Day 8 in Dixie: sugar!!!!!!!!!

One thing that was all around us in Louisiana was sugar.  Oak Alley (where we stayed) was a sugar plantation, and we learned how much work it took to convert cane to sugar.  There are still sugar cane fields all over St. James Parish, and huge sugar refineries along the Mississippi.

In the Oak Alley sugar exhibit, there was a video by the Louisiana sugar growers showing the modern process and extolling the virtues of sugar.  I recorded the end of the video, which is both hilarious and almost criminal in its disregard for human health while fighting the (understandable) fight to keep their industry alive.  It smacks a lot of the tobacco industry.  I will certainly play this video to the med students when teaching Type II diabetes.  Nothing in this video is un-true technically.  Sugar doesn't pour itself in your mouth to cause diabetes or obesity.  Your brain burns "sugar" (glucose) almost entirely for fuel (doesn't use fat).  However, it is very very very clear that over-consumption of sugar (specifically) is a major driver of the current diabetes/obesity epidemic.  Some doctors call it "white death".

In the video, check out the American flag coming out at a key point, over the cane fields, just to get patriotism in there.  Try to hang in there for the musical jingle at the end, which is catchy.

On a conservative radio station heading out of town, we heard a discussion of what to do to fight obesity/diabetes, starting with lifestyle modifications.  They actually never mentioned cutting down on sugar.

Sugar cane field.

Sugar plant behind sugar fields.

Tail end of video from the sugar industry.