Sugar Allotment

edberlyn

I am frustrated with one aspect of this site: the sugar allotment. I am just trying to maintain my weight or maybe lose a few pounds. Therefore, I am mostly concerned with calories. However, it bothers me that my sugar allotment without exercise is 24 grams, and eating a banana in the morning takes up 21 grams of this sugar allotment. I am sorry, but I do not buy this recent hype that bananas are bad for you. I think it is ridiculous that if I eat fruit (not only bananas) my sugar consumption goes through the roof. One morning I ate a banana and a pear and my sugar consumption was like 34 grams.

Can anyone discuss why the sugar allotment is set up this way? I would be happy to hear why. Also, how will this affect my weight/weightloss? I have lost a few pounds, and I usually keep under calorie consumption (adjusted each day for exercise). Additionally, does anyone think there should be a difference when counting sugar between sugars from fruit and granualted sugar?

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

Sugar is just a carb. As long as you're eating enough fats and protein, your carbs/sugar aren't particularly important unless you have a medical issue that requires carbs/sugar to be monitored.

However, it should be noted that fructose and sucrose can only be stored as liver glycogen and not muscle glycogen. The liver can hold 100-120g glycogen so anything more than that will be converted to triglycerides. As long as you still have a calorie deficit this will even out. Just try to make most of your carbs glucose and not sucrose or fructose. Fructose in particular has been shown to decrease exercise performance, increased likelihood of gastrointestinal distress, and increase perception of exertion.

Here are some studies:
http://www.setantacollege.com/wp-content/uploads/Journal_db/the effects of glucose....pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3592616


As long as you're under your calorie goal, you'll lose weight. Some people find that sugar (even from fruit) causes them to have more sugar/carb cravings so keep that in mind.

For information on setting your macro target, read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/911011-calculating-calorie-macronutrient-needs?page=1#posts-13821336

yarwell

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1017237-so-what-s-with-this-sugar-then-faq

Additionally, does anyone think there should be a difference when counting sugar between sugars from fruit and granualted sugar?

No. The molecules are the same inside your body.