sugar
the new
fat – and
will it
cause the
next wave
of heart
disease?
Donna
Chisholm
reports.
B
y god, we fell like flies in those prosecution against sugar was British
days: 1960s New Zealand – land researcher Professor John Yudkin from the
of full-cream milk and honey. The University of London, author of Pure, White
days when Mum kept the drip- and Deadly. Heading the case against fat
ping from the Sunday roast in the was American nutritionist Ancel Keys, who
old Wattie’s fruit can by the oven so she could initiated the 25-year-long Seven Countries
fry the chips in it later. The days when you Study that first confirmed the links between
got olive oil from the chemist and you didn’t diet, blood cholesterol levels and heart
buy it to eat but to soften the wax in your ears. disease. Eventually, Yudkin would be
The days when about 7000 of us every year discredited by his funding from the dairy
dropped dead from heart disease. industry while Keys died in 2006 at the age
It wasn’t just us, of course, although as a of 100, a scientific hero.
farming nation we had a big appetite for Back at home, the Heart Foundation came
animals. Internationally, doctors couldn’t along in 1968 and in the 1970s began to
agree on the cause for the heart disease spread the message to reduce our dietary
epidemic, but there were two obvious fat intake, stop smoking and up our exercise.
dietary culprits: sugar and fat. Leading the In 1972, in Auckland, we got off our chuffs
and started running round the bays every
year. By the end of the 1970s came the first
donna chisholm is north & South’s
signals our healthier lifestyle was saving
GETTY IMAGES
editor-at-large. pHOTOGRAPHY BY
JUSTIN LAMBERT AND ADRIAN MALLOCH. lives: heart disease death rates began to fall.
3 4 | N O R T H & S O U T H | N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 2 N O R T H & S O U T H | N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 2 | 3 5
2. What to Do About It) and Australian lawyer make them feel better.
David Gillespie (Sweet Poison), who lost “Most people don’t eat because they think
40kg by cutting out sugar. they have to meet some energy demand.
The theory is attracting followers here They eat because they’re hungry and part
(see Sugar Free, page 42), which is no sur- of this hunger is very similar to the with-
prise given New Zealanders are among the drawal syndrome from drugs of abuse.”
largest sugar consumers in the world: we So far, so straightforward. But here’s
each scoff more than 39kg every year com- where we need to explain a little more about
pared to Britons’ 34kg, for example. fructose. Until recently, it’s been the silent
But with all the conflicting advice, which 50-50 partner, with glucose, in sugar. Most
can we rely on? What is the relationship be- of us have heard of glucose, but we know
tween sugar and our weight, and sugar and less about fructose, other than that it’s what
our heart health? makes fruit taste sweet. The fact fructose
The answer is the same as with most comes from fruit has been largely respon-
relationships: it’s complicated. sible for its pristine reputation – but the
P
way it’s been harnessed commercially has,
ADRIAN MALLOCH
ublic health physician Simon in the United States at least, seen it assume
Thornley has put sugar in the a new status as obesity villain.
dock. His waistline has found it Fructose has been particularly targeted by Public health physician Simon Thornley.
guilty and discharged fat, the co- Robert Lustig, who sheets blame for the obe-
accused, without conviction. sity epidemic back to former US President
At Auckland University’s School of Popu- Richard Nixon, who encouraged farmers
lation Health, where Thornley works as a
research fellow, it’s a polarising position
into industrial-scale production of corn in
an effort to stabilise food prices as part of his
tose intake because it didn’t increase blood
glucose levels. But what they were soon to
“Most people don’t
but, as we’ve explained, one which is clearly “war on poverty”. From corn came high- learn was the downside of fructose: it raises eat to meet some
influencing a public, if not professional re- fructose corn syrup (55 per cent fructose and levels of a type of cholesterol (LDL) – which energy demand.
think of decades of dietary advice.
Somewhat controversially, within his de-
45 per cent glucose), which was about twice
as sweet and half the cost of sugar.
has been linked to heart attacks – in the blood.
