Studies claim artificial sweeteners can increase your risk of diabetes, they can also make you gain weight. But weren't artificial sweeteners supposed to do the opposite? These products were endorsed as sweet alternatives to sugar. Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas | Study: Artificial sweeteners can cause diabetes

A sigh of relief for Pakistan's prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son as a Pakistani court granted pre-arrest Bail to this father-son duo observing that there was lack of evidence against the two in the 78-million-dollar sugar scam case.

Relief for Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and his son in sugar scam case

A whistle reverberates through a&nbsp;sugar&nbsp;factory in central Cuba to signal the resumption of milling at midday after an hours-long halt when the raw cane ran out.

It is cane harvest time in Cuba -- once the world's top&nbsp;sugar&nbsp;exporter but now reliant on imports.&nbsp;

A critical shortage of harvesters and trucks to deliver the cane to factories has hamstrung production even as the government scrambles to revive the once-vibrant industry.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/pandemic-sanctions-and-long-lines-for-fuel-cuba-battles-concerns-over-supply-and-rationing-464712">Pandemic, sanctions, and long lines for fuel; Cuba battles concerns over supply and rationing</a>

Cuba's 2020-21 harvest yielded 800,000 tons of the sweet stuff, according to official figures.

This was just 10 percent of peak production some three decades ago and the worst outcome in 130 years for an industry that was once Cuba's economic motor and a huge source of national pride.

"This is a war without&nbsp;end," Lazaro Manuel Torres, boss of the Antonio Sanchez mill in Cuba's central Cienfuegos province, told AFP.

"From&nbsp;the moment you wake up, you run into a mountain" of problems, said Torres, watching with obvious relief as a column of white smoke billowed&nbsp;from&nbsp;the chimney after the restart.&nbsp;

Just 56 mills left

Until 1989, Cuba was the world's biggest&nbsp;sugar&nbsp;exporter.

The United States was its major client until 1960 -- two years before Washington imposed crippling sanctions on the communist island nation.

The Soviet Union, a political ally, then became an important buyer and was given preferential rates.&nbsp;

Sugar&nbsp;was at the heart of Cuba's plans for a prosperous future, with Fidel Castro leading a drive in the 1970s -- complete with propaganda photos of him wielding a machete in the&nbsp;sugar&nbsp;plantations -- to push the country's output to 10 million tons per year.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Cuban city sees thousands of red, yellow &amp; black crabs

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cuban-city-sees-thousands-of-red-yellow-black-crabs-465409/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The goal was never achieved.&nbsp;

The fall of the communist bloc in 1991 marked the beginning of the&nbsp;end&nbsp;for Cuba's&nbsp;sugar&nbsp;industry -- exacerbated by sanctions, a steep drop in prices and a lack of investment that saw 100 mills disappear.

Just 56 are left today.

Cuba now needs to import&nbsp;sugar&nbsp;to meet local demand and its export commitments.

"We have been in decline since 2017," Noel Casanas, vice director of state-owned&nbsp;sugar&nbsp;producer AZCUBA, told AFP.

"If the situation continues, it is true that (the industry) will disappear."

Sugar&nbsp;is still an important income generator for 50 of Cuba's 169 municipalities, or some 1.2 million of the country's 11.2 million inhabitants, he said.

Practically a corpse

In December, the government approved dozens of measures in a bid to resuscitate&nbsp;sugar.

It doubled the price paid to cane producers, authorized the free hiring and firing of labor, and gave factories more decision-making autonomy in a country where just about everything is state-run.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/1962-cuban-missile-crisis-when-world-was-on-brink-of-nuclear-war-like-it-is-now-over-ukraine-455806">&nbsp;1962 Cuban missile crisis: When world was on brink of nuclear war, like it is now over Ukraine</a>

"I don't think these measures can revive an industry that is already practically a corpse," said economist Emilio Morales of the Miami-based Havana Consulting Group.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Casanas conceded production faces "limitations of all kinds" -- critically a lack of foreign investment due to the strengthening of US sanctions since the presidency of Donald Trump.

Since the cane harvest opened in December, Antonio Sanchez has not managed to exceed 65 percent of milling capacity, set at 20,000 tons for this year's harvest.

The problem has not been a lack of fuel or raw product, this time, but a shortage of harvesters and delivery trucks.

There are not enough spare parts, even tires, for vehicles in Cuba and producers such as Torres cannot afford to buy the limited components that are available.

"If you don't have harvesters, if you do not have trucks, you cannot mill," he lamented.&nbsp;

Sugar&nbsp;producers in Cuba are also hard hit by a lack of fertilizers and pesticides.

For now, the government's measures have managed to slow an exodus of&nbsp;sugar&nbsp;workers, industry bosses told AFP.

"We cannot complain, we are doing quite well -- up to 700 pesos (about $29) a day," said farmer Livan Hernandez.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/february-16th-in-history-fidel-castro-becomes-premier-of-cuba-patent-for-nylon-and-more-280959">February 16 in History: Castro becomes Premier of Cuba, Kyoto Protocol is put into action, and more!</a>

The average monthly&nbsp;Cuban&nbsp;salary is about $162.

Casanas said what is needed is foreign investment and expanding the industry into highly lucrative&nbsp;sugar&nbsp;derivatives such as bioethanol.

Sugar&nbsp;"is no longer the locomotive (of the&nbsp;Cuban&nbsp;economy) nor will it be," he said.

But "it continues to be a strategic sector... that must be developed."

A whistle reverberates through a sugar factory in central Cuba to signal the resumption of milling at midday after an hours-long halt when the raw cane ran out. It is cane harvest time in Cuba -- once the world's top sugar exporter but now reliant on imports.

A whistle reverberates through a sugar factory in central Cuba to signal the resumption of milling at midday after an hours-long halt when the raw cane ran out. It is cane harvest time in Cuba -- once the world's top sugar exporter but now reliant on imports. A critical shortage of harvesters and trucks to deliver the cane to factories has hamstrung production even as the government scrambles to revive the once-vibrant industry. Also read | Pandemic, sanctions, and long lines for fuel; Cuba battles concerns over supply and rationing Cuba's 2020-21 harvest yielded 800,000 tons of the sweet stuff, according to official figures. This was just 10 percent of peak production some three decades ago and the worst outcome in 130 years for an industry that was once Cuba's economic motor and a huge source of national pride. "This is a war without end," Lazaro Manuel Torres, boss of the Antonio Sanchez mill in Cuba's central Cienfuegos province, told AFP. "From the moment you wake up, you run into a mountain" of problems, said Torres, watching with obvious relief as a column of white smoke billowed from the chimney after the restart. Just 56 mills left Until 1989, Cuba was the world's biggest sugar exporter. The United States was its major client until 1960 -- two years before Washington imposed crippling sanctions on the communist island nation. The Soviet Union, a political ally, then became an important buyer and was given preferential rates. Sugar was at the heart of Cuba's plans for a prosperous future, with Fidel Castro leading a drive in the 1970s -- complete with propaganda photos of him wielding a machete in the sugar plantations -- to push the country's output to 10 million tons per year. Watch | Cuban city sees thousands of red, yellow & black crabs The goal was never achieved. The fall of the communist bloc in 1991 marked the beginning of the end for Cuba's sugar industry -- exacerbated by sanctions, a steep drop in prices and a lack of investment that saw 100 mills disappear. Just 56 are left today. Cuba now needs to import sugar to meet local demand and its export commitments. "We have been in decline since 2017," Noel Casanas, vice director of state-owned sugar producer AZCUBA, told AFP. "If the situation continues, it is true that (the industry) will disappear." Sugar is still an important income generator for 50 of Cuba's 169 municipalities, or some 1.2 million of the country's 11.2 million inhabitants, he said. Practically a corpse In December, the government approved dozens of measures in a bid to resuscitate sugar. It doubled the price paid to cane producers, authorized the free hiring and firing of labor, and gave factories more decision-making autonomy in a country where just about everything is state-run. Also read | 1962 Cuban missile crisis: When world was on brink of nuclear war, like it is now over Ukraine "I don't think these measures can revive an industry that is already practically a corpse," said economist Emilio Morales of the Miami-based Havana Consulting Group. Casanas conceded production faces "limitations of all kinds" -- critically a lack of foreign investment due to the strengthening of US sanctions since the presidency of Donald Trump. Since the cane harvest opened in December, Antonio Sanchez has not managed to exceed 65 percent of milling capacity, set at 20,000 tons for this year's harvest. The problem has not been a lack of fuel or raw product, this time, but a shortage of harvesters and delivery trucks. There are not enough spare parts, even tires, for vehicles in Cuba and producers such as Torres cannot afford to buy the limited components that are available. "If you don't have harvesters, if you do not have trucks, you cannot mill," he lamented. Sugar producers in Cuba are also hard hit by a lack of fertilizers and pesticides. For now, the government's measures have managed to slow an exodus of sugar workers, industry bosses told AFP. "We cannot complain, we are doing quite well -- up to 700 pesos (about $29) a day," said farmer Livan Hernandez. Also read | February 16 in History: Castro becomes Premier of Cuba, Kyoto Protocol is put into action, and more! The average monthly Cuban salary is about $162. Casanas said what is needed is foreign investment and expanding the industry into highly lucrative sugar derivatives such as bioethanol. Sugar "is no longer the locomotive (of the Cuban economy) nor will it be," he said. But "it continues to be a strategic sector... that must be developed."

