Sugary drinks are worse for you than sweet foods

The government has cracked down on renewed calls for a sugar tax despite another alarming review that Kiwis risk obesity and diabetes by drinking too much, but drinking too much juice, sports drinks and energy drinks.

Articles by Dr. Gerhard Sundborn, Bodo Lang, Simon Thornley and other researchers at the University of Auckland have revealed that sugary drinks were more harmful than sweet foods – and that drinking beverages sugar prices in New Zealand increased at a time when it was declining.

According to the countries that tax sugar, including the United Kingdom, Mexico, Tonga, the Cook Islands and some US states, sugar consumption has decreased, but Health Minister David Clark has doubled his calls for urgent action: "the government does not intend to introduce a tax on sugar," he said.

Instead, a reduction in sugar in food and beverages and a better food labeling system were needed. "I have met several times with the food industry and stated the clear desire that companies and the government collaborate on this issue," he said.

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The review found that sugary drinks were more likely to cause adverse metabolic changes because of their concentration, amount and rate of metabolism.

The study was funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council – a government-funded research organization – and researcher Thornley was frustrated with Clark's response, saying the study clearly demonstrated that a tax was necessary.

"The reason we have an epidemic of obesity is no longer a mystery (and) is disappointing that the government is not interested in the fact that New Zealand is swimming in sugar Just go to the supermarket and see that everything is saturated with sugar.

"It has been effective with tobacco but the government is not interested in. They know that sugar is a problem, but they do not tax it."

Obesity, type 2 diabetes and rotten tooth epidemics are all attributable to sugar intake and, worldwide, 184,000 people die prematurely of sugary drinks each year. After years of calls from health organizations, the United Kingdom's sugar tax, introduced last year, imposed drinks containing more than 5 g of sugar per 100 ml.

While the numbers showed that Kiwis had abandoned soft drinks, our love affair with energy drinks and sports drinks has allowed us to consume more than the United States and the United Kingdom. A cup of Typical energy drink contains 27g of sugar – about seven teaspoons.

For 11-year-old Taranaki student Lucas King-Berndt, sweet drinks are a treat for birthdays and special dinners. Phelps mum's racheal only allows milk or water in the house, and in Highlands Intermediate, where he goes to school, sugary drinks are prohibited.

"If he had anything, it would be lift or lemonade or juice, but it's not a lot just because it makes him furious, and it's clear that nothing is wrong." colored or caffeinated, "said Phelps.

"We do not really have it at home, if we're having a fish-free fish night, if it's a part of it or it's celebrating a birthday, it's ok for Coke and it's taking advantage of it fully."

The research was surprising: "I thought sugar was sugar."