While Otago University’s world-renowned
They eat because
partment, Thornley has not only switched to Soon, in the US, high-fructose corn syrup nutrition expert Professor Jim Mann accepts they’re hungry and
a low-sugar diet these past couple of years, would replace sugar in everything from that sugar can raise blood levels of triglycer- part of this hunger
And they have kept falling ever since. Today,
they are an astonishing 80 per cent lower than
Heart disease but he’s also increased his saturated fats,
changing from skim to blue-top milk, from
pizzas and bread to soft drinks. And because
it was cheap, and we are programmed to like
ides – another chemical compound linked to
heart disease – he says his own work for his
is very similar to
they were at their peak in the 1960s. And yet death rates are an low-fat yoghurt to the Greek full-fat version, sweet food – because we need glucose to PhD thesis 40 years ago showed very large the withdrawal
we’re fatter than we’ve ever been, with more astonishing 80 per and even frying an egg in butter for survive and sweetness is an evolutionary amounts are required before it has that effect syndrome from
than a quarter of us considered obese.
Now, though, it’s predicted the rate of im-
cent lower than breakfast.
This year, Thornley co-authored Sickly
signal for food safety – it was soon being
pumped into products that hadn’t been
and Lustig’s description of sugar as toxic is
“over the top”.
drugs of abuse.”
provement in heart disease death rates will they were at their Sweet, a book which investigated the role of sweetened before, including sauces, salad But, he says, very much more sophisti- Public health physician
Simon Thornley (above).
soon start to plateau and even reverse. The peak in the 1960s. sugar, and sugar addiction, in global obesity. dressings and even hamburger meat. cated experiments are now being done,
disease is the same, but its profile is differ- Thornley says he was exposed to the “low- But Lustig goes further than saying we’re particularly in regard to uric acid, which is
ent. While smoking rates, blood pressure and
And yet we’re fatter fat mantra” at medical school in the 1990s eating too much fructose and it’s making us also believed to be important in a range of
cholesterol levels are all improving, obesity than we’ve ever and for the next 10 years he went along with fat. He contends it’s poisoning us, because metabolic disorders that lead to obesity and
and diabetes-related mortality is on the rise. been, with more it. He says he ended up packing on 15kg. of the way the body metabolises it. diabetes. It’s those metabolic abnormalities
Enter the new vanguard of dietary gurus It was while working on techniques to help Now for a quick lesson in biochemistry to which can then cause cardiovascular disease. flavour of syrup-sweetened Coca-Cola for
telling us we’ve been sold a pup with this
than a quarter of us smokers quit that he read Robert Atkins’ low- learn about the different ways we respond While Mann says he’s regarded as “one of example. But as several experts pointed out,
low-fat message. The real problem, they say, considered obese. carb weight-loss book – which fuelled a rash to fructose, and to glucose. When we take in the arch-enemies of the sugar industry”, he’s the difference between the syrup, which is
is sugar. of low-carb diets – and found a reference to glucose, the pancreas releases insulin to me- appeared in debates with Lustig in the past 55 per cent fructose, and sugar, which is 50
Today’s debate echoes that of the 1960s, in an overweight executive addicted to sugar, tabolise it. Eighty per cent of the glucose we and says there’s “no evidence whatsoever” per cent fructose, isn’t that great anyway.
that the San Francisco paediatric endocri- who experienced symptoms similar to a eat is used to provide instant energy. About for Lustig’s theory that sugar, rather than fat, And we have also fallen victim to the food
nologist leading this new wave of advice is smoker trying to give up nicotine. 20 per cent is delivered to and processed by is the culprit in coronary heart disease. “He industry’s relentless marketing of “low-fat”
self-described Yudkin acolyte Robert Lustig. Seven years later, Thornley has taken a the liver, where most is converted to glyco- hasn’t got enough evidence to say that, in food as a healthy alternative – despite the
Lustig, whose Bitter Truth video on YouTube “what if” idea to develop his hypothesis that gen and stored for later use. A very small amounts typically consumed by you and me fact the flavour lost from fat has been re-
has attracted nearly three million hits, calls sugar – or at least, the fructose component of amount is converted to fat. and people like us, sugar is uniquely bad by placed by sugar or salt.