The struggle to save Cuban sugar from a bitter end

Some artificial sweeteners can spike the risk of contracting cancer, a study has said. The alternatives to sugar generally used in food increase the risk by up to 13 per cent. The experts of French National Institute for Health and Medical Research and Sorbonne Paris Nord University came up with the finding

Artificial sweeteners can increase risk of cancer by up to 13%, says study

He is known for his fitness across the film industry. John Abraham's fit body has inspired many over the years to hit the gym and stay in shape. One of the fittest actors of our times recently revealed how he maintains a strict diet and has stayed away from junk for over two decades.&nbsp; 
 
Abraham appeared on Shilpa Shetty's fitness show on radio 'Shape Of You' where Shetty as a host revealed to the viewers how Abraham had stayed away from his favourite sweet, Kaju Katli (made of cashews, sugar and condensed milk) for nearly 25 years. Abraham was quick to respond with, "I think that is false. It has been 27 years. It has been a long time. I do not have aerated drinks. I believe, and I guess, you do the same, that sugar is the biggest poison in the world, more than cigarette smoking." 
 
Talking about Abraham's looks, Shilpa said, "I have read somewhere that you do not believe you are handsome."&nbsp; 
The actor said, "Yeah. I think that is very subjective., It is a state of mind. If you feel good on a certain day, you feel nice. But, I do not believe that anybody can be handsome for the world, or beautiful for the world. It depends. In our industry, we are all bound by a string called insecurity. Because of this insecurity, vanity comes into the picture and we do a lot for vanity. Now, I have reached the stage, and so have you, where it does not matter how I look on the outside. But, it is more important, how we feel inside."

Abraham also revealed that has only taken three days off in the past 17-18 years.&nbsp; 
 
"I want to clarify that it is not a good thing, everybody needs a break,"&nbsp;he added. The actor also said he is not on WhatsApp and doesn't have any social media apps on his phone.&nbsp; 
 
John Abraham recently completed his work on Mohit Suri's next film, 'Ek Villain Returns'. The movie also stars Tara Sutaria, Disha Patani, and Arjun Kapoor. 
 
He will next be seen in the movie 'Attack' which has been helmed by Lakshya Raj Anand and co-stars Jacqueline Fernandez and Rakul Preet Singh.&nbsp; 
 
Abraham will also be co-starring alongside Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan in YRF's 'Pathaan'.&nbsp;

He is known for his fitness across the film industry. John Abraham's fit body has inspired many over the years to hit the gym and stay in shape. One of the fittest actors of our times recently revealed how he maintains a strict diet and has stayed away from junk for over two decades.

He is known for his fitness across the film industry. John Abraham's fit body has inspired many over the years to hit the gym and stay in shape. One of the fittest actors of our times recently revealed how he maintains a strict diet and has stayed away from junk for over two decades. Abraham appeared on Shilpa Shetty's fitness show on radio 'Shape Of You' where Shetty as a host revealed to the viewers how Abraham had stayed away from his favourite sweet, Kaju Katli (made of cashews, sugar and condensed milk) for nearly 25 years. Abraham was quick to respond with, "I think that is false. It has been 27 years. It has been a long time. I do not have aerated drinks. I believe, and I guess, you do the same, that sugar is the biggest poison in the world, more than cigarette smoking." Talking about Abraham's looks, Shilpa said, "I have read somewhere that you do not believe you are handsome." The actor said, "Yeah. I think that is very subjective., It is a state of mind. If you feel good on a certain day, you feel nice. But, I do not believe that anybody can be handsome for the world, or beautiful for the world. It depends. In our industry, we are all bound by a string called insecurity. Because of this insecurity, vanity comes into the picture and we do a lot for vanity. Now, I have reached the stage, and so have you, where it does not matter how I look on the outside. But, it is more important, how we feel inside." Abraham also revealed that has only taken three days off in the past 17-18 years. "I want to clarify that it is not a good thing, everybody needs a break," he added. The actor also said he is not on WhatsApp and doesn't have any social media apps on his phone. John Abraham recently completed his work on Mohit Suri's next film, 'Ek Villain Returns'. The movie also stars Tara Sutaria, Disha Patani, and Arjun Kapoor. He will next be seen in the movie 'Attack' which has been helmed by Lakshya Raj Anand and co-stars Jacqueline Fernandez and Rakul Preet Singh. Abraham will also be co-starring alongside Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan in YRF's 'Pathaan'.

John Abraham hasn't had his favourite sweet in 27 years, says 'sugar is the biggest poison in the world'

Sri Lanka may be on a brink of bankruptcy as the island country faces an acute financial crisis topped by a blow to a food supply. As 2022 begins, Sri Lanka is looking to face record-high inflation, financial crisis, exorbitant food prices, humanitarian crisis, and pandemic-induced disruptions. The Sri Lankan government had decided to temporarily ban the use of chemical fertilizers in May 2021. The ban led to protest by farmers ultimately leading to a drastic drop in cultivation in Sri Lanka. Moreover, long queues were seen outside shops for bare necessities lie milk, sugar, and rice. Also, several shops in the markets were shut. Opposition MP Harsha de Silva told Sri Lankan parliament that the country would go bankrupt.

Sri Lanka may go bankrupt in 2022? From financial to food crisis Sri Lanka’s woes amid Covid

US authorities are trying to cap the amount of salt food manufacturers and restaurants put in food. Many European countries already have salt limits. Palki Sharma tells you why India too must rethink the amount of salt and sugar it is consuming.

Gravitas: FDA issues salt guidelines for processed, restaurant food

After the Pakistani government deferred the import of sugar and cotton from India, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has issued a tender for the import of 50,000 tons of white sugar to maintain supply in the domestic market and control the soaring prices of the commodity.

This is a move described by the Indian sugar industry as "bad luck" for the neighbouring country.

This is the third tender Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has floated for the import of sugar. Earlier, two tenders for 50,000 tonnes each had to be scrapped mainly due to high quotes. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Faced with production shortages, Pakistan is trying to import sugar to boost domestic availability and check retail prices which have shot up to PKR 100 per kg. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Last week, there was sudden hope of trade reopening between the two nations in sugar and cotton after Pakistan's Economic Coordination Committee allowed the import of these two commodities from India. However, Pakistan's federal cabinet backtracked on the decision. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Issuing a fresh international tender for the import of 50,000 tonnes of white sugar, TCP made it clear to global suppliers that "the cargo (white sugar) should not be originated from Israel or any other banned country." &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Global suppliers should submit bids by April 14 and deliver the commodity at any port in Karachi, it said.

Commenting on the development, All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA) Chairman Praful Vithalani said, "Bad luck for Pakistan. Will you get sugar at prices, quality and speed with the lowest freight parity of Indian sugar?"

