The Dangers of Sugar and Salt

Gr 7 Up—Two hosts, one African American male and one Caucasian female—both thin, perky, and attractive—warn teens that most young adults consume 22 times the sodium than their bodies need, and much more table sugar, or sucrose, than is beneficial for their bodies. They explain that the chemical make-up of table salt is sodium and chloride, and it is extra sodium that causes the circulatory and other systems of the body to overwork. Dr. Bruce Bloom, a nutrition specialist, provides support for their statements. Some reenactments of teens making healthy and unhealthy food and beverage choices are included. In addition, the teacher's resource book, in PDF format, includes a pre/post-viewing quiz, National Health Education Standards for grades 6–8 and 9–12, summary of the program, fact sheets, online resources, and suggested activities. Much of the video consists of the hosts acting out a script. One expert witness and a 3-D model of the human body does not compensate for the preponderance of dialog from the talking heads and the lack of compelling evidence.—Ann Weber, Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, CA