[permaculture-oceania] Cuba discussion: a gastronomer's input

[steve_burns at wvi.org]

Dear Liane,

The documentary that started this whole thread states that Cubans used to
have poor diets based on rice and beans but now have highly varied diets
(and much improved general and dental health!)  I don't recall specific
mention of sugar intake in the diet  - except that the Cuban sugar industry
was high petroleum-input based before the collapse of the Soviet union....
not sure if they are growing as much sugar cane these days.... ;)

cheers

Steve




                                                                           
             Liane Colwell                                                 
             <lianecolwell at ipr                                             
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Hi

Have been following the Cuba discussion with interest.

I noted the comments re the Cubans being ....let's call it 'low-energy' at
work. I can't add to the political commentary but can comment as a
nutrition
and epidemiology-oriented gastronomer researching sugar at the moment.

I cant find the data at this minute but I think Cuba might be the highest
consumer of sugar in the world. It doesn't show up in a lot of the
databases.

I read your pieces about the making of confectionery in order to make ends
meet. Many have written on the sugar, rum and slavery connection and its
legacies.

Back to sugar in general...

The USA usually tops the tables on sugar consumption with sugar at a
massive
72kg per person [Australia is 47 kg per person and China is 7kg per person
per annum and rising].Global average per capita annual consumption is 25kg.

The problem of ingesting sugar [and refined foods like white rice and
flour]
is the 'crash' which happens later. The constant up and down on the blood
sugar levels is exhausting and deleterious to health long-term. Witness the
Type2 diabetes epidemic along with the obesity.

Americans consume a lot of their sweeteners as HFCS ie high fructose corn
syrup. Consumption of this, rose every year from 1970 to 1999. Corn and soy
are the big users of GM technology so HFCS is incredibly cheap.

The consumption of all sugars [sugar, honey, syrups and HFCS] in America
apparently peaked in 1999 at 443 calories of energy consumed as sugar [all
kinds] or 28 teaspoons per day.

Comparing Cuba to America is interesting.

They both have life expectancies of 77+ years! Annual income is a different
matter....$US3,500 per head in Cuba and $US 42,000 in the US. Makes you
think! Must be all that dancing in the street.......
Per


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