Yudkin a prophet who was “thrown under sugar – is addictive, and our craving for it can Fructose, on the other hand, does not virtue of being sugar.” But he does agree that Whether that’s been a deliberate or
the bus” by a food industry eyeing big dollars overwhelm our satiety response and make us stimulate the release of insulin – the process sugar promotes obesity, obesity drives dia- accidental evil depends on your inter
from “low-fat” food. keep eating when we’ve already had enough. that signals we’re full. Instead, fructose is betes and diabetes increases the risk of heart pretation of events. “A Chinese whispers
While Lustig’s message has failed to get He says while people often report feeling absorbed from the small bowel and broken disease and stroke. thing happened,” says former National Heart
widespread backing from the medical pro- “hypo” – shaky, weak and craving a sugar hit down by the liver where it is converted mostly While the infamous high-fructose corn Foundation director Dr Boyd Swinburn, now
fession, it’s embraced by a number of influ- – those who aren’t diabetic or on pills to to fat, or uric acid (which causes gout). syrup is now ubiquitous in the food chain in professor of population nutrition at Auckland
ential authors, including American science lower their blood glucose levels would never Relatively recently, diabetic groups even the US, its use has not been widespread here. University. “Scientists said – and still say –
CORBIS
writer Gary Taubes (Why We Get Fat: And get truly hypoglycaemic. But sugary food can advocated their members increase their fruc- New Zealanders have never embraced the that a diet relatively high in fat will cause an
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3. increase in weight. That then got flipped explain why we just keep eating if we’re full.”
The Sweeteners into a diet low in fat will help lose or Thornley is keen to do that work, but has
I
maintain weight, and that got flipped into been stymied by lack of funding. In the
f you’ve switched natural a diet high in carbohydrates must therefore meantime, he is his own one-person clini-
sweeteners, from table sugar be good for you and that got flipped into cal trial and says he’s finding that the less
to honey – maybe maple syrup eating more of the stuff is good for you… So sugar he eats, the less hungry he feels. “I
or the even more exotic agave you had the whole industry push around used to feel hungry all the time. And while
nectar – in the belief you’re low fat, and eat more of this because it’s low I haven’t dramatically lost weight, I now
doing yourself a dietary favour, fat, when it happened to be loaded up with don’t need to snack all the time.”
the unpalatable truth remains sugar. The industry spin on the science, Instead of a breakfast cereal that’s 30 per
that it’s not so much the quality when it got turned into marketing, became cent sugar, he’ll now have an egg, scrambled
of a sweetener as the quantity an overconsumption message.” or fried, and he’s given up fruit juice. “I used
consumed that ultimately finds Swinburn says studies show that people, to drink a lot of juice because I thought it
its way to your waist and hips. particularly women and women dieters, see was good for me because it’s natural, but it’s
Certainly, honey, maple syrup, a “97 per cent fat-free” product as a signal also got a very high concentration of
golden syrup and the family of that it’s OK to eat more of it. “If people are fructose.”
brown sugars (including muscovado, given two yoghurts for morning tea, and one The higher fat does seem to be having an
demerara and rapadura) impart is labelled low- or no-fat, and then they’re effect, though. His “bad” LDL cholesterol
flavour to food and drink that’s able to eat whatever they want at lunchtime, has gone up, while his “good” HDL choles-
getty
lacking in white “table sugar”. those who’ve had the low-fat version do the terol remains high. “But,” he rationalises,
And there are traces of minerals calorie count in their heads and eat more at “low HDL is more strongly associated with
in brown sugars and maple syrup, lunch. So it’s not only a metabolic issue, but heart disease than high LDL.”