For Pakistan, importing white sugar from India would have been much cheaper and faster via land route compared to other countries, he told PTI. &nbsp;

"Through land route via Punjab, white sugar would cost about USD 398 per tonne (which includes freight charges and delivery at godown)," he added. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

According to AISTA, TCP had scrapped earlier two tenders for the import of sugar because of high quotes. The lowest bid it received was around USD 540 per tonne by Al Khaleez, Dubai. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Pakistan, which is expecting sugar production of 5.6 million tonnes in the ongoing 2020-21 marketing year (October-September), is facing a shortage of 5,00,000 tonnes, according to Pakistani traders &nbsp; &nbsp;

Whereas India, the world's second-largest sugar-producing nation after Brazil, is sitting on a surplus stock and targeting to export 6 million tonnes in the ongoing 2020-21 marketing year.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

After the Pakistani government deferred the import of sugar and cotton from India, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has issued a tender for the import of 50,000 tons of white sugar to maintain supply in the domestic market and control the soaring prices of the commodity.

After the Pakistani government deferred the import of sugar and cotton from India, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has issued a tender for the import of 50,000 tons of white sugar to maintain supply in the domestic market and control the soaring prices of the commodity. This is a move described by the Indian sugar industry as "bad luck" for the neighbouring country. This is the third tender Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has floated for the import of sugar. Earlier, two tenders for 50,000 tonnes each had to be scrapped mainly due to high quotes. Faced with production shortages, Pakistan is trying to import sugar to boost domestic availability and check retail prices which have shot up to PKR 100 per kg. Last week, there was sudden hope of trade reopening between the two nations in sugar and cotton after Pakistan's Economic Coordination Committee allowed the import of these two commodities from India. However, Pakistan's federal cabinet backtracked on the decision. Issuing a fresh international tender for the import of 50,000 tonnes of white sugar, TCP made it clear to global suppliers that "the cargo (white sugar) should not be originated from Israel or any other banned country." Global suppliers should submit bids by April 14 and deliver the commodity at any port in Karachi, it said. Commenting on the development, All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA) Chairman Praful Vithalani said, "Bad luck for Pakistan. Will you get sugar at prices, quality and speed with the lowest freight parity of Indian sugar?" For Pakistan, importing white sugar from India would have been much cheaper and faster via land route compared to other countries, he told PTI. "Through land route via Punjab, white sugar would cost about USD 398 per tonne (which includes freight charges and delivery at godown)," he added. According to AISTA, TCP had scrapped earlier two tenders for the import of sugar because of high quotes. The lowest bid it received was around USD 540 per tonne by Al Khaleez, Dubai. Pakistan, which is expecting sugar production of 5.6 million tonnes in the ongoing 2020-21 marketing year (October-September), is facing a shortage of 5,00,000 tonnes, according to Pakistani traders Whereas India, the world's second-largest sugar-producing nation after Brazil, is sitting on a surplus stock and targeting to export 6 million tonnes in the ongoing 2020-21 marketing year. (With inputs from agencies)

No trade with India: Sugar is selling at PKR 100 per kg in Pakistan, country issues tender to import 

While it is known that the consumption of sugary beverages in large quantities may cause health issues including obesity, diabetes and tooth decay, a new study has found that drinking sugary beverages early in life may lead to impaired memory in adulthood. 
 
The findings of the study were published in the journal `Translational Psychiatry`. The study is the first to show how a specific change to the gut microbiome -- the bacteria and other microorganisms growing in the stomach and intestines -- can alter the function of a particular region of the brain. 
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sugar-sweetened beverages are a leading source of added sugars in Americans` diets. Nearly two-thirds of young people in the United States consume at least one sugary drink each day. 
 
Neuroscientist Scott Kanoski, associate professor of biological sciences at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, has studied the link between diet and brain function for years. His research has shown that consumption of sugary beverages impairs memory function in rats and that those same drinks change the gut microbiome. In the current study, Kanoski and researchers at UCLA and the University of Georgia, Athens, sought to find out if a direct link exists between changes to the microbiome and memory function. 
 
The scientists gave adolescent rats free access to a sugar-sweetened beverage similar to those that humans drink. When the rats grew to be adults after about a month, the researchers tested their memories using two different methods. One method tested memory associated with a region of the brain called the hippocampus. The other method tested memory function controlled by a region called the perirhinal cortex. 
 
The researchers found that, compared to rats that drank just water, the rats that consumed high levels of sugary drink had more difficulty with memory than uses the hippocampus. Sugar consumption did not affect memories made by the perirhinal cortex. 
 
"Early life sugar consumption seems to selectively impair their hippocampal learning and memory," said study lead author Emily Noble, assistant professor in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences and a former postdoctoral fellow at USC Dornsife. 
 
The scientists then checked the rats` gut microbiomes and found differences between those that drank the sweet beverage and those that drank water. The sugar drinkers had larger populations of two particular species of gut bacteria: Parabacteroides distasonis and Parabacteroides johnsonii. 
 
The researchers then asked if the Parabacteroides bacteria could, without the help of sugar, affect the rats` memory function. They transplanted Parabacteroides bacteria that were grown in the lab into the guts of adolescent rats that drank just water. The rats receiving the bacteria showed memory impairment in the hippocampus when they grew to adulthood much the same as the sugar-drinking rats. 
 
The scientists also found that, unlike the sugar-drinking rats, the transplanted rats also showed memory impairment in the perirhinal cortex. This difference provides further evidence that altered brain function associated with diet may actually be rooted in changes to the gut microbiome. 
 
Previous studies have transplanted the entire gut microbiome from one group of animals to another, producing similar changes to brain function. However, this study is among the first to do so with just two specific species."It was surprising to us that we were able to essentially replicate the memory impairments associated with sugar consumption not by transferring the whole microbiome, but simply by enriching a single bacterial population in the gut," said Kanoski, who is a corresponding author on the study. 
 
Finally, the scientists examined the activity of genes in the hippocampus, comparing rats that drank the sugary beverage to those that drank just water and comparing water drinkers to those transplanted with Parabacteroides. 
 
Gene activity did, in fact, change in both the rats that consumed the sugar-sweetened beverages and the rats transplanted with Parabacteroides. The genes that were affected control how nerve cells transmit electrical signals to other nerve cells and how they send molecular signals internally. 
 
The results of this study confirm a direct link, on a molecular level, between the gut microbiome and brain function.In future studies, Kanoski and the researchers hope to determine if changing habits, such as eating a healthier diet or increasing exercise, can reverse the harm to memory caused by elevated sugar consumption earlier in life.&nbsp;

While it is known that the consumption of sugary beverages in large quantities may cause health issues including obesity, diabetes and tooth decay, a new study has found that drinking sugary beverages early in life may lead to impaired memory in adulthood.

