Hands Up – Who Wants to be Fat? January 20th, 2016
Hello! I'm The Healthy Fox and I've got something pretty important to tell you. As I'm doing the rounds most evenings, listening in through your kitchen windows, I hear things like "Ah leave them alone…Sure a drop of lemonade and a few sweets will do them no harm." Let me tell you something; this is not true at all!
Sugar is a poison to you humans. And, if you don't believe me, here are a few facts for you. Cancer Research UK predict that, if obesity rates continue to rise as they are, it could be the sole cause of around 700,000 new cases of cancer in the UK over the next two decades. This would put obesity into top spot as the primary cause of certain types of cancer, overtaking smoking in the process. And then when you consider that an over consumption of sugar can also lead to a number of other conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, fatty liver disease, kidney disease, and osteoarthritis, it would appear all those sweets and glasses of lemonade will actually do your kids harm after all. A lot of harm in fact.
And, unfortunately, Ireland is topping the charts when it comes to obesity. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ireland is on course to be the fattest nation in Europe by 2030. In just fourteen years' time, 89% of men and 85% of women will be overweight, with 48% of men and 57% of women being officially labelled obese. And the reason for this? You guys are consuming way too much sugar! The WHO recommends a daily consumption of no more than 6 teaspoons per day. The average Irish person consumes 24. That large glass of lemonade could contain as much as 10 teaspoons of sugar. And there are 8 teaspoons in an off-the-shelf can of tomato soup. Sugar is everywhere.
I hear talk about the government banning TV ads for junk food before 9pm, and placing a specific tax on high-sugar foods. This will help, I'm sure. But it's time for you all to get smart with your eating and take responsibility for your own health. It's time to tackle this crisis head on and prove those predictions wrong.
And I would like to help. I am on a mission to make healthy food more convenient than junk food. Even though you might be busy, you can order healthy food, drinks and snacks right here from my online store and I will deliver to you, anywhere in Ireland, for free*. You might also look out for my healthy vending machines, where you can buy products that will make you feel good while you are on-the-go. Oh, and make sure you stay tuned here to my healthy eating blog, where I will give regular updates on how you can eat smart and feel good, just like me. Come on people, let's getting healthy!
– The Healthy Fox