although not in meaningful amounts a psychological one as well.” It’s impossible to discuss Thornley’s
for nutrition. “Active” manuka Similarly, Auckland University epidemiolo- theories without at least a nod to the
honey has also been shown to have gist Professor Rod Jackson identifies a prob- glycaemic index. Most of us have heard of it
some health benefits – wound lem with the bastardisation, over the years, – food with a lower GI rating helps us feel
healing among them – unrelated of the “eat less saturated fat” message to a full for longer. Food with a higher rating
to its calorific content. Don’t be simpler one of “eat less fat”. This has meant causes higher peaks in our blood sugar levels,
fooled, though. The way our bodies all fats – even the vegetable fats which don’t with a corresponding increased release of
metabolise the molecules in different harm your heart but are equally calorific – insulin. In fact, so much insulin can be
sweeteners may vary, but they’re have been removed and the only way to com- released that it causes a kind of rebound
all sugars and carbohydrates. pensate for the loss of taste has been to add effect, gobbling up so much glucose from the
New Zealand sugar is mostly sugar, which can also make us fat; or salt, blood that it takes it below the normal
sourced from sugar cane, whereas which can lead to high blood pressure. baseline – making us hungry again more
Europe gets the bulk of its supply “It seems kind of weird that you reduce quickly.
from beets. High-fructose corn your fat intake and get fatter. But I think it’s Ironically, a teaspoon of sugar is only mod-
syrup, extracted from corn, is a possible if the price we’ve paid for eating erately high in GI with a ranking of 65, com-
largely American food-ingredient less fat has been eating more sugar.” pared to a medium boiled potato with 88.
phenomenon. Its recent bad To Jackson the solution seems simple – A slice of banana cake weighs in at 47 and a
press, both for its ubiquity and replace more of the sugar with non-animal Snickers bar 41 – mainly because of fats
JUSTIN LAMBERT
high fructose content (see fats. “If you eat less saturated fat and less which slow the rate at which foods leave the
page 37), has seen some food salt and don’t smoke, the benefits of that stomach.
manufacturers switching to other overwhelmingly outweigh the harms of get- “GI is useful for differentiating starchy foods
sweeteners and publicising the ting fatter. I’m not suggesting fat is good, in terms of their ability to deliver glucose,”
fact on their packaging – boldly, but a lot of other causes of heart disease are says Thornley, “but as a predictor of the ad- Dr Boyd Swinburn, professor of population
as plastered across this box of more important than being fat.” dictive ability of food, it totally misses sugar.” 2008-2009 that suggested our total calorie nutrition at Auckland University. “The
shredded wheat breakfast cereal Jackson is horrified Thornley is increasing National Addiction Centre director Pro- intake had significantly declined since 1997. industry spin on the science, when it
got turned into marketing, became
(left) from a US supermarket. his saturated fat intake while cutting out fessor Doug Sellman has also recently talked “It has to be wrong,” says Jackson. “We’ve an overconsumption message.”
The best way to get your sweet sugar, saying the evidence against saturated about food addiction, particularly junk-food got fatter and yet our activity levels haven’t
fix? Dieticians will always champion fat is overwhelming. However, he believes addiction, saying it should be recognised as changed much. What’s happened is that
fruit, eaten fresh and whole (rather Thornley’s addiction theory is “an interesting a medical condition. Likewise, scientists at since 1997 almost every newspaper every
than juiced), and naturally sweet hypothesis that theoretically and biochemi- the University of Michigan have reported other day has an article about obesity. It’s
vegetables such as carrots. One cally looks important. Maybe we’ve addicted how foods high in fat and sugar triggered a become the new tobacco and that would lead
110g apple, for instance, has 6g a whole population because we’ve increased spike in an opioid-like chemical in the brain people to under-report. I don’t think there’s
fructose, 3g glucose, 2g sucrose – the sugar in food. of rats. The stronger the rise in the brain any doubt we’re eating more of everything
a total of 11g carbohydrate – but “We’re talking real generalities, but if we’ve chemical, the faster the rats raced to eat the except saturated fat and salt.”
