Consultant cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra believes added sugar is a leading cause of death in the Western world. Here, he reveals how his low carb, no added sugar diet should help him live until his 90s
Dr Aseem Malhotra is a consultant cardiologist and leading campaigner highlighting the harms of diet-related disease.
He is also an adviser to the National Obesity Forum and a member of the board of trustees of health think tank The King's Fund.
Here, writing for the medical blogging site The Hippocratic Post, he explains why added sugar is a leading cause of death in the Western world...
Most people know I am a vociferous campaigner against added sugar in our diet.
I have been arguing for a sugar tax to be levied on food and beverage companies who lavish their products with refined sugar - in turn, putting our health at risk.
I strongly believe added sugar is a leading cause of death in the Western world.
Not just because it leads directly to obesity, but because it's an independent risk factor for many chronic ailments ranging from type 2 diabetes to heart disease.
This is because refined sugar and carbs enter the blood stream quickly and trigger a massive response by the pancreas to produce insulin.
Over time, the body becomes more resistant to the effects of insulin. Not only is this a precursor for type 2 diabetes, but it is also strongly linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
I am so convinced by the truth of my argument that I follow my own advice, and I counsel all my patients to follow my advice too.
For a start, I tell them to avoid processed cereals in the morning, which are full of massive amounts of sugar.
I stick to an omelette, which contains fat and protein, or porridge, which releases its sugars slowly into the bloodstream.
Adding some berries on top ensures I get plenty of antioxidants like vitamin C.
This helps keep my immune system in tip-top shape and mop up damaging free radicals which will prematurely age me.
I’m always appalled when I see children sucking on bottles of sweet squash or sipping fizzy drinks.
But even more appalling is the so-called Healthy Plate on the NHS Choices website which features a can of Cola!
I can only think the fizzy drinks lobby has pushed very hard for that inclusion, but the NHS should know better.
Sugary drinks are directly toxic to tooth enamel – something we can see in the fact that tooth extraction is now the number one reason children are admitted to hospital in the UK.
But the sugar is toxic to their growing bodies too, increasing rates of childhood obesity and leading to a lifetime of ill health.
Not only does sugar lead directly to obesity, it also increases the risk of many chronic ailments ranging from type 2 diabetes to heart disease, warns Dr Malhotra
The World Health Organisation set an upper limit of six teaspoons of added sugar per day for adults and US dietary guidelines suggest that just three teaspoons of sugar should be a the limit for children under the age of eight.
One can of fizzy drink can give a child almost triple that amount in one hit.
Over the last few months, I have been looking at how we can eat well but not stress our bodies with unending sugar highs and lows.
In fact, I have been making a new documentary film with an independent production company on this very topic.
'The Pioppi Protocol' (working title) will air around the world in summer 2016, helping to change policies which are directly hurting entire populations.
For the full story and a chance to contribute to our global campaign, click here.
I now know there are many ways you can lengthen your life, so you may well drop dead of old age when your heart simply gives out with overuse.
That’s how I want to go, hopefully at a ripe old age.
Not surprisingly, I’m not planning to be eating refined sugar and carbohydrates – although I may have to make an exception for the odd slice of chocolate cake.
I’m not planning to eat toxic vegetable oils either – but that’s for another blog and another day.
If I can manage stress in my life, keep my alcohol intake moderate with meals, and take regular exercise, I think I have a pretty good chance of expiring quietly at 90 or thereabouts.
I’ll certainly bet my odds are better than some of the school children I pass on my way to work who are glugging their second bottle of cherry cola.
If you would like to support our documentary, please visit our Kickstarter page.
This article first appeared and has been reproduced with the permission of The Hippocratic Post .
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