Tuesday, May 4, 2021

One Degree of Change #43 Sugar does Whaaaat?

 Sugar, it tastes so good

You’ve decided to quit your sugar habit once and for all. Kudos, you’re on your way to a happier, healthier and svelter you. Given that sugar is in pretty much everything we eatnowadays, the challenge you’ve set yourself is no small feat.

No doubt you’ve done your research and know exactly how to kick your sugar addiction and manage sugar cravings when they arise. But while arming yourself with practical knowledge is smart, it’s not always enough.

If you find your resolve faltering, you’re going to need a little extra motivation to keep you on your sugar-free path. These documentaries will do just that. There’s nothing like learning the truth about an industry to keep you from drinking their kool-aid. These are the same documentaries I refer to my patients and 

THE TRUTH ABOUT SUGAR

We all know sugar is bad for you, but we’re not sure how to give it up and we’re also a little fuzzy when it comes to the downsides of a sugary diet. In The Truth About Sugar, journalist Fiona Phillips sets out to change all that.

Ever wondered why you have a sweet tooth or why there is so much sugar in obviously savory foods? Fiona answers these and many other sugar-related question in her quest to find out more about this addictive substance.

To make it even more interesting, the documentary charts the lives of four Brits whose sugar-heavy diets are putting their health at risk. With Fiona’s help it quickly becomes clear that their transformations will be significant.

There’s nothing like a before and after success story to keep you motivated, so keep this one on hand for when you find yourself short on willpower.


THAT SUGAR FILM

We know a bag of M&Ms or a NutRageous chocolate bar isn’t good for us. But surely things like yogurt, juice, muesli bars and cereal have earned the ‘healthy’ label? Nope, just because something looks healthy, doesn’t mean it is.

That Sugar Film is one man’s journey to discover the bitter truth about sugar. Using himself as a human guinea pig, Damon Gameau consumed only foods that are commonly perceived as ‘healthy’ to highlight the effects of a high sugar diet on a healthy body. He also discusses the many issues plaguing the sugar industry and reveals where sugar lurks on supermarket shelves.

Featuring interviews from notable experts and cameo appearances from a few well-known celebrities, the documentary will change the way you think about ‘healthy’ food for good. Be sure to check out their website for recipes, e-books and more.

FED UP

Brought to you by the producer of An Inconvenient Truth, Fed Up aims to pull back the curtain on the sugar industry once and for all. The documentary claims that everything we’ve been told about food and exercise for the past 30 years is dead wrong.

Revealing one alarming fact after another, Fed Up leaves you with no choice but to view the food you eat differently. Chew on this for a moment. There are 600,000 food items in America and 80 percent of them have added sugar. How on earth are you supposed to avoid the stuff?

Once you know the truth about your food you’ll not only be Fed Up, any desire you may have had for a sugary treat will be long gone.


SUGAR CRASH

Ireland is the fourth highest consumer of sugar in the world. Ironically, very few are actually aware of just how much sugar they’re eating. It turns out our Irish friends are consuming a whopping 24 teaspoons a day. That’s four times as much as the The World Health Organization’s recommended sugar quota of less-than-six teaspoons per day.

Sugar Crash aims to change that, with Dr Eva Orsmond investigating the shocking cost of the country’s sugar habit. From hospital admissions and long-term illness to premature death. As children today face a shorter life expectancy than their parents, the eye-opening Irish documentary tells the story that everyone needs to understand.

After watching Sugar Crash you’ll think twice about adding that teaspoon of sugar to your morning coffee. In fact, you’ll probably find yourself emptying the bowl into the compost heap.

 

SUGAR COATED

Is sugar the new tobacco? How did the food industry get us to stop asking the question: is sugar toxic? Winner of the 2016 Canadian Screen Awards for best social/political documentary, Sugar Coated answers these and many other questions about the sugar industry.

It also brings to light incriminating evidence proving that the sugar industry used tobacco-style tactics to dismiss troubling health claims against their products. No wonder they’re saying sugar is the new tobacco.

Pediatric endocrinologist, Dr. Robert Lustig blames sugar for his waiting room full of obese kids with fatty livers. In Japan, children are burdened with lifestyle diseases their parents never faced. Radical steps have now been taken to reduce the nation’s waistlines.

The movie doesn’t sugarcoat the truth, making it hard to swallow at times. But maybe that’s what we need to wake us up to the problem.