While it is known that the consumption of sugary beverages in large quantities may cause health issues including obesity, diabetes and tooth decay, a new study has found that drinking sugary beverages early in life may lead to impaired memory in adulthood. The findings of the study were published in the journal `Translational Psychiatry`. The study is the first to show how a specific change to the gut microbiome -- the bacteria and other microorganisms growing in the stomach and intestines -- can alter the function of a particular region of the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sugar-sweetened beverages are a leading source of added sugars in Americans` diets. Nearly two-thirds of young people in the United States consume at least one sugary drink each day. Neuroscientist Scott Kanoski, associate professor of biological sciences at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, has studied the link between diet and brain function for years. His research has shown that consumption of sugary beverages impairs memory function in rats and that those same drinks change the gut microbiome. In the current study, Kanoski and researchers at UCLA and the University of Georgia, Athens, sought to find out if a direct link exists between changes to the microbiome and memory function. The scientists gave adolescent rats free access to a sugar-sweetened beverage similar to those that humans drink. When the rats grew to be adults after about a month, the researchers tested their memories using two different methods. One method tested memory associated with a region of the brain called the hippocampus. The other method tested memory function controlled by a region called the perirhinal cortex. The researchers found that, compared to rats that drank just water, the rats that consumed high levels of sugary drink had more difficulty with memory than uses the hippocampus. Sugar consumption did not affect memories made by the perirhinal cortex. "Early life sugar consumption seems to selectively impair their hippocampal learning and memory," said study lead author Emily Noble, assistant professor in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences and a former postdoctoral fellow at USC Dornsife. The scientists then checked the rats` gut microbiomes and found differences between those that drank the sweet beverage and those that drank water. The sugar drinkers had larger populations of two particular species of gut bacteria: Parabacteroides distasonis and Parabacteroides johnsonii. The researchers then asked if the Parabacteroides bacteria could, without the help of sugar, affect the rats` memory function. They transplanted Parabacteroides bacteria that were grown in the lab into the guts of adolescent rats that drank just water. The rats receiving the bacteria showed memory impairment in the hippocampus when they grew to adulthood much the same as the sugar-drinking rats. The scientists also found that, unlike the sugar-drinking rats, the transplanted rats also showed memory impairment in the perirhinal cortex. This difference provides further evidence that altered brain function associated with diet may actually be rooted in changes to the gut microbiome. Previous studies have transplanted the entire gut microbiome from one group of animals to another, producing similar changes to brain function. However, this study is among the first to do so with just two specific species."It was surprising to us that we were able to essentially replicate the memory impairments associated with sugar consumption not by transferring the whole microbiome, but simply by enriching a single bacterial population in the gut," said Kanoski, who is a corresponding author on the study. Finally, the scientists examined the activity of genes in the hippocampus, comparing rats that drank the sugary beverage to those that drank just water and comparing water drinkers to those transplanted with Parabacteroides. Gene activity did, in fact, change in both the rats that consumed the sugar-sweetened beverages and the rats transplanted with Parabacteroides. The genes that were affected control how nerve cells transmit electrical signals to other nerve cells and how they send molecular signals internally. The results of this study confirm a direct link, on a molecular level, between the gut microbiome and brain function.In future studies, Kanoski and the researchers hope to determine if changing habits, such as eating a healthier diet or increasing exercise, can reverse the harm to memory caused by elevated sugar consumption earlier in life.

Study reveals consuming sugary diet in childhood may cause memory trouble later

India's exports of sugar to Malaysia so far in 2020 have nearly tripled over the figure for all of last year, as Kuala Lumpur steps up purchases to placate New Delhi in a trade dispute that halted its palm oil exports to India, trade officials said.

The record buying could also help India, the world's biggest producer of sugar, to cut stockpiles that are squeezing domestic prices.

India had been the biggest buyer of Malaysian palm oil for five years, but purchases ground to a halt after the January curbs, a retaliation for then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's criticism of New Delhi's policy regarding its Muslim minority.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indonesia-to-increase-imports-from-india-amid-new-delhi-malaysia-spat-report-276398">Indonesia to increase imports from India amid New Delhi-Malaysia spat: Report</a>

"This year Malaysia was aggressively buying Indian raw sugar, which was a pleasant surprise," Praful Vithalani, president of the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA), told Reuters.

The trade body's data shows Malaysia has imported 324,405 tonnes of sugar from India this year. That compares with India's exports last year of around 110,000 tonnes and a 2008 record of 313,406 tonnes, according to trade estimates. Malaysia imported a total of 1.95 million tonnes of raw sugar in 2019, data from the International Sugar Organization on Refinitiv Eikon shows. It typically buys more from Brazil and Thailand than from India.

Kuala Lumpur's sugar purchases from India could easily surpass 400,000 tonnes in 2020, as some shipments are still in the pipeline, said a Mumbai-based dealer of a global trading house.

Kuala Lumpur may have asked refiners to give preference to India in sugar purchases, said another Mumbai-based dealer, adding, "It's an effort to please India."

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/malaysia-offers-to-buy-more-imports-from-india-after-threat-of-palm-oil-curbs-256078">Malaysia offers to buy more imports from India after threat of palm oil curbs</a>

Both dealers sought anonymity as they were not allowed to speak with media.

In January, MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad, the southeast Asian nation's top sugar refiner, said it would buy 130,000 tonnes of raw sugar from India, worth 200 million ringgit ($49.20 million), in the first quarter.

Malaysia has set itself a month's deadline to resolve the dispute over palm oil, its new Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said on Wednesday, adding that he wanted to send a delegation to India as soon as possible.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/2nd-largest-sugar-producer-india-imposes-stock-limit-to-control-price-rise-prevent-black-marketing-14685/amp">2nd largest sugar producer India imposes stock limit to control price rise, prevent black-marketing</a>

"Malaysia can show that it is buying more goods from India than Indonesia," a Mumbai-based refiner said, adding that higher imports of farm commodities would give Malaysia grounds to argue in negotiations that New Delhi should resume palm oil purchases.

Indonesia is the world's biggest producer of palm oil, followed by Malaysia.

India, hoping to reduce its vast surplus stocks of sugar, has approved an export subsidy of 10,448 Indian rupees ($142) per tonne of the sweetener for the marketing year that will end on Sept. 30.

India's exports of sugar to Malaysia so far in 2020 have nearly tripled over the figure for all of last year, as Kuala Lumpur steps up purchases to placate New Delhi in a trade dispute that halted its palm oil exports to India, trade officials said.

India's exports of sugar to Malaysia so far in 2020 have nearly tripled over the figure for all of last year, as Kuala Lumpur steps up purchases to placate New Delhi in a trade dispute that halted its palm oil exports to India, trade officials said. The record buying could also help India, the world's biggest producer of sugar, to cut stockpiles that are squeezing domestic prices. India had been the biggest buyer of Malaysian palm oil for five years, but purchases ground to a halt after the January curbs, a retaliation for then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's criticism of New Delhi's policy regarding its Muslim minority. Also Read: Indonesia to increase imports from India amid New Delhi-Malaysia spat: Report "This year Malaysia was aggressively buying Indian raw sugar, which was a pleasant surprise," Praful Vithalani, president of the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA), told Reuters. The trade body's data shows Malaysia has imported 324,405 tonnes of sugar from India this year. That compares with India's exports last year of around 110,000 tonnes and a 2008 record of 313,406 tonnes, according to trade estimates. Malaysia imported a total of 1.95 million tonnes of raw sugar in 2019, data from the International Sugar Organization on Refinitiv Eikon shows. It typically buys more from Brazil and Thailand than from India. Kuala Lumpur's sugar purchases from India could easily surpass 400,000 tonnes in 2020, as some shipments are still in the pipeline, said a Mumbai-based dealer of a global trading house. Kuala Lumpur may have asked refiners to give preference to India in sugar purchases, said another Mumbai-based dealer, adding, "It's an effort to please India." Also Read: Malaysia offers to buy more imports from India after threat of palm oil curbs Both dealers sought anonymity as they were not allowed to speak with media. In January, MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad, the southeast Asian nation's top sugar refiner, said it would buy 130,000 tonnes of raw sugar from India, worth 200 million ringgit ($49.20 million), in the first quarter. Malaysia has set itself a month's deadline to resolve the dispute over palm oil, its new Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said on Wednesday, adding that he wanted to send a delegation to India as soon as possible. Also Read: 2nd largest sugar producer India imposes stock limit to control price rise, prevent black-marketing "Malaysia can show that it is buying more goods from India than Indonesia," a Mumbai-based refiner said, adding that higher imports of farm commodities would give Malaysia grounds to argue in negotiations that New Delhi should resume palm oil purchases. Indonesia is the world's biggest producer of palm oil, followed by Malaysia. India, hoping to reduce its vast surplus stocks of sugar, has approved an export subsidy of 10,448 Indian rupees ($142) per tonne of the sweetener for the marketing year that will end on Sept. 30.

Malaysia's sugar purchases from India hit record amid diplomatic spat trade

Protesters have once again blocked the entrance to Iraq's Umm Qasr commodities port near Basra, preventing employees and tankers from entering and bringing operations down by 50 per cent, two-port sources told Reuters on Monday.

If the blockage goes on until the afternoon, operations will come to a complete halt, the sources said. The port was previously blocked from October 29 to November&nbsp;9 with a brief resumption of operations between November&nbsp;7-9.