with the health-bearing benefits of replaced fat with sugar and sugar is addictive, sugary food – in this case M&Ms. And yet a paper published by the Public
plentiful vitamins and minerals and maybe that’s what we’ve done. It kind of fits, But confounding this whole argument that Health Nutrition Journal in 2007, of which
a good dose of dietary fibre, too. it’s feasible and it’s worth pursuing in more eating more sugar is making us fat are the Otago associate professor Winsome Parnell
studies because if it’s true it would help findings of the National Nutrition Survey in was the lead author, used the nutrition survey
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4. data to conclude: “Current sugars or sucrose weight gain in children and a “low-hanging very fast – and makes it likely we wouldn’t
intake is not associated with body weight fruit” for public health initiatives. Gerhard be told about it anyway. Sanitarium’s nutri-
status in the New Zealand population.” Sundborn, an epidemiology research fellow tion services manager, Cherry Downing, says
Jim Mann, who is listed as a co-author in at Auckland University’s School of Popula- while they’re always looking to make health-
the study, distanced himself from the tion Health, has written a post-doctoral pa- ier options, “we’re up against other manu-
conclusion when contacted by North & South, per suggesting an “end game” for sugar- facturers who might still be putting certain
agreeing with us that it would be “totally sweetened drinks similar to the government’s levels of sugar in”. And if the product doesn’t
misleading” to a lay reader. He says his only proposal to eliminate smoking by 2025. taste good, consumers won’t buy it.
contribution to the paper had been to include While the American Heart Association rec- The company does provide low-sugar
a paragraph pointing out that a cross-sectional ommends a daily intake of just six teaspoons cereals, including Weet-Bix, San Bran and
study such as the nutrition survey, which of sugar a day for women, nine teaspoons for Puffed Wheat. Weet-Bix, which are very
questioned people about what they’d eaten men and three for children, we’re eating far low in sugar, remain the country’s number
over the past 24 hours, meant the data could in excess of that, with a median intake of 24 one cereal – although Downing acknow
not be used to imply cause and effect. teaspoons for women, 30 for men and around ledged many customers would add sugar
Acknowledgments in the paper say 26 for children. Given a 600ml bottle of soft or other sweeteners.
“secondary analyses” of the nutrition survey drink contains about 16 teaspoons, eliminat- Heart Foundation medical director and
data was commissioned by NZ Sugar Ltd – ing just one drink a day could do much to former cardiologist Dr Norman Sharpe says
effectively Chelsea Sugar – which funds the reduce that consumption. the foundation wouldn’t be collaborating
NZ Sugar Advisory Service. The service’s An analysis of international research with fast-food chains any time soon in its
stated aim is to “encourage appropriate use suggests it’s highly likely sugar-sweetened initiatives to reduce sugar, fat and salt.
and enjoyment of sugar as part of a healthy drinks are the single largest driver of un Auckland University “It’s a no-win situation. They’ll give a little
and balanced diet”. healthy weight. One major American study epidemiologist Professor here, then rip you off over there. They’ll put
Parnell is listed on the service’s website as reported they accounted for 20 per cent of Rod Jackson: “It seems in the token salad, but they’re still marketing
kind of weird that you
Negotiating the a member of its advisory panel.
Parnell says she is not on the company’s
the weight increase in the US over 30 years
from 1977. But any attempt to restrict them
reduce your fat intake
and get fatter. But I think
it [fast food]. The Heart Foundation worked
with McDonald’s in Australia and got badly
Sugar Maze payroll, but sometimes receives a small hono- will face a pushback from the industry and it’s possible if the price burned. They got set up, and McDonald’s
JUSTIN LAMBERT
we’ve paid for eating
rarium to cover costs. Asked if there was a opposition to “nanny state” ideology. John less fat has been eating used their brand to market their product.
