Sign up today to get weekly science coverage direct to your inbox. Human physiology evolved on a diet containing very little sugar and virtually no refined carbohydrate. Certainly, this incontrovertible explosion in sugar consumption cannot be ignored. It is likely that sugarcane was primarily a “fodder” crop, used to fatten pigs, though humans may have chewed on the stalks from time to time. For example, the Greek physician Dioscorides in the 1st century (AD) wrote: "There is a kind of coalesced honey called sakcharon [i.e. That’s a 23kg per capita average. In 2008, people in the US were consuming over 60 pounds (28 kg) of added sugar per year — and this does not include fruit juices ().. Sugar has been consumed by human civilizations for thousands of years. Britain's annual per capita consumption of sugar was 4lbs in 1704, 18lbs in 1800, 90lbs in 1901 - a 22-fold increase to the point where Britons had the highest sugar intake in Europe. There was a huge demand for labour to cultivate the massive sugar plantations in Brazil and the Caribbean. Even with the inclusion of high fructose corn syrup products, sugar consumption remains high. In 1800, the average person consumed about 18 pounds of sugar per year. The rise in UK per capita sugar consumption to today’s 35kg/head took place over 100 years ago. The most efficient method of growing sugar was on large plantations with many workers. Dirk Kirchner/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA. Not surprisingly, the sharp rise in sugar consumption in the last half of the 19 th Century stimulated an array of detractors to come to the fore. These figures are similar for people in the UK. Its main output – apart from commercial profits – is a global public health crisis, which has been centuries in the making. Cyprus and Sicily became important centres for sugar production. For women, the number is lower: 6 teaspoons (25 grams or 100 calories) per day. A sugar craving is usually due to an imbalance in your gut bacteria or a sign of a blood sugar crash. Restrictions were placed on the c… Evidence from plant remnants and DNA suggests that sugarcane evolved in South East Asia. Meanwhile, the slaves working the plantations suffered miserable lives. Mark Horton, Professor in Archaeology, University of Bristol; Alexander Bentley, Professor and Chair of Comparative Cultural Studies, University of Houston, and Philip Langton, Senior Teaching Fellow in Physiology, University of Bristol. And although both sugar and tobacco have ancient origins, it was their sudden, mass consumption from the mid-17th century onwards that created the health risks we associate with them today. This food – which nobody needed, but everyone craved – drove the formation of the modern of the world. It is good dissolved in water for the intestines and stomach, and [can be] taken as a drin… Then, it was the Portuguese who realised that new and favourable conditions for sugar plantations existed in Brazil, where a slave-based plantation economy was established. Both products were initially produced through slave labour, and were originally seen to be beneficial to health. And of course, goods such as copper and brass, rum, cloth, tobacco and guns were needed to purchase slaves from the African elites. The obesity epidemic – along with related diseases including cancer, dementia, heart disease and diabetes – has spread across every nation where sugar-based carbohydrates have come to dominate to the food economy. In 2009, more than 50 percent Americans consume 1/2 pound of sugar per day, which is 180 pounds of sugar per year. AHA Sugar Recommendation. These were secured through the expansion of industrial production, particularly in the English Midlands and South West. All sugar, whether natural or processed, is a type of simple carbohydrate your body uses for energy. The sugar plantation system became the main industry of the Caribbean. Timeline of Sugar. In some circles this increase in the consumption of sugar was seen as proof of the hedonistic degradation of society, and sugar often became an easy target as the cause of many of society’s ills. Fruits, vegetables and dairy foods naturally contain sugar.\"Added sugars\" are the sugars and syrups added to foods during processing. Frequently drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with weight gain/obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities, and gout, a type of arthritis. And although both sugar and tobacco have ancient origins, it was their sudden, mass consumption from the mid-17th century onwards that created the health risks we associate with them today. It seems as though no other substance occupies so much of the world’s land, for so little benefit to humanity, as sugar. Likewise, the rise of sugar has been key to global trade and socioeconomic development, slavery and the African Diaspora and modern cultural norms. And while tobacco is widely acknowledged to be addictive, sugar can also drive behavioural responses that are indistinguishable from addiction. Initial results pointed to a link between sugar consumption and … But in the 21st century, the grip of sugar is stronger than comparable scourges like tobacco, or even alcohol. Throughout the Middle Ages, it was considered a rare and expensive spice, rather than an everyday condiment. Mark Horton, Author provided. In fact, sugar actually changes the muscle protein of the heart as well as the pumping mechanics of the heart. 