Umm Qasr is Iraq's main Gulf port. It receives imports of grain, vegetable oils and sugar shipments that feed a country largely dependent on imported food.

The blockage cost the country more than $6 billion during just the first week of the closure, a government spokesman said at the time.

More than 300 people have been killed since the start of mass unrest in Baghdad and southern Iraq in early October, the largest demonstrations since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Protesters are demanding the overthrow of a political class seen as corrupt and beholden to foreign interests. They have turned to civil disobedience tactics like strikes, disrupting traffic, and blocking ports or oil facilities.

Protesters have once again blocked the entrance to Iraq's Umm Qasr commodities port near Basra, preventing employees and tankers from entering and bringing operations down by 50 per cent, two-port sources told Reuters on Monday.

Protesters have once again blocked the entrance to Iraq's Umm Qasr commodities port near Basra, preventing employees and tankers from entering and bringing operations down by 50 per cent, two-port sources told Reuters on Monday. If the blockage goes on until the afternoon, operations will come to a complete halt, the sources said. The port was previously blocked from October 29 to November 9 with a brief resumption of operations between November 7-9. Umm Qasr is Iraq's main Gulf port. It receives imports of grain, vegetable oils and sugar shipments that feed a country largely dependent on imported food. The blockage cost the country more than $6 billion during just the first week of the closure, a government spokesman said at the time. More than 300 people have been killed since the start of mass unrest in Baghdad and southern Iraq in early October, the largest demonstrations since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Protesters are demanding the overthrow of a political class seen as corrupt and beholden to foreign interests. They have turned to civil disobedience tactics like strikes, disrupting traffic, and blocking ports or oil facilities.

Protesters block entrance to Iraq's Umm Qasr port again

Nestlé SA, one of the world's largest food processors, believes population growth will require human diets to adapt, reducing consumption of sugar, salt and meat products, an executive said on Wednesday.

"We have 7.5 billion people and the population continues to grow, so there is a need to eat more vegetables, cereals, and less sugar, meat products," said Laurent Freixe, Executive Vice President and head of operations in the Americas.

Limited natural resources on the planet and the growing public health problem of obesity are behind the changes Freixe sees as necessary. He also cited growing public awareness of the food production process as well as issues such as child labour and deforestation, which is especially pertinent in Brazil.

Meat production, particularly beef, is a significant contributor to carbon emissions that scientists blame for global warming.

"We work constantly in the reformulation of our products," the executive told reporters ahead of an event in Sao Paulo with university students from the four countries in the Mercosur trade bloc: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. It is part of a career training program sponsored by the company.

Freixe also said public awareness is growing around the world regarding raw materials used to produce food. This poses a challenge for every large food processor.

"There is a lot more sensitivity on the matter everywhere, not only in Europe or the US&nbsp;We are in a connected world, people have access to information, consumers want to know where raw materials come from if they were produced ethically," he said.

Nestlé is a major buyer worldwide of coffee, sugar, cocoa and milk, among other commodities. It is a significant buyer of Brazilian coffee and sugar.

The company says it clearly states to suppliers that it does not buy raw materials that were produced in recently deforested areas or where child labour has been reported.

"The question mark is how to make that happen? Because there are millions of farmers in so many countries," the executive said. "When there is an indication of a problem, we investigate. If confirmed, we cut the supplier," he added.

Forest fires and deforestation in the Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, jumped sharply this year, causing a wave of worldwide criticism regarding how the local government is managing the situation.

Global food companies were also pressed by consumers and activists to avoid sourcing commodities from places where forests were recently cleared.

Nestlé SA, one of the world's largest food processors, believes population growth will require human diets to adapt, reducing consumption of sugar, salt and meat products, an executive said on Wednesday.

Nestlé SA, one of the world's largest food processors, believes population growth will require human diets to adapt, reducing consumption of sugar, salt and meat products, an executive said on Wednesday. "We have 7.5 billion people and the population continues to grow, so there is a need to eat more vegetables, cereals, and less sugar, meat products," said Laurent Freixe, Executive Vice President and head of operations in the Americas. Limited natural resources on the planet and the growing public health problem of obesity are behind the changes Freixe sees as necessary. He also cited growing public awareness of the food production process as well as issues such as child labour and deforestation, which is especially pertinent in Brazil. Meat production, particularly beef, is a significant contributor to carbon emissions that scientists blame for global warming. "We work constantly in the reformulation of our products," the executive told reporters ahead of an event in Sao Paulo with university students from the four countries in the Mercosur trade bloc: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. It is part of a career training program sponsored by the company. Freixe also said public awareness is growing around the world regarding raw materials used to produce food. This poses a challenge for every large food processor. "There is a lot more sensitivity on the matter everywhere, not only in Europe or the US We are in a connected world, people have access to information, consumers want to know where raw materials come from if they were produced ethically," he said. Nestlé is a major buyer worldwide of coffee, sugar, cocoa and milk, among other commodities. It is a significant buyer of Brazilian coffee and sugar. The company says it clearly states to suppliers that it does not buy raw materials that were produced in recently deforested areas or where child labour has been reported. "The question mark is how to make that happen? Because there are millions of farmers in so many countries," the executive said. "When there is an indication of a problem, we investigate. If confirmed, we cut the supplier," he added. Forest fires and deforestation in the Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, jumped sharply this year, causing a wave of worldwide criticism regarding how the local government is managing the situation. Global food companies were also pressed by consumers and activists to avoid sourcing commodities from places where forests were recently cleared.

As population grows, human diet must cut down on meat, sugar, salt: Nestlé executive

Is Diabetes taking lives today across the world than ever before? Watch this report to know in detail.

'Diabetes' taking lives today across the world than ever before

India plans to export 2 million tonnes of raw sugar to China from next year, the trade ministry said on Thursday, as part of efforts to trim bulging stocks of the sweetener and bridge a widening trade deficit.

Producers' body Indian Sugar Mills Association and China's state trader COFCO have already signed an initial deal for 15,000 tonnes of sugar, the ministry said in a statement.

Last month, the ministry said India was keen to sell more rice and sugar to China to help cut the widening trade deficit.

India plans to export 2 million tonnes of raw sugar to China from next year, the trade ministry said on Thursday, as part of efforts to trim bulging stocks of the sweetener and bridge a widening trade deficit.

India plans to export 2 million tonnes of raw sugar to China from next year, the trade ministry said on Thursday, as part of efforts to trim bulging stocks of the sweetener and bridge a widening trade deficit. Producers' body Indian Sugar Mills Association and China's state trader COFCO have already signed an initial deal for 15,000 tonnes of sugar, the ministry said in a statement. Last month, the ministry said India was keen to sell more rice and sugar to China to help cut the widening trade deficit.

India plans to export two million tonnes of sugar to China from next year

The government has decided to build a 3 million tonne stockpile of sugar to soak up excess supply from the domestic market, and grant soft loans worth 44.4 billion rupees ($661.40 million) to help millers expand ethanol output capacity, news agency Reuters reported quoting food minister Ram Vilas Paswan said.

The government has also fixed a floor price at the mill gate of 29 rupees a kilogram for refined sugar, to ensure that retail prices of the sweetener do not fall further, Ram Vilas Paswan told a news conference after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The support measures are aimed at cutting a growing sugar surplus and propping up local prices, in order to help both loss-making mills and millions of cane growers who make up a key voting bloc.

Late last month it was reported that the government would approve the proposal that would require mills to stock 3 million tonnes of sugar in their warehouses, with the government paying the carrying costs for the commodity.

The plan to stock 3 million tonnes of sugar would cost the government 11.75 billion rupees, Paswan said.

The government would also spend 13.32 billion rupees in the next five years towards interest payments on soft loans worth 44.4 billion rupees to be sanctioned to sugar mills, Paswan said.

India, the world's biggest sugar producer after Brazil, is awash in sugar. Large surpluses have led to a sharp fall in prices that in turn have made if difficult for mills to pay the country's 50 million cane growers on time.

