Over the years Americans intake of sugar has surged, greatly contributing to soaring rates of diabetes and obesity. Some sources have stated that on average, modern day Americans, consume about a pound and a half of sugar almost every couple of days. Comparatively, in the 1800s, the average American ingested less than 12 pounds of sugar on an annual basis. We are now being warned that most of us need to be more vigilant about our sugar levels.

An article once posted by the New York Daily News states that Brooklyn residents are increasingly dying from diabetes. The article states that: “Diabetes deaths in Brooklyn have shot up 42% over the past 15 years…The hardest-hit neighborhood was southern Crown Heights, where the number of deaths increased by a whopping 141% from 1992 to 2006…The citywide increase in diabetes deaths for [that] period is 62%. In southern Crown Heights, 51.5 of every 100,000 residents die of diabetes. That number is 54.6 per 100,000 in Brownsville and 48.1 in Bed-Stuy.”

In addition to diabetes, high-sugar intact also leads to mental deficiencies such as: a lack of concentration, and moodiness. More seriously, scientists are also looking into whether or not high-sugar levels contribute to the onslaught of Alzheimer’s disease- which is an intense state of dementia.

Let’s resolve to be more healthy. Also be sure to drink lots of water.