8000 BC – Archeological evidence tells us that sugarcane was first domesticated in in New Guinea by its inhabitants, who slowly spread their knowledge across Southeast Asia, southern China, and India.. 800 BC – First historical reference of sugar comes from China, with the mentions of the India’s sugarcane fields in some of their ancient surviving texts. Read the original article. From there, the technique spread east towards China, and west towards Persia and the early Islamic worlds, eventually reaching the Mediterranean in the 13th century. Excessive consumption of sugar has been implicated in the onset of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and … Heavy industry. If it is killing all of us, it is killing black people faster. Historical Consumption of Sugar For most of human history, consumption of sugar, in refined form, was virtually zero. There are records of knowledge of sugar among the ancient Greeks and Romans, but only as an imported medicine, and not as a food. Reviving a Crop and an African-American Culture, Stalk by Stalk. Sugar consumption in the United States has been on the rise in the past decade. 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. History of Sugar While chewing sugar cane for its sweet taste was likely done in prehistory, the first indications of the domestication of sugar cane were around 8000 BCE. Over the course of the 1700s around 11 million slaves were exported by European merchants from Africa to the slave colonies. From rarefied medicine to colonial invader to public health menace, the story of the world’s most … The idea of “industrial epidemics” of non-communicable diseases, being driven by the profit motives of major corporations, rings true for both. Follow sugar’s historical journey across the world and the advances in technology that allow us to enjoy sugar today. 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. In many ways, the story of sugar and tobacco are closely aligned. In 1700, the average person consumed about 4 pounds of sugar per year. America’s sweet tooth peaked in 1999, when each person consumed an average of 90.2 pounds of added caloric sweeteners a year, or 26.7 teaspoons a day. The expansion of the transatlantic slave trade was, therefore, directly related to the growth of British consumption of sugar. 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. Modern-day banking and insurance can trace its origins to the 18th century Atlantic economy. Added sugars consumption varies by age, sex, race, and ethnicity. The global consumption of sugar amounted to 172.6 in 2018/2019, and is projected to increase to about 177.8 million metric tons by 2020/2021. Perhaps a better comparison is our reliance on fossil fuels. The first place to cultivate sugarcane explicitly for large-scale refinement and trade was the Atlantic island of Madeira, during the late 15th century. Sugar … After disruptions during the two World Wars, UK sugar consumption per capita peaked in the post-war period and is now in decline. 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. Can Cause Weight Gain. Rebalance your gut bacteria and you’ll find your sugar cravings will go down dramatically.” Along with addressing the cause of sugar cravings, it is essential for consumers and producers alike to recognise the dangers of sugar, from obesity to diabetes, and provide healthier and more sustainable alternatives in shops and restaurants everywhere. It cannot be sold as crystals or table sugar because the mix of fructose and glucose exist in a syrup form. These figures, which are echoed across many studies, certainly indicate that sugar consumption has grown enormously in the past few hundred years. By continuing to use our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our cookie policy. The sugar industry pulled the plug on an animal study it funded in the 1960s. 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. To keep all of this in perspective, it’s helpful to remember the American Heart Association’s recommendations for sugar intake. In 2017, 11.18 million metric tons of sugar were consumed in the United States. Sugar production Raw materials. The fact that the expansion of production and trade of sucrose was largely linked to the European colonization of the Americas had significant implications for the institutional arrangements in the international sugar market in place at the beginning of the twentieth century. Yemen ] similar in consistency to salt and brittle enough to be broken between the teeth like salt. Back in 2009, the consumption amount was 9.9 million metric tons. sugar] found in reeds in India and Eudaimon Arabia[i.e. The Illustrated History of How Sugar Conquered the World. Sugar Consumption Back in the old days (1822), the average American consumed a mere 45 grams of refined sugar, or the equivalent of a 12 oz. 