"If we take into account 4.9 million tonnes of carryover stocks from the previous season and this year's production of 36.4 million tonnes, inventories far outstrip our yearly consumption of 25 million tonnes," Paswan said. "This glut has made if difficult for mills to make their sugar cane payments."

Sugar prices have dropped to their lowest in 28 months.

As a result, mills now owe nearly 220 billion rupees to cane growers, which could lead to a record 250 billion rupees in the current 2017/18 season.

Mounting cane arrears have angered farmers.

&nbsp;

The government has also fixed a floor price of 29 rupees a kilogram to ensure that retail rates of sugar do not fall further, Paswan told a news conference

The government has decided to build a 3 million tonne stockpile of sugar to soak up excess supply from the domestic market, and grant soft loans worth 44.4 billion rupees ($661.40 million) to help millers expand ethanol output capacity, news agency Reuters reported quoting food minister Ram Vilas Paswan said. The government has also fixed a floor price at the mill gate of 29 rupees a kilogram for refined sugar, to ensure that retail prices of the sweetener do not fall further, Ram Vilas Paswan told a news conference after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The support measures are aimed at cutting a growing sugar surplus and propping up local prices, in order to help both loss-making mills and millions of cane growers who make up a key voting bloc. Late last month it was reported that the government would approve the proposal that would require mills to stock 3 million tonnes of sugar in their warehouses, with the government paying the carrying costs for the commodity. The plan to stock 3 million tonnes of sugar would cost the government 11.75 billion rupees, Paswan said. The government would also spend 13.32 billion rupees in the next five years towards interest payments on soft loans worth 44.4 billion rupees to be sanctioned to sugar mills, Paswan said. India, the world's biggest sugar producer after Brazil, is awash in sugar. Large surpluses have led to a sharp fall in prices that in turn have made if difficult for mills to pay the country's 50 million cane growers on time. "If we take into account 4.9 million tonnes of carryover stocks from the previous season and this year's production of 36.4 million tonnes, inventories far outstrip our yearly consumption of 25 million tonnes," Paswan said. "This glut has made if difficult for mills to make their sugar cane payments." Sugar prices have dropped to their lowest in 28 months. As a result, mills now owe nearly 220 billion rupees to cane growers, which could lead to a record 250 billion rupees in the current 2017/18 season. Mounting cane arrears have angered farmers.

Government unveils measures to help sugar mills, woo farmers

Nestle will make further cuts to the amount of sugar, salt and saturated fats in its products as it tries to improve the image of packaged foods in the eyes of health-conscious consumers, the Swiss group said on Tuesday.

Nestle and its rivals are under pressure from a shift in consumer preferences towards healthier food and away from processed products such as instant noodles and frozen pizza.

The maker of KitKat chocolate bars and Maggi soups is responding with healthier products and is also moving into higher growth categories, such as coffee, pet care, bottled water and infant nutrition.

The company said it wanted to cut the sugar by another 5 per cent, on top of the more than 34 per cent reduction achieved since 2000, and salt by another 10 per cent in addition to the more than 20 percent saved since 2005.

It also confirmed its commitment made in 2014 to reduce saturated fats by 10 per cent in all relevant products that do not meet World Health Organisation recommendations.

"The trend towards healthier foods is to be observed worldwide," Chief Executive Mark Schneider told journalists at a briefing in Vevey on Lake Geneva, where the company has its headquarters.

"We are putting a lot of resources into this," Schneider said. Nestle spent 1.72 billion Swiss francs ($1.71 billion) on R&D last year.

Food and drinks for children were a particular area of focus, Schneider said as he presented a "Nestle for Healthier Kids" campaign that also includes programmes and online services to educate parents and carers on what children should eat. Nestle said it had launched more than 1,000 new products last year to meet the nutritional needs of children and would further enhance products for kids with fruits, vegetables, fibre-rich grains and micronutrients.

Reformulating recipes to make its products healthier is part of Nestle's effort to keep its products attractive for consumers.

This year it launched a new "Milkybar" white chocolate bar that has 30 per cent less sugar.

"Combining the convenience of packaged foods with healthy good nutrition, that is where our sweet spot is," said Schneider, who took the top job at Nestle last year with the declared goal of reigniting sales growth.

To achieve this, Nestle has also been shedding underperforming businesses such as U.S. confectionery and expanded Nestle's footprint in health foods, with vitamin maker Atrium, and coffee thanks to a deal with Starbucks announced just last week.

Nestle and its rivals are under pressure from a shift in consumer preferences towards healthier food and away from processed products such as instant noodles and frozen pizza

Nestle will make further cuts to the amount of sugar, salt and saturated fats in its products as it tries to improve the image of packaged foods in the eyes of health-conscious consumers, the Swiss group said on Tuesday. Nestle and its rivals are under pressure from a shift in consumer preferences towards healthier food and away from processed products such as instant noodles and frozen pizza. The maker of KitKat chocolate bars and Maggi soups is responding with healthier products and is also moving into higher growth categories, such as coffee, pet care, bottled water and infant nutrition. The company said it wanted to cut the sugar by another 5 per cent, on top of the more than 34 per cent reduction achieved since 2000, and salt by another 10 per cent in addition to the more than 20 percent saved since 2005. It also confirmed its commitment made in 2014 to reduce saturated fats by 10 per cent in all relevant products that do not meet World Health Organisation recommendations. "The trend towards healthier foods is to be observed worldwide," Chief Executive Mark Schneider told journalists at a briefing in Vevey on Lake Geneva, where the company has its headquarters. "We are putting a lot of resources into this," Schneider said. Nestle spent 1.72 billion Swiss francs ($1.71 billion) on R&D last year. Food and drinks for children were a particular area of focus, Schneider said as he presented a "Nestle for Healthier Kids" campaign that also includes programmes and online services to educate parents and carers on what children should eat. Nestle said it had launched more than 1,000 new products last year to meet the nutritional needs of children and would further enhance products for kids with fruits, vegetables, fibre-rich grains and micronutrients. Reformulating recipes to make its products healthier is part of Nestle's effort to keep its products attractive for consumers. This year it launched a new "Milkybar" white chocolate bar that has 30 per cent less sugar. "Combining the convenience of packaged foods with healthy good nutrition, that is where our sweet spot is," said Schneider, who took the top job at Nestle last year with the declared goal of reigniting sales growth. To achieve this, Nestle has also been shedding underperforming businesses such as U.S. confectionery and expanded Nestle's footprint in health foods, with vitamin maker Atrium, and coffee thanks to a deal with Starbucks announced just last week.

Nestle to cut more sugar and salt in its products

By Kacie Dickinson*, Jodi Bernstein**

We hear regularly from health organisations and experts that we should eat less sugar. But we&rsquo;re also told we should eat more fruit.

All types of sugar will give us the same amount of calories, whether they are from fruit or soft drink. But the health risks of eating sugar are related to consuming too many &ldquo;free sugars&rdquo; in the diet, not from eating sugars that are naturally present in fruits or milk.

Types of sugar in food

Sugar in food and drinks comes in various forms. Sugar molecules are classified as monosaccharides (single sugar molecules such as glucose and fructose) and disaccharides (more complex structures such as sucrose and lactose).

Fruit contains natural sugars, which are a mix of sucrose, fructose and glucose. Many people have heard that sugar is bad, and think that this must also therefore apply to fruits.

But fructose is only harmful in excess amounts, and not when it comes from fruit. It would be incredibly difficult to consume excessive amounts of fructose by eating whole fruits.

It&rsquo;s much easier to consume excess sugar from foods and drinks that contain &ldquo;free sugars&rdquo;.

Free sugars include these same sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose), but in this case they have been removed from their naturally occurring source (rather than being eaten as natural parts of fruits, dairy products, and some vegetables and grains). This includes sugar that is added to food and drinks by food companies, cooks or consumers.&nbsp;

Health risks come from free sugars, not fruits 
Evidence shows that the health risks from sugars, such as tooth decay and unhealthy weight gain, are related to consuming too many free sugars in the diet, not from eating sugars that are naturally present in fruits or milk.