We asked nutritionists for some risk that being an adviser for a number of Key’s government, for example, moved swiftly more sugar.” You get families in through marketing some
dietary advice to guide us years to the company could be perceived as salad, but the kids are still going to buy the
through the sugar-fat maze. compromising her, she replied: “I don’t care rest of the junk. It was a fiasco.”
what you think about it. I don’t care what any- In 2010, Weight Watchers in New Zealand
Elaine Rush, professor of nutrition one thinks. My conscience is entirely clear. collaborated with McDonald’s and endorsed
at Auckland University of Technology: I’ve professionally advised Heinz Wattie’s for in 2009 to revoke the Labour govern ent’s
m regular Coke. The company referred us to three of their meals, a move criticised at the
• Physical activity churns up the 20 years. I am impartial in the advice I give. requirement that schools were to sell only Winsome Parnell for additional comment. time by Boyd Swinburn. “Make no mistake,
glucose. You’re better able to process I don’t think they like all the advice I give.” healthy food – a change the Heart Foundation Food and Grocery Council chief executive this is about selling more burgers and fries.”
sugar the more active you are. She says the paper in Public Nutrition was described as a giant leap backwards. Katherine Rich says council members, in- Sharpe says while the Heart Foundation
• If you gradually cut down sugar, for not intended for a lay audience. Most recent advances, though, have been cluding Nestlé, Coca-Cola Amatil, Tasti, had been very successful in working “under
example in tea and coffee, your taste Parnell says she never picks out a particu- the result of collaboration rather than Cerebos, Fonterra and Hansells, are heavily the radar” with the food industry to reduce
buds will start to adapt to the change. lar nutrient as a cause of obesity; obesity re- legislation. For example, in 2006, McDonald’s involved in promoting healthy food mes- salt in bread – 150 tonnes was taken out of
• Staff cafeterias can ask vending- sults from an energy imbalance. “I have not and Coca-Cola joined a Counties-Manukau sages. “I suspect they’re investing more than the national food supply annually – it was
machine operators to change the been convinced by the literature that sugar District Health Board “Let’s Beat Diabetes” the government. Sugar is the focus at the a slow process and with it went the risk of
position of products so healthier options as a nutrient is any more involved in causing initiative and trialled the replacement of moment but it wasn’t so long ago that the “capture by the food industry”.
such as water are in first line of sight. obesity than too much fat. Often the two go Sprite with Sprite Zero for six months in all big discussion was about fat or salt. You can “Basically, we’re outgunned and outnum-
• Eating the vegetables on your together in food anyway.” It was a “gross 21 McDonald’s restaurants in Counties- take out as much as you like but eventually bered.”
plate first can help to fill you up generalisation” to say sugar promoted Manukau. When consumers didn’t oppose you find yourself eating cardboard.” He admitted the foundation had also been
and reduce your intake of less obesity. the change – or even notice it, it seems – the Some confectionary companies had re- burned when it gave a “tick” to Milo in 2008
healthy food at the same sitting. Parnell has also been quoted in the past as sugar-free drink became the “default” duced portion sizes “with well-intentioned when Nestlé simply advised consumers to
saying banning fizzy drinks from schools lemonade served throughout the country. reasons but the cheap shot is often you’re use less of it. “The tick is a bit of a trap,” says
Helen Eyles, public health would do nothing to stop the high levels of This, and a 40 per cent reduction in sugar only doing that to save money”. She con- Sharpe, “because it doesn’t necessarily mean
nutritionist for the National Institute for sugar children were getting from powdered in McDonald’s buns about the same time, ceded, however, that smaller portions didn’t the product is recommended but within its
Health Innovation at Auckland University: fruit-flavoured drinks at home. removed 300 tonnes of sugar a year from the always bring smaller prices. “To embark on category it’s the healthier choice.”
