Lately, Everything From Sitting To Smartphones Is Being Called Tobacco’s Successor. But Is Labelling Something The “New Smoking” Ever Justified? We Scoured The Science To Determine Which Habits Are Truly Bad And Which Are Actually Just Victims Of Hype.
SUGAR
THE SCARE
Sugar is as addictive as meth, cheap as hell, and a contributor to the obesity epidemic!
THE BACKSTORY
The public’s prodigious sugar consumption has been a media mainstay for years. It’s been linked to high blood pressure, liver damage, heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, apocalyptic teeth... Then there are the tales of sugar’s evil dependency. One decade-old study found that lab rats chose saccharine or sugar over cocaine – even when they were addicted to cocaine.
THE FACTS
When it comes to added sugar (the stuff not naturally in a food), there’s reason for the hype. The American Heart Association tells us to limit added sugar to 630kJ worth per day. Excess added sugar leads to a higher risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers, says professor Kimber Stanhope, a researcher and dietician at the University of California. Note: there’s cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes risk independent of weight gain. Good news: you will probably never consume dangerous amounts of sugar from fruits or veggies in solid form; they provide fibre to help your body process the sweet stuff in a healthier way. But beware the sugars in fruit juice; some experts believe they may be just as dangerous.
THE NEW SMOKING?
Excess added sugar is definitely a threat.
Danger
8/10
BACON
THE SCARE
Like a sizzling Judas, our beloved breakfast protein has betrayed us. Eating 50 grams daily (less than five slices) may increase our risk of colorectal cancer by 18%!
THE BACKSTORY
This story is from the December 2018 edition of Men's Health South Africa.
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This story is from the December 2018 edition of Men's Health South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
INSTANT PROGRESS THE 28-DAY PULLUP PLAN
JUST 10 MINUTES A DAY FOR A MONTH CAN PUSH YOU FROM PULLUP ZERO TO YOUR FIRST GREAT REPS.
THE MH INTERVIEW STARTER MUSCLE
THE FIRST STEPS ON A NEW FITNESS JOURNEY ARE OFTEN THE TOUGHEST. BUT WITH A FEW TWEAKS TO YOUR THINKING, PT AND PART-OWNER OF MOTLEY CREW CROSSFIT TYRON HATCH WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO STRIDE TOWARDS THE LOFTIEST GOALS.
15 SMART WAYS TO GET AHEAD IN LIFE (BY DOING LITTLE THINGS BETTER)
Self-improvement needn't be a slog. You can make gains-both marginal and meaningful-simply by approaching your day-to-day tasks with a little extra know-how. We raided the MH archives to compile these truly life-enhancing tips from our expert contributors. It's time to level up.
LOVE & LIKES
WHEN DOES SOCIAL-MEDIA FLIRTING BECOME CHEATING? LET’S TALK IT OUT.
FORCE OF NATURE
THE SAS SOLDIER TURNED TV SURVIVALIST HAS MADE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE HIS BUSINESS. BUT WHAT LESSONS DO HIS METHODS HOLD IN OUR INCREASINGLY URBANISED AND ONLINE WORLD?
COLOGNE BUT WITH
YOU BUY COLOGNE TO STAND OUT. SO WHY NOT REALLY STAND OUT? THESE BOLDER SPRITZES SMELL AWESOME AND LAST LONGER, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN USE LESS. OUR PICKS LEVEL UP IN INTENSITY AS YOU MOVE ALONG THE SPECTRUM.
THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO RUNNING LAPS AROUND THE ECONOMY
CATCHING UP WHEN INFLATION IS ALWAYS OUT TO SET A NEW PB CAN FEEL IMPOSSIBLE. PUT THESE 11 EXPERT-APPROVED LESSONS INTO ACTION TO DUCK AND WEAVE AROUND YOUR MONEY WOES
WHY 30-MINUTE WORKOUTS WILL WORK FOR YOU
LESS IS MORE WHEN IT COMES TO EXERCISING FOR FITNESS, STRENGTH AND HEALTH.
UNFREEZE YOUR MIND
ALL MY LIFE, I THOUGHT I WAS A COWARD. THEN I DISCOVERED THAT THE REAL NAME FOR WHAT I'D BEEN FEELING WAS ANXIETY- AND I WAS IN GOOD COMPANY.
DARK PLACES
For any surfer, taking on the monster waves at Nazaré in Portugal is a death-defying risk. For Matt Formston, there's another consideration: he's blind.