For this reason it is recommended that no more than 10% of your daily calories come from free sugars. For the average adult, this is about 50g or only slightly more than the amount of sugar in a can of regular soft drink or soda. It&rsquo;s estimated that Australians get around 60% (65g) of their sugar intake from free sugars.

Foods that are sources of free sugars, such as juices, soft drinks, biscuits and lollies, are often high in calories and have little other nutritional value. It is often easy to consume more of them compared with fresh fruit and they also may be replacing other nutritious foods in the diet.

Consider a bottle of fruit juice &ndash; you would have to eat six whole oranges to get the same amount of sugar you consume in the juice. And because the fruit is in juice form, it counts towards your daily limit of free sugars.

Calories from drinks that contain sugar often become an addition to the calories you are eating from food, which may lead to weight gain over time.

Eating large amounts of dried fruit is also not a good idea if you are limiting your sugar intake. Through the process of removing water from the fruit, nutrients are concentrated, such that dried apricots, for example, contain about six times as much sugar (40g per 100g) as fresh apricots (6g per 100g).&nbsp;

We need to eat fruit

Unlike many foods that are high in free sugars, fruits are packaged with lots of nutrients that help provide us with a balanced diet for good health.

For starters, fruit is an excellent source of fibre. An average banana will provide 20-25% (6g) of your recommended daily fibre intake. Getting enough fibre in the diet is important for protecting against bowel cancer. There is clear room for improvement in our fibre intake &ndash; adults in many countries consume only about half of the recommended amount each day (25g for Aussie women and 30g for Aussie men).

The fibre in fruit, which is often absent in many foods and drinks with free sugars, may also help to fill you up, which means you eat less overall at a meal. It&rsquo;s not clear exactly why this is, but it could be related to the volume of the food (especially compared with liquids) and the chewing involved.

Fruit is also a good source of other nutrients such as potassium, which can help lower blood pressure, and flavonoids, which may reduce your risk of heart disease.

There is evidence that eating whole fruits (alone and in combination with vegetables) reduces your chances of dying from cancer, obesity and heart disease.

Despite this, only about 50% of Australians eat at least two pieces of fruit per day.

Most national dietary guidelines encourage eating fruits and vegetables, with an emphasis on the vegetables. To try and eat your recommended two pieces of fruit per day remember that a piece could be a banana, apple or orange, or two smaller fruits like plums or apricots, or a cup of grapes or berries.&nbsp;

When it comes to other sources of sugars, try to choose foods that have little or no sugar listed in the ingredient list, and drink water instead of sugary beverages when you are thirsty.

&nbsp;

*Kacie Dickinson is an accredited practicing Dietitian; Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, Flinders University

**Jodi Bernstein&nbsp;is a PhD Candidate in Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto

 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

When it comes to other sources of sugars, try to choose foods that have little or no sugar listed in the ingredient list, and drink water instead of sugary beverages when you are thirsty.

By Kacie Dickinson*, Jodi Bernstein** We hear regularly from health organisations and experts that we should eat less sugar. But we’re also told we should eat more fruit. All types of sugar will give us the same amount of calories, whether they are from fruit or soft drink. But the health risks of eating sugar are related to consuming too many “free sugars” in the diet, not from eating sugars that are naturally present in fruits or milk. Types of sugar in food Sugar in food and drinks comes in various forms. Sugar molecules are classified as monosaccharides (single sugar molecules such as glucose and fructose) and disaccharides (more complex structures such as sucrose and lactose). Fruit contains natural sugars, which are a mix of sucrose, fructose and glucose. Many people have heard that sugar is bad, and think that this must also therefore apply to fruits. But fructose is only harmful in excess amounts, and not when it comes from fruit. It would be incredibly difficult to consume excessive amounts of fructose by eating whole fruits. It’s much easier to consume excess sugar from foods and drinks that contain “free sugars”. Free sugars include these same sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose), but in this case they have been removed from their naturally occurring source (rather than being eaten as natural parts of fruits, dairy products, and some vegetables and grains). This includes sugar that is added to food and drinks by food companies, cooks or consumers. Health risks come from free sugars, not fruits Evidence shows that the health risks from sugars, such as tooth decay and unhealthy weight gain, are related to consuming too many free sugars in the diet, not from eating sugars that are naturally present in fruits or milk. For this reason it is recommended that no more than 10% of your daily calories come from free sugars. For the average adult, this is about 50g or only slightly more than the amount of sugar in a can of regular soft drink or soda. It’s estimated that Australians get around 60% (65g) of their sugar intake from free sugars. Foods that are sources of free sugars, such as juices, soft drinks, biscuits and lollies, are often high in calories and have little other nutritional value. It is often easy to consume more of them compared with fresh fruit and they also may be replacing other nutritious foods in the diet. Consider a bottle of fruit juice – you would have to eat six whole oranges to get the same amount of sugar you consume in the juice. And because the fruit is in juice form, it counts towards your daily limit of free sugars. Calories from drinks that contain sugar often become an addition to the calories you are eating from food, which may lead to weight gain over time. Eating large amounts of dried fruit is also not a good idea if you are limiting your sugar intake. Through the process of removing water from the fruit, nutrients are concentrated, such that dried apricots, for example, contain about six times as much sugar (40g per 100g) as fresh apricots (6g per 100g). We need to eat fruit Unlike many foods that are high in free sugars, fruits are packaged with lots of nutrients that help provide us with a balanced diet for good health. For starters, fruit is an excellent source of fibre. An average banana will provide 20-25% (6g) of your recommended daily fibre intake. Getting enough fibre in the diet is important for protecting against bowel cancer. There is clear room for improvement in our fibre intake – adults in many countries consume only about half of the recommended amount each day (25g for Aussie women and 30g for Aussie men). The fibre in fruit, which is often absent in many foods and drinks with free sugars, may also help to fill you up, which means you eat less overall at a meal. It’s not clear exactly why this is, but it could be related to the volume of the food (especially compared with liquids) and the chewing involved. Fruit is also a good source of other nutrients such as potassium, which can help lower blood pressure, and flavonoids, which may reduce your risk of heart disease. There is evidence that eating whole fruits (alone and in combination with vegetables) reduces your chances of dying from cancer, obesity and heart disease. Despite this, only about 50% of Australians eat at least two pieces of fruit per day. Most national dietary guidelines encourage eating fruits and vegetables, with an emphasis on the vegetables. To try and eat your recommended two pieces of fruit per day remember that a piece could be a banana, apple or orange, or two smaller fruits like plums or apricots, or a cup of grapes or berries. When it comes to other sources of sugars, try to choose foods that have little or no sugar listed in the ingredient list, and drink water instead of sugary beverages when you are thirsty. *Kacie Dickinson is an accredited practicing Dietitian; Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, Flinders University **Jodi Bernstein is a PhD Candidate in Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: If sugar is so bad for us, why is the sugar in fruit ok?

Pakistan&#39;s sugar industry is urging the government to reinstate export subsidies after a steep fall in global sugar prices has slowed shipments, adding to a domestic surplus just as the country prepares to harvest a record crop.

Without revenues from exports, local mills will struggle to pay farmers for new supplies, while large stockpiles will stop domestic prices from rallying in the world&#39;s eighth-largest sugar producer, industry officials said.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met with the politically influential industry last week and directed the Commerce Ministry and Sugar Advisory Board to work on ways to resolve &quot;the issues and problems&quot; affecting sugar, his office said in a statement.

Pakistan last had an export subsidy in 2015/16, set at 13,000 rupees ($124) per tonne for exports of 650,000 tonnes of the sweetener, and a similar subsidy level is needed again, the industry said.

&quot;Mills are not able to export sugar at the current international prices,&quot; Iskandar Khan, senior vice chairman of the politically influential Pakistan Sugar Mills Association told Reuters.

Global prices have fallen over a quarter so far in 2017 to around $378 a tonne as output is expected to climb in key producers like India, China and Thailand.

&quot;In the world market, prices need to rise by $60 per tonne to make exports viable,&quot; said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading firm.

Sugar cane is a popular crop in Pakistan as the government sets procurement prices, while the industry is protected by a 40 percent import tariff which has led to high domestic prices.