• If you’re trying to keep to foods with no She told North South that if she were an chain’s menus in New Zealand. McDonald’s a programme that removes sugar is com- Sharpe says while our declining heart dis-
more than 10 per cent sugar content, overweight teen, she’d choose a sugar-free told us the same deal isn’t being considered pletely unnecessary because we’re talking ease death rates are encouraging, we can’t
make sure you factor in serving size. version of a soft drink but she would not gen- for Coke and Coke Zero because it believes about a natural product that’s an integral afford to be complacent in the face of the
For example, soft drinks have only eight eralise for all. “There are many very under- the taste is noticeably different. part of a healthy diet. It has to be all things obesity and diabetes tsunami looming, and
grams of sugar per 100 grams, but weight young people who drink a sweetened An analysis of international research suggests Coca-Cola says while it won’t divulge sales in moderation.” sugar is an obvious next target. “We have the
it’s highly likely sugar-sweetened drinks
the average drink is three times that. drink. If you took that away, they might fade figures, Coke Zero and Diet Coke are now Rich also suggested we approach Win- fat down in the diet but sugar is the new fat.
are the single largest driver of unhealthy
• A low-GI breakfast such as porridge away, I don’t know.” weight. One major American study reported the third and fourth most popular of its some Parnell for comment. It’s all about energy imbalance. Sugar has
will keep you feeling full for longer than However, many others in the field have tar- they accounted for 20 per cent of the weight drinks brands and Coke Zero sales increased Competitive edge is one reason sugar prob- been substituted for fat and the portion size
CORBIS
increase in the US over 30 years from 1977.
a highly processed, sweetened cereal. geted soft drinks as both a cause of unhealthy 8.6 per cent last year – a bigger increase than ably won’t be reduced in food very much or has gone up and the result is carnage.”
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5. Though his wife has since abandoned
the sugar-free diet because she’s
pregnant, Marshall says he’s happy to
Junk Food and keep going. Sticking to the new plan
has also been made easier by the fact
Alzheimer’s two of his IT colleagues at Auckland
W
University, David Glen and Chris
Sugar Free
hen New Scientist
magazine reported Groom, are on similar programmes.
in September on Glen says his father recommended the
research linking junk- sugar-free way after reading Gary Taubes’
food diets and insulin resistance to Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It.
Alzheimer’s disease, it confirmed work “I laughed at him and said all the research
done more than 10 years ago by Auckland says a high-fat diet and meat is not good
scientist Professor Garth Cooper. for you and we should be eating more
An Auckland couple kick the sweet stuff. carbs.” But after getting the book himself,
Cooper and his colleagues from Auckland
University and Christchurch Medical School and hearing other experts whose views
described in 2001 how the “misfolding”, or he respected give the idea credence, he
began reducing his sugar and carb intake.
W
changing shape of proteins in the pancreas
of diabetics, mimicked changes in the hen IT professional his weight ballooning from its usual While he didn’t have Marshall’s
brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer’s. Donovan Marshall, 34, and 90kg to 115kg. For someone who’s prodigious appetite for sweets, Glen,
He says there’s now widespread belief his wife Margo went cold 165cm tall, it was, says Marshall 34, says he often felt hungry on the
that type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s are turkey on sugar earlier “a little on the heavy side”. way home and if he was filling up the
either very similar or “more closely linked this year, they didn’t give temptation a The first change was having breakfast car at a petrol station he’d buy a bag
than that”. In fact, some researchers now look-in. They took the chocolate, biscuits, – although, given that was a Carls Jr of jelly beans or chocolate. He’d have
see it as “just another form of diabetes”. jam, maple syrup and sweets out of their breakfast burger, it might not have been three coffees a day with a couple of
Recent studies have shown up to cupboards and gave them all away. the healthiest option. At work, Marshall teaspoons of sugar in each, and his
80 per cent or more of people with Marshall says his wife, worried about swapped Pepsi for water or the sugar- diet was high in carbs. “I was pretty
Alzheimer’s have undiagnosed diabetes their sugar intake and creeping weight free Pepsi Max, and the chocolate bars much living on bread and pasta and
or pre-diabetes, leading some to gain, had been inspired by Australian for nuts and dried fruit. He and his wife supplementing that with orange juice.”