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. In fact, sugar probably entered into our diets by accident. When they were finally emancipated in 1834 in the British Empire, it was the slave owners who were fully compensated – not the slaves. In 2005–2010, the average percentage of total daily calories from added sugars was 13% (average intake of 335 calories) for men and 13% (average intake of 239 calories) for women aged 20 and older. Alzheimer, first identifies a form of dementia characterized by dramatic shrinkage Sugar’s Sordid Timeline History 21 in brain nerve cells. The average intake … When Brazilian sugarcane was introduced in the Caribbean, shortly before 1647, it led to the growth of the industry which came to feed the sugar craze of Western Europe. In 1900, individual consumption had risen to 90 pounds of sugar per year. Sugar is not only ubiquitous – it is potentially responsible for approximately 20% of the caloric content of modern diets – but also central to the world’s economy and cultural heritage. In fact, according to this infographic by Mind Body Green, the average American consumes 1610kg pounds of sugar in a lifetime. Mortality rates could reach as high as up to 25% on each voyage, and between 1m and 2m dead must have been thrown overboard. [12] Christopher Columbus introduced sugar cane seeds to the New World, specifically to Hispaniola, on his second voyage in 1493. While obesity per head of population increases sugar consumption per head is … Cheaper and more efficient techniques of production have lead to ever increasing consumption of sugar. Rates of obesity are rising worldwide and added sugar, especially from … Much of this money was used to build Victorian infrastructure, such as railways and factories. Ireland. The evolutionary and historical origins of sugarcane may hold insights into why sugar dominates modern culture, and what we can do to mitigate its malign influence. As the demand for sugar increased, so did the number of slaves. (Statistica) Every year, the entire world consumes about 165 million tons of sugar. In an article for Collective Evolution, nutritionist Lisa Kilgour says that the modern-day urge for sugar is a “craving you can’t always trust. Desserts, sodas, and energy and sports drinks are the top sources of added sugars for most Americans, but many other foods contain added sugars. [11] Excess sugar consumption has been linked to cancer production. The crop spread around the Eastern Pacific and Indian Oceans around 3,500 years ago, carried by Austronesian and Polynesian seafarers. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Tea with milk and sugar is a very common drink here. It seemed that against public announcement of eating less sugar, sugar consumption only steadily increased by each year. 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. In the Netherlands, the third in sugar consumption, people eat or drink 102.5 grams of sugar daily. Men should consume no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams or 150 calories) of added sugar per day. Nevertheless, it now accounts for almost half the consumption of sugar in the USA and somewhat less in Japan. 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. 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. Figure: Sugar consumption on average by approximate year. 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. The first chemically refined sugar appeared on the scene in India about 2,500 years ago. Like many great challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change, the science identifying the problem seems clear. Sugar has been linked in the United States to diabetes, obesity and cancer. This is very similar to Germany, as both countries share a love of sweets. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) or sugary drinks are leading sources of added sugars in the American diet. In 2009, 50 per cent of Americans consumed approximately 227 grams of sugar each day - equating to 81.6 kg per year. Slaves driven to work in the cane fields. Number 4 on the list is Ireland whose residents consume 96.7 grams of sugar daily. soda pop every five days. Specifically colonization of the Americas as well as other parts of the globe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was at least partially driven by economic considerations of the countries involved. In 1700, the average person consumed approximately 4.9 grams of sugar … In 2014, sweetener use was down to 77.3 pounds per year, or 22.9 teaspoons a day. Now, the average person consumes 70 grams of fructose each day, which is a shocking 300 per cent above the daily recommended amount. That’s nearly 2 tonnes! 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