The association says the area given over to sugar cane has risen about 30 percent over the past seven years, while output has more than doubled with the help of government subsidies for fertilizers and other aids.

Pakistan produced 7 million tonnes of sugar in the 2016/17 marketing year ending September 30, exceeding local demand of around 5 million tonnes, and the association pegs this year&#39;s crop at a record 8 million tonnes.

Pakistan controls sugar exports via quotas in an effort to ensure sufficient local supplies. So far this year it has authorised 725,000 tonnes of shipments, which would make it the world&#39;s ninth largest exporter, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

However, the country has actually exported only about 350,000 tonnes, traders estimate, with current stockpiles sitting at about 1 million tonnes.

Mills in Pakistan usually start crushing in October, but this year plan to delay crushing by a few months as they lack the funds to settle bills for cane purchases before the new season, said a sugar miller based in Karachi.

&quot;Pakistan has no choice but to export surplus sugar,&quot; said the Mumbai-based dealer.

Without revenues from exports, local mills will struggle to pay farmers for new supplies, while large stockpiles will stop domestic prices from rallying in the world's eighth-largest sugar producer, industry officials said.

Pakistan's sugar industry is urging the government to reinstate export subsidies after a steep fall in global sugar prices has slowed shipments, adding to a domestic surplus just as the country prepares to harvest a record crop. Without revenues from exports, local mills will struggle to pay farmers for new supplies, while large stockpiles will stop domestic prices from rallying in the world's eighth-largest sugar producer, industry officials said. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met with the politically influential industry last week and directed the Commerce Ministry and Sugar Advisory Board to work on ways to resolve "the issues and problems" affecting sugar, his office said in a statement. Pakistan last had an export subsidy in 2015/16, set at 13,000 rupees ($124) per tonne for exports of 650,000 tonnes of the sweetener, and a similar subsidy level is needed again, the industry said. "Mills are not able to export sugar at the current international prices," Iskandar Khan, senior vice chairman of the politically influential Pakistan Sugar Mills Association told Reuters. Global prices have fallen over a quarter so far in 2017 to around $378 a tonne as output is expected to climb in key producers like India, China and Thailand. "In the world market, prices need to rise by $60 per tonne to make exports viable," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading firm. Sugar cane is a popular crop in Pakistan as the government sets procurement prices, while the industry is protected by a 40 percent import tariff which has led to high domestic prices. The association says the area given over to sugar cane has risen about 30 percent over the past seven years, while output has more than doubled with the help of government subsidies for fertilizers and other aids. Pakistan produced 7 million tonnes of sugar in the 2016/17 marketing year ending September 30, exceeding local demand of around 5 million tonnes, and the association pegs this year's crop at a record 8 million tonnes. Pakistan controls sugar exports via quotas in an effort to ensure sufficient local supplies. So far this year it has authorised 725,000 tonnes of shipments, which would make it the world's ninth largest exporter, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. However, the country has actually exported only about 350,000 tonnes, traders estimate, with current stockpiles sitting at about 1 million tonnes. Mills in Pakistan usually start crushing in October, but this year plan to delay crushing by a few months as they lack the funds to settle bills for cane purchases before the new season, said a sugar miller based in Karachi. "Pakistan has no choice but to export surplus sugar," said the Mumbai-based dealer.

Pakistan struggles to export sugar surplus as global prices plunge

Britain on Thursday said it would tax companies which sell sugary soft drinks and invest that money in health programs for school children, part of a long-awaited strategy to curb childhood obesity that critics say is too weak. 
 
Drinks companies were also angered by the plan which urges industry to cut sugar in products aimed at children, saying nearly a third of those aged 2 to 15 are already overweight or obese. 
 
In a statement announcing details of the strategy, which has been in the works for several years, junior finance minister Jane Ellison said obesity was costing Britain&#39;s National Health Service (NHS) billions of pounds every year. 
 
Campaigners and health experts, however, said the plan was weak. 
 
Graham MacGregor, a professor of cardiovascular medicine and chairman of the Action on Sugar campaign group, said it was &quot;an insulting response&quot; to Britain&#39;s obesity and diabetes crisis which &quot;will bankrupt the NHS unless something radical is done.&quot; 
 
In opting for a sugar tax, Britain joins Belgium, France, Hungary and Mexico, all of which have imposed some form of tax on drinks with added sugar. Scandinavian countries have levied similar taxes for many years. 
 
Britain&#39;s plans will see a levy applied to drinks with a total sugar content above 5 grams per 100 ml (about a teaspoon per 3.38 fluid ounces for US measures), with a higher band for even more sugary drinks. 
 
The government&#39;s health department says sugary drinks are the single biggest source of sugar for children, and a child can have more than their recommended daily intake just by drinking a can of cola which contains nine teaspoons of sugar. 
 
It wants the industry to work towards a 20 percent cut in products popular with children, with 5 percent in the first year. Progress would be reviewed every six months by the government&#39;s health agency, Public Health England. 
 
But Gavin Partington, Director General of the British Soft Drinks Association, said the levy was a &quot;punitive tax&quot; that would &quot;cause thousands of job losses and yet fail to have a meaningful impact on levels of obesity.&quot; 
 
Sara Petersson, a nutrition analyst at Euromonitor International, said the focus on sugar may detract from other crucial factors in obesity. 
 
&quot;It is becoming abundantly clear that replacing a critical ingredient of a product, or single nutrient in a diet, is neither an easy process for food companies nor a successful obesity strategy,&quot; she said. 
 
The program the government intends to launch with funds raised from the sugar levy will focus on promoting healthy diets and physical activity in schoolchildren, Public Health Minister Nicola Blackwood said. 
 
She said primary schools would be asked to help pupils get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. At least 30 minutes of this should be during school time, she said. 
 
(Reuters)

The tax money will be invested in health programmes for school children to curb obesity

Britain on Thursday said it would tax companies which sell sugary soft drinks and invest that money in health programs for school children, part of a long-awaited strategy to curb childhood obesity that critics say is too weak. Drinks companies were also angered by the plan which urges industry to cut sugar in products aimed at children, saying nearly a third of those aged 2 to 15 are already overweight or obese. In a statement announcing details of the strategy, which has been in the works for several years, junior finance minister Jane Ellison said obesity was costing Britain's National Health Service (NHS) billions of pounds every year. Campaigners and health experts, however, said the plan was weak. Graham MacGregor, a professor of cardiovascular medicine and chairman of the Action on Sugar campaign group, said it was "an insulting response" to Britain's obesity and diabetes crisis which "will bankrupt the NHS unless something radical is done." In opting for a sugar tax, Britain joins Belgium, France, Hungary and Mexico, all of which have imposed some form of tax on drinks with added sugar. Scandinavian countries have levied similar taxes for many years. Britain's plans will see a levy applied to drinks with a total sugar content above 5 grams per 100 ml (about a teaspoon per 3.38 fluid ounces for US measures), with a higher band for even more sugary drinks. The government's health department says sugary drinks are the single biggest source of sugar for children, and a child can have more than their recommended daily intake just by drinking a can of cola which contains nine teaspoons of sugar. It wants the industry to work towards a 20 percent cut in products popular with children, with 5 percent in the first year. Progress would be reviewed every six months by the government's health agency, Public Health England. But Gavin Partington, Director General of the British Soft Drinks Association, said the levy was a "punitive tax" that would "cause thousands of job losses and yet fail to have a meaningful impact on levels of obesity." Sara Petersson, a nutrition analyst at Euromonitor International, said the focus on sugar may detract from other crucial factors in obesity. "It is becoming abundantly clear that replacing a critical ingredient of a product, or single nutrient in a diet, is neither an easy process for food companies nor a successful obesity strategy," she said. The program the government intends to launch with funds raised from the sugar levy will focus on promoting healthy diets and physical activity in schoolchildren, Public Health Minister Nicola Blackwood said. She said primary schools would be asked to help pupils get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. At least 30 minutes of this should be during school time, she said. (Reuters)

Britain launches soft drinks sugar tax to fight obesity

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