Could we survive in a sugarless world?
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00:00 Got a sweet tooth?
00:04 Are you always looking forward to dessert?
00:07 Need double sugar in your coffee?
00:10 This sweet crystal is everywhere.
00:13 It's in our food.
00:15 It's in our culture.
00:16 It's in our DNA.
00:18 What would your life be like
00:20 if there was no sugar in the world?
00:23 Well, it would affect more than your cravings.
00:26 It would change our history,
00:28 our economy,
00:30 and even our bodies.
00:32 So what would happen if it disappeared?
00:36 And how did we get hooked on sugar in the first place?
00:40 This is WHAT IF,
00:42 and here's what would happen
00:43 if there was no sugar in the world.
00:46 We need sugar.
00:48 No sugar means no life, period.
00:52 Before we dig into what would happen if it disappeared,
00:55 let's define what we mean by no sugar.
00:58 Sugar is made up of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms,
01:03 putting it in the category of carbohydrates,
01:05 or more affectionately, carbs.
01:09 Now, carbs get a bad rap,
01:10 but there are some good ones,
01:12 like those found in beans,
01:14 whole grains, and fruits and vegetables.
01:17 These have vital nutrients to keep your body functioning.
01:20 But let's crack open a diet WHAT IF
01:23 and imagine that all those sugar-based carbs were gone.
01:27 What would happen if we removed all sugar?
01:31 If sugar, all sugar, on the planet was instantly removed,
01:35 we'd essentially be sucking our DNA dry,
01:38 slowly crumbling to dust,
01:41 along with every other breathing life form on the planet.
01:44 Without carbohydrates doing their job of releasing glucose,
01:48 your body would start to look for different sources of energy.
01:52 It would start consuming your fats and your proteins.
01:55 In effect, your body would be eating itself from the inside out.
01:59 Things would be bitter, to say the least.
02:03 But carbs aren't the type of sugar that inspired you to click on this video.
02:07 Let's talk about the disappearance of refined sugar.
02:10 The dominant force in the world of refined sugar production is sugar cane.
02:16 In 2018, it was estimated that nearly 2 billion tons of sugar cane
02:20 were produced globally.
02:22 But what if it wasn't?
02:25 Well, we could be looking at a world full of healthier people.
02:29 In countries that rely economically on sugar-based carbs,
02:32 you'll find high levels of heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.
02:37 Take refined sugar out of the picture,
02:38 and you could look forward to less strain on the healthcare system.
02:42 And while it's a matter of some debate,
02:45 studies theorize that sugar is just as addictive as cocaine.
02:49 With refined sugar removed from the world,
02:52 problems like sugar addiction would be removed with it.
02:56 And hey, it would also help the environment.
02:59 According to the World Wildlife Federation,
03:02 there are a dozen countries that use 25% of their available agricultural land
03:06 for the production of sugar cane.
03:09 This takes quite a toll on their ecosystems.
03:12 On the flip side, losing income from sugar
03:15 may throw some countries' economies off balance.
03:18 Sugar supplies the world with 20% of the caloric content in people's diets.
03:24 Because of this, it's a dominating force in the global economy.
03:28 So how did we get hooked on sugar in the first place?
03:32 Well, our cave-dwelling ancestors didn't start out munching on sugar-filled treats.
03:37 But since the beginning,
03:39 humans have been consuming sugar through fruits and honey.
03:42 So your sweet tooth is as old as humanity itself.
03:46 Large-scale sugar cane cultivation began in the 15th century.
03:49 But the sugar rush really started in 1647,
03:53 when sugar cane was exported from the Caribbean.
03:57 Elusive and expensive, it was seen as a luxury for the elite.
04:01 Europeans went crazy for it,
04:03 eating sugar until their teeth rotted out,
04:05 just to prove to peasants that they could afford it.
04:09 So all things considered,
04:12 what if there really was no sugar in the world?
04:14 Well, less sugar generally means healthier people.
04:18 The alternative would be to use artificial sweeteners.
04:21 But you wouldn't have free reign to drink all the diet soda you want.
04:25 You'd still have to deal with aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose,
04:28 which have all been tied to weight gain.
04:32 We can't get rid of sugar completely,
04:34 but what if we were to get rid of spices?
04:37 Or just salt?
04:40 Well, that's a story for another WHAT IF.
04:44 (upbeat music)