SUGAR Cut Down On Sugar Intake

Spreading Throughout the Old World  Sugar cane was first introduced in New Guinea around 8000 B.C. and spread into southern Asia and India  It was first crystallized in India around 500 A.D.  Sugar cane began to spread toward the west into the Mediterranean around 700 to 750 A.D.  Arabs were mostly responsible for spreading it into Egypt around 640 A.D., where it spread around the Mediterranean and eventually got to Spain.

Reaching the New World  Portuguese took sugar cane to Brazil.  It spread throughout the new world and into the Caribbean.  Conquerors conquered island to plant and cultivate sugar cane crops.  While this was going on so was slavery…

Slavery  Slavery actually had a lot to do with sugar.  Slaves were taken from Africa and brought to the New World to work on sugar cane crops.  It was a lot of work to care for the crops, harvest it, run the sugar mill, make it into sugar, and have to trade or sell it. So they used slaves.  Slaves were forced to work on the crops and work year-round.  Sugar brought over 900,000 African Americans to slavery.

Sugar Transformed  Indians were the first people to change sugar cane juices into brown sugar around 3000 years ago.  The Arabs invented caramel in 950 A.D.  The Indians were the first to actually invent candy around 250 A.D.  Rock handy, also called sugar cane, was invented in the 18th century and was used as a medicine, at first.  In the 14th century, Venetians imported sugar to make candy.

Desserts Sugar is in many of the desserts we eat everyday. Such desserts are: Ice-cream (my favorite) Cakes Pastries Brownies Cookies Popsicles Chocolate But sugar isn’t just in desserts it is also in: Soda Coffee Fruit Juices Processed food

Consumption  The average American consumes up to 100 pounds of sugar a year.  Sugar is consumed by eating foods with sugar in it.  Sugar has calories, and if you consume to many calories ( like eating to much) those calories can turn to fat.  Fat can lead to obesity…

Obesity  Dictionary.reference.com defines obesity as: n, the condition of being very fat or overweight; corpulence  One in every three Americans are obese.  Obesity is caused by overeating unhealthy foods such as sugary, fatty foods.  Obesity can cause diseases such as:  Cancer  Diabetes  Strokes  Heart disease.  Obesity could also cause suicide if people are upset with their appearance and do not feel happy with their selves.

Why should we care? So what? What is the big deal with overeating and getting fat? Well the big deal is that:  People can dye from being overweight. Obesity doesn’t just change your appearance, it also can kill you.  You don’t want to be digging your own grave with a fork and spoon.  You won’t be able to have as much fun as people do who are not overweight.  You may not think that you are pretty or attractive.  Moving around like climbing into your own car can be a challenge.  Swimming, running, chasing, things that you do with your family to have fun, you may not be able to do We really should care about the way you eat or else death could be the answer.

What can we do? How can kids do about obesity?  We can spread awareness by requiring a whole unit on obesity in health.  We could set an example our selves by eating healthy foods and exercising.  We could boycott fast food restaurants with sugary fatty foods. The media is spreading awareness as well:  The show Biggest Loser  The Media advertises natural sweeteners instead of straight sugar. There are many more ways to spread awareness. We just have to first CARE, then DO.

Resources…  Sugar Changed the World by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos Publisher: Clarion Books/ Boston Copyright: 2010  ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ [[ gar ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ]] ‍‍‍‍‍‍    cultures/plants/sugar_cane_history_early_origins_and_spread.html cultures/plants/sugar_cane_history_early_origins_and_spread.html   ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_plantations_in_the_Caribbean 