Sweet Love - Listening Script (Paragraphs A-E)

Paragraph A:
Many scientists believe our love of sugar may actually be an addiction. They explain that when we eat sugary foods, sugar enters our blood and affects the parts of our brain that make us feel good. All tasty foods do this, but sugar has a particularly strong effect. In this way, sugar is like a drug, and doctors recommend that we all cut down on it.

Paragraph B:
Experts say the long-term effects of too much sugar can be serious. One-third of adults worldwide have high blood pressure, and many more live with obesity or diabetes. Richard Johnson, a specialist in diet and health, says, "Sugar, we believe, is one of the culprits, if not the major culprit."

Paragraph C:
Our bodies are designed to survive on very little sugar. Early humans often had very little food, so our bodies learned to be efficient in storing sugar as fat. In this way, we had energy stored for times when there was no food. But today, most people have more than enough food. So the very thing that once saved us may now be killing us.

Paragraph D:
Reducing sugar is difficult. Sugar is often hidden in food that seems healthy. Some products are advertised as low in fat, but large amounts of sugar are added to improve taste. People may not realise how much sugar they consume each day.

Paragraph E:
Still, people are fighting back against sugar. Many schools are replacing sugary desserts with fruit, and some communities are building walking tracks to promote healthier lifestyles. The battle has not yet been lost.