Health Promotion
Sugar and Fizzy Drinks Ban
As part of our Health Promoting Schools Initiative here at Coláiste Clavin we are trying to promote better health within our school and educate our students about the dangers associated with poor diet, as well as informing them about mental and physical health. Accordingly we are introducing a ban on all fizzy drinks and energy drinks, including sports drinks, on the school premises commencing after midterm in November 2016. Fizzy drinks will be confiscated from any student found possessing them after this date.
To understand our reasons for this we have some information below re the dangers of sugar. The RDA of sugar for an adult is 6 teaspoons per day. The average consumption in Ireland is 24 teaspoons per day. An average fizzy drink has more than 10 teaspoons of sugar.
- 1. Sugar can damage your heart and increase the risk of heart disease.
- 2. Sugar specifically promotes belly fat increasing obesity and so the risk of type II diabetes and heart disease. Type II diabetes is associated with increased aging and doubles the risk of Alzheimers.
- 3. Sugar causes Leptin resistance. Leptin is a hormone that tells you when you’re full. If we are resistant to this we never feel full and so over eat, consequently becoming obese.
- 4. Sugar may be linked to cancer production and may effect cancer survival. This is due to the fact we develop Insulin resistance (due to increased fat cells around our middle) and this leads to increased levels of oxidants in the blood, which can increase cancer risk.
- 5. Sugar and alcohol have similar toxic liver effects on the body. Evidence shows that fructose and glucose (sugar) in excess can have a similar toxic effect on the liver compared to alcohol. This results in fatty liver disease in children and adults.
- 6. Sugar may sap your brain power. A study has found a positive relationship between glucose consumption and the aging of our cells. It found that excess sugar consumption was linked to deficiencies in memory and overall cognitive health.
- 7. An overload of sugar (specifically in beverages) may shorten your life. In the last decade increased deaths occurred due to the association with sugar-sweetened beverages and chronic disease risk such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
