Sugar

:This article deals with sugar as food and as an important, widely traded commodity. The word also has other uses; see sugar (disambiguation).

Health concerns

In 2003, a report was commissioned by two U.N. agencies, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), compiled by a panel of 30 international experts. It stated that sugar should not account for more than 10% of a healthy diet. However, the Sugar Associationhttp://www.sugar.org/ of the US insists that other evidence indicates that a quarter of our food and drink intake can safely consist of sugar.

Related Topics:
2003 - U.N. - World Health Organization - Food and Agriculture Organization

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There is an on-going argument as to the value of extrinsic sugar (sugar added to food) compared to that of intrinsic (sugar, seldom sucrose, naturally present in food).

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In the United States sugar has also been attributed as a leading cause of diabetes and obesity. As stated in the Diabetes in America, 2nd Edition http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/america/contents.htm more and more children at younger ages are becoming victims of this deadly disease.

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Sugar and hyperactivity

There is common belief among the general public that eating too much sugar (not simply sucrose but including glucose) will make someone and in particular children hyperactive - giving raise to the term "sugar high". Recent studies have not shown a link between consumption of sugar and hyperactivity levels, even when the researchers focused on children with a presumed "sugar-sensitivity" http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/ask/?quid=241. The belief in the possiblility of a sugar-high among parents and teachers may cause them to perceive children being more energetic and excited after consumption of sweets sugary beverages.

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