dub Alzheimer’s “diabetes 3”. author David Gillespie’s book Sweet used Splenda, a sugar substitute, in Lured by Subway’s low-fat claims,
New Scientist called the link Poison. He read the book and other their American pancakes, and a sugar- he’d have a six-inch roll from the chain
JUSTIN LAMBERT
the “ultimate food scare”. similar titles before deciding to go sugar- free maple syrup. Out went the tomato almost every day. “I’d have that between
“The world already faces an epidemic free himself. “I thought it made sense sauce – 30 per cent sugar – and the low- 12 and 1pm but by 3 o’clock I’d want
of diabetes. The prospect of a parallel and it wouldn’t hurt to give it a go.” fat, but high-sugar yoghurts. Within a more. My hands would be shaky and
epidemic of Alzheimer’s is truly frightening. The reading made him realise just few weeks, he found his appetite – and I was very hungry all the time. I was
how high his sugar intake was. “I have a sugar cravings – had reduced. So had his struggling to make it between meals 15kg and then dropped another
“A preference that started out as a
sedentary job and I was consuming a lot weight, and after eight months, he’s down without feeling shaky and horrible. My 7kg over the next three months.
“I feel a lot more
survival mechanism has, in our age of plenty,
become a self-destructive compulsion.” of sweet products to keep myself going.” to 105kg, which considering he hasn’t blood sugar levels tested normal but Watching Glen’s progress was colleague alert in the
Cooper (North South’s New Zealander He’d regularly skip breakfast, and by given up other carbs or high-fat meals, he going between meals was getting harder. Chris Groom, who was so impressed afternoons and
mid-morning he was hungry – time for a attributes entirely to the absence of sugar. I felt unwell and needed a sugar hit.” he decided to give it a go too and has
of the Year in 2004) now splits his time
Pepsi and a chocolate bar. At lunchtime, “I feel a lot more alert in the afternoons Now he has two or three scrambled eliminated bread, pasta and potatoes
I can’t eat as much
between Auckland and the University of
Manchester, and is trying to find ways to stop he headed to St John’s, near Auckland and I can’t eat as much as I used to,” he eggs for breakfast, and lunch consists of from his diet. Now an avid reader of as I used to. The
the misfolding proteins from killing cells. University’s Tamaki campus where he says. “The longer I do it, the easier it is to cheese, nuts, cold meats and vegetables ingredient panels, Groom has been taken longer I do it, the
works, for a burger from new fast-food not eat stuff with sugar. The cravings just including celery, lettuce and tomato. aback by the sugars in even savoury
Both sugar and saturated fats are implicated,
restaurant Carls Jr. A couple of hours aren’t there.” He’s given up potatoes and kumara. products, including peanuts and bacon.
easier it is to not
he says, particularly in the highly processed
foods many of us are now eating to excess. later, the munchies would strike again – He says that he doesn’t even much like And, in another change likely to give He’s lost 10kg in the past six months, eat stuff with sugar.
It’s estimated about 240,000 people time for another couple of cans of Pepsi the taste of very sweet things now. On a nutritionists heart palpitations, he’s and like the others, reports feeling less The cravings just
and another couple of chocolate bars. recent weekend away with his wife, he switched from skim milk to cream in hungry. “I think sugar and carbs create
in New Zealand have type 2 diabetes –
that figure is predicted to increase by By the time he got home, he’d need a thought he’d treat himself to a chocolate his coffee and from olive oil to butter. hunger so the less I eat, the less hungry aren’t there.”
50 per cent in the next decade without few biscuits to tide him over to dinner. mousse. “It tasted incredibly rich, to “The carb content of cream is very low, I seem to get. I forget to eat. Before it was IT professional Donovan
effective prevention programmes. It’s hardly surprising that he found the point where you had to wash your but milk, with its lactose, is very high.” more like a rollercoaster – sugar would Marshall (above).
himself packing on the pounds, with mouth with water to get the taste out.” In the first two months, he lost keep you going but then you’d crash.”
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