DVD Review: That Sugar Film  

There are so many experts these days providing conflicting information on nutrition that it can become hard to know what's healthy and what isn’t. One thing that has become clear is the effect that the amount of sugar found in our food is having on our physical and mental health.  

The documentary really opened my eyes to just how much sugar we are putting into our bodies without realising it. Damon’s 40 teaspoons isn’t made up of things we already know contain a lot of sugar like lollies and fizzy drink. Instead, he's eating things that are perceived to be ‘healthy’ but which actually have a high sugar content like low-fat yoghurt, fruit juice, smoothies and muesli bars.

The impact That Sugar Film has on viewers is amplified with the use of visual effects, making the documentary not only educational but also entertaining. Scientists and Doctors speak from labels on packaged foods, a mini Damon bounces around inside his own brain and liver, following sugar on its journey through his body and Hugh Jackman appears in a cameo role using visual aids to give a summary on the history of sugar.

The best thing I took away from watching That Sugar Film is that 4 grams of sugar equals about 1 teaspoon of sugar. I now pay more attention to the list of ingredients on packaged food and drinks and do a quick calculation to visualise how much sugar is actually in a product before I buy it.

See also Damon Gameau's companion books to the documentary: That Sugar Book and That Sugar Guide.

You might enjoy a series of talks on Nutrition Awareness: The Power of Food, presented by Janet Taylor, MSc, at City Library on Wednesday 27th July, 6pm and continuing on the last Wednesday of each month.