Too sweet for our own good
The United States is simply too sweet for its own good. Even the “healthy” fruit drinks that Americans sip are packed with the amount of sugar in six cookies. That love affair is making us sick. “There’s no question we consume too much sugar,” said Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). “It is not only bad for your teeth, it’s associated with increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, and is bad for your heart.” Hu spoke at the HSPH panel “Sugar, Salt, and Supplements: Sorting the Science” on Monday, just weeks after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced its first overhaul of food-product labels in 20 years. The revamped labels will provide consumers with nutrition facts, calorie counts in boldface type, and realistic serving sizes. They also will also disclose how much sugar manufacturers add to their products, all with an eye toward...