THE STORY OF SUGAR

I never imagined that something as sweet as sugar could be so harmful. Growing up, my family worked the land and ate the fresh food we grew and gathered. We were strong and healthy. But when hard times hit, we left our village to find work in the city. Life became easier in some ways. Instead of working the land, my father drove a taxi, and my mother worked at a factory. We spent more time sitting, and our food choices changed. We bought sweets, sugary drinks, and fast food. It tasted so good and was quick and easy.

Our family began to resemble our city relatives. My father gained a big belly, and he was proud of it, thinking it was a sign of prosperity—proof that we had enough money to eat well. One day, I saw a notice for diabetes testing. The man on the poster looked a lot like my father. I was shocked when I realized my father had signs of diabetes. He was always thirsty, urinated often, had blurred vision, and felt tired all the time.

At first, my father didn’t think it was a problem, but since his brother had lost his leg to diabetes, he agreed to get tested. Unfortunately, the test revealed that my father’s blood sugar was dangerously high. The nurse explained that his large belly was actually a sign of poor health. She told us that eating too much, especially sweets and starchy foods, leads to unhealthy fat buildup inside the belly. This type of fat is different from the soft fat you can pinch, and it can lead to diseases like diabetes.

The nurse explained that when we eat sweet things, they turn into sugar in our blood, but starchy foods like rice, potatoes, and bread do the same. Many processed foods also contain hidden sugars. Diabetes causes sugar to build up in the blood, damaging blood vessels and nerves. This increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, blindness, and even dementia, leading to forgetfulness and confusion. Nerve damage can cause numbness in the feet, making it harder to feel injuries, which can get infected and even require amputation. Diabetes can also cause sexual dysfunction in men.

It was a scary diagnosis, but there was good news: my father could control his diabetes and prevent these complications. The nurse explained that our modern lifestyle was the cause of his health problems. To get better, he needed to eat healthier, eat less, and become more active. At that moment, I realized that my entire family was at risk of developing diabetes, including my uncle.

I decided to visit my grandmother, who had grown up in a time when there was no junk food and no one had diabetes. Together, we made a plan. First, we stopped buying sweets and fast food. Instead, we shopped at local markets for fresh vegetables, whole grains, and high-protein foods like beans, eggs, and fish. We also returned to cooking traditional meals, which had nourished our family for generations. My grandmother always said that home cooking is the only sure way to ensure you’re eating healthy food.

We also focused on healthier portion sizes, eating less rice, and became more active by taking walks every morning. Over the course of a year, my father lost his belly, his blood sugar levels improved, and his energy returned. We all became healthier, and surprisingly, we didn’t miss the sugar as much as we thought we would.

The lesson we learned was simple: eat real food, cook it yourself, and stay active. With these changes, your family can be healthy too.