The killer called sugar

Henriette Lamprecht
It’s the No. 1 addiction in the world and its dependents are getting more and younger by the day.
“The more you take, the more you want and the more often you want it,” says Dr Andreas Obholzer.
According to Obholzer, a staunch supporter of Prof. Tim Noakes and his banting philosophy and senior consultant at PSEMAS/Methealth, sugar is a non-essential food source.
“It is socially acceptable, freely available and like ‘cocaine’ to the masses.” He explains that the body has a very limited need for sugar, with excess energy converted into fat.
“The cause of obesity is insulin, which needs a partner in crime, namely sugar.”
Fizzy and sugary drinks, chips and cake is not food, Obholzer warns. It will provide a “quick fix” but in the long run your body will pay the price. Wholesome foods ensure slow, longterm and sustained energy, he says.
According to Obholzer “sugar is linked to money”.
“If you have it in your food, it will sell. People will become addicted and will continue buying it. Their interest is not in your wellbeing, but rather in your money.”
He refers to America where 50% of the average population is overweight, which leads to lifestyle conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and osteo-arthiritis.
“Obesity and overweight have massive collateral damage in diseases like Alzheimer’s, which is directly linked to excessive sugar consumption,” says.
The more sick a society becomes, the more overheads go up to keep people healthy, Obholzer says.
“Medical costs escalate, while being healthy is not expensive.”
He warns that people are often not informed of what they put into their mouths, saying that one needs to be alert of what you do and do not eat.
“You are the product of your decisions, which means you are what you eat, drink and feel. The more and better information you have, the better the choices you will make.”
Obholzer emphasises the importance of information, education and communication to help people make healthy choices. These include health warnings on tobacco and alcohol and, if he has his way, also on products containing sugar.
“Sugar products are where tobacco was years ago. It is dangerous and addictive, yet it comes with no warning.”
According to Obholzer, fizzy drinks should be banned in primary schools and should not be advertised in any way. “Fizzy drink producers try to get consumers as young as possible to get them hooked for life.”
An easy way to illustrate and inform parents exactly how much sugar is in a can of cola, he suggests that a symbol is used reflecting how many teaspoons of sugar it contains.
According to Obholzer the Ministry of Health and Social Services has no policy on sugar.
“Brown sugar, bread and maize is not taxed. We must make food accessible to the poor. However, sugar is not a food, but rather an addiction.”
According to him, bread and maize is a staple food for many Namibians and with the addition of products like eggs, fullcream milk and pilchards, it can be a healthy meal. He suggests that the abovementioned products also be relieved from tax; the same goes for soup bones and offal.
“The emphasis should be on real food, not carbohydrates, sticking as close to the original source as possible. The food at the base of the food pyramid is the least processed.”
Obholzer’s healthy eating plan is to avoid carbohydrates, but rather opt for healthy fats, vegetables and salads, healthy nuts and a lot of water.