By Lubna Abdel-Aziz How guileless, how pristine, how gentle and pure is this tiny white granule that makes life so much sweeter for mankind! How many of these miniscule grains of refined sugar do we consume daily, weekly, annually? Bushels and bushels, innocently and unknowingly; would you believe up to 33 teaspoons of sugar a day, for each one of us? Refined sugar is the most popular and widely used "drug" in the world. A drug is a chemical substance used to alter the state of mind and body. That's what sugar does, and its marked effects on humans no longer go unnoticed. The UN has launched an international campaign to curtail the consumption of refined sugar, considered the principle culprit "in the current epidemic of obesity and its associated diseases diabetes and cardiovascular disorders." With statistics so conscientiously reported in the US, Americans who only comprise 5% of the world population, account for 33% of total global sugar consumption -- over 10 million tons annually, about 135 lbs of sugar per person per year. Prior to the turn of the 20th century, the average consumption was 5 lbs per person and such conditions as cardiovascular disease and cancer were virtually unknown. While sugar is not entirely to blame, the facts cannot be ignored. The US is not alone in its hunger for the sweet. All developed nations face this problem to varying degrees. In the Middle East, Pakistan, and India, over- consumption of fats and sugar are now the gravest public problems after malnutrition. But they will gladly give up anything, other than their beloved pastries and consections. Some physicians strongly believe that sugar may be even more dangerous than fat. Others go so far as to call it poison. Habitual sugar ingestion aggravates asthma, more mood swings, provokes personality changes, musters mental illness, nourishes nervous disorders, grows gallstones, hastens hypertension and arthritis among others. Sugar is devoid of minerals, vitamins, fibre, and has a deteriorating effect on the endocrine system. All major health organizations agree that sugar consumption is one of the 3 major causes of degenerative diseases. Are we then to stop our sugar intake? Are we then to sacrifice such zones of pleasure that help us soar in the skies to such heights which Babels have never attained? Certainly, definitely, utterly, out of the question. Hence one of man's major dilemmas. Highly refined sugars in the form of sucrose (table sugar) and dextrose (corn sugar), is found in almost every item for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, even in some potato chips. Should we replace it with complex carbohydrates? Although they tend to be absorbed more slowly, they are not altogether harmless. How about honey? We all know that it is safe, natural and beneficial. Well, not so fast! Honey is one of the 4 classes of simple sugars regarded by most nutritionists as harmful to optimal health, together with fructose, sucrose and malts. Is it therefore any surprise that the only animal with tooth decay is the honey-loving, honey bear? Consume raw honey if you so desire, preferably unheated, and certainly not on a daily basis. If you now feel completely turned off by your anticipated succulent desert, don't be! Man was not able to live long without sugar. He dug the ground and climbed the highest trees to find the sweetest taste of life, and has enjoyed it ever since, as far back as history can tell, for over 10,000 years. Sugar cane is the greatest source of sugar, followed by beet sugar and corn sugar. The English word sugar came from the Greek "zahari" which came by way of French, Spanish, Italian, derived from the Arabic via the Persian "shaker," which the Portuguese called "acucar," hence the Spanish "azucar," the Italian "zucchero" the old French "zuckre," now "sucre." The pleasure sugar provides is a sensation craved by all, albeit by some more than others. Originally a luxury, it became eventually sufficiently cheap for all to savour and relish. Apart from a major dessert ingredient, it is used in many cuisines around the world from Britain to the Caribbean and South Americam countries. Sugar is used as a food preservative and is a high commodity in trade comprising up to 3% of dried crops. Among the 200 countries or so, 100 produce sugar from beet or sugar cane. Consumption of sugar ranges from 5 kilograms per person per year in Ethiopia, to around 40 kilograms per person per year in Belgium. Consumption rises with per capita income, but the average worldwide is 35 kilograms in most middle-income countries. Over one billion of the Muslim faith are daily bedazzled by the sight of gigantic gold platters heaped with luscious moon-shaped, plump crescent-shaped, and nectarious star-shaped delicious, delectable delicacies. Lovingly stuffed with a rich variety of assorted nutmeats and caramelized sugar, perfumed syrup slowly but steadily drips on each tier of delights glistening those torrents of marvellous morsels. The Moslem world celebrates the holy month of Ramadan by fasting from sunrise to sunset. With the setting of the sun ambrosial mouth-watering dulcet pleasures fancied throughout the long day, are eagerly devoured in the dark. After all, do not the body and the mind need sugar for their energy? Thunder would not have a voice loud enough to deter or deny us the pleasure of indulging in such heavenly delights. With paradise so close every sunset, let us enjoy these rare moments, and keep our worries of disease, health, and waistlines off our minds for a few more weeks. Nutritious nourishment is necessary. Let us get it elsewhere and our pleasures from sweets as long as moderation is our guideline. Sugar may be bad, but there is a grain of goodness in everything bad. Consider some of the good. Sugar is brain food; it provides energy which is a fundamental fuel for the brain. Apart from softening acidity in such ingredients as tomatoes, vinegar, etc, it inhibits mould and yeast growth increasing the life shelf of jams, jellies, etc. It prolongs the life of cut flowers that love a little sugar in their water, and how about children's medicines, how could they swallow their bitter concoctions without a spoonful of sugar? Best of the best is that one teaspoon is only 15 calories So with little remorse and unblushing erdour, let us savour the rush that Ramadan sweets produce. Bring on the Katayef, Konafa, their brothers and sisters, we deserve the ultimate seduction of their sweet delights. Tomorrow is another day! Eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow, ye diet -- William Gilmore Beymer
