Sugar

Amandakd84

I just started MFP today. I started logging my foods and noticed that my sugar is over what I am supposed to have. Quite a bit of it is coming from the fruits I have ate. I know there is a difference between natural sugars and added sugars...BUT... does this mean I have to cut back on my fruits even though they are natural sugars?

Anyone? Help?

magerum

Unless you have a medical reason you really don't need to worry about sugar. Any kind, it's not evil and quite delicious.

whierd

Unless you have a medical reason you really don't need to worry about sugar. Any kind, it's not evil and quite delicious.

+1

jonnythan

Unless you have a medical condition such as diabetes that requires you to limit sugar intake, you should stop monitoring sugar altogether.

Track fiber instead.

Amandakd84

**phew** that sounds great! I do not have any medical conditions. Thanks for the info

CyberEd312

Unless you have a medical condition such as diabetes that requires you to limit sugar intake, you should stop monitoring sugar altogether.

Track fiber instead.

Agreed and I am a Type 2 Diabetic and still do not track sugar..... Only track Carbs (Proteins and Fats) Best of Luck

Darrelkun

I was over it today too. And proteins. -sniff-

Bob said to take my weight and divide it by two, and that's how many grams of protein a day I should be getting. So about twice as much as MFP is allowing me. Heehee.

Good to see I don't have to stress too much from sugar.

jonnythan

I was over it today too. And proteins. -sniff-

Bob said to take my weight and divide it by two, and that's how many grams of protein a day I should be getting. So about twice as much as MFP is allowing me. Heehee.

Good to see I don't have to stress too much from sugar.

Your protein target is too low. You should aim for one gram per lb of lean mass. That's probably 120-150 depending on your composition.

Also: get a food scale. "1 cup" of chicken isn't a real measurement.

GeminiDelight

you need to remember that people here arent real doctors...

sugar goes straight to my hips. i lose more when i keep my sugar low. lost the most when i cut it all together. sugar is not the same carbs as potatoes or rice.

EmmaOnTrack

Thanks to the advice I've read in this and other threads today I have removed sugar from my diary settings.

Almost 8 weeks in to my MFP journey and I'm finally FREE! That red number was making me sad for no reason!

Thank you MFP Oracle!!

:drinker:

corgicake

Medical reasons aside, there's not a good reason for most people to track sugar. Go into settings and track something else instead. I hear your bones are voting for calcium.

Achrya

you need to remember that people here arent real doctors...

sugar goes straight to my hips. i lose more when i keep my sugar low. lost the most when i cut it all together. sugar is not the same carbs as potatoes or rice.

Did your doctor tell you all that?

oferb1

Sorry to be the minority vote here, but sugars in excess can be very bad for you!

That said, look at your carbs more than the content of sugar within them, is a fair statement - and in regards to that, the amount of sugar that is normally in your blood is about a tablespoon, 300gr of carbs (FDA recommendation for a 2000 calorie diet) translates to a cup and half of sugar a day... that leaves the body a heck of a lot of sugar to deal with each day...

In regards to the difference between the various forms of sugar/carbs, I would look at their glycemic index, or glycemic load - as that will tell you how much they spike your blood sugar (and therefore how much insulin will be needed by your body to handle it) - and in your case the good news is that most fruit, have relatively low glycemic index (and some also have high fiber content) - almost all of them have a lower glycemic index than sugar (unlike for example whole wheat bread, that has a higher GI than suger!!!).

The reason you would want to pay attention to glycemic index/load is that the higher the GI, the more insulin the pancreas will release.
Insulin has two major roles in the body, it diverts sugars to your cells be it muscle, brain, fat cells, etc., as an energy source, or storage (in case of fat), BUT it also prevents fat cells from releasing the energy that is stored within them, so by effect, it contributes directly to getting fat (feeding the fat cells, and preventing them from releasing their content to be consumed by the body).

Personally, I limit my carbs to 20% of my intake (so 100gr a day, on a 2000 calorie diet).

Hildy_J

Thanks to the advice I've read in this and other threads today I have removed sugar from my diary settings.

Almost 8 weeks in to my MFP journey and I'm finally FREE! That red number was making me sad for no reason!

Thank you MFP Oracle!!

:drinker:

Same here, I removed it. One banana and it bust. No more red 'too much sugar' grief...

Still over on the carbs, tho. :-/

Unknown

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ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Here's some reading for you if you're interested. I agree with just tracking carbs. I eat quite a bit of sugar, both natural and added. It hasn't hurt my progress.

www.ajcn.org/content/65/4/908.full.pdf

Results showed that a high sucrose content in a hypoenergetic, low-fat diet did not adversely affect weight loss, metabolism, plasma lipids, or emotional affect.

http://www.simplyshredded.com/the-science-of-nutrition-is-a-carb-a-carb.html

http://www.alanaragonblog.com/2010/01/29/the-bitter-truth-about-fructose-alarmism/

psuLemon

you need to remember that people here arent real doctors...

sugar goes straight to my hips. i lose more when i keep my sugar low. lost the most when i cut it all together. sugar is not the same carbs as potatoes or rice.

This isn't true. Sugar doesn't go to any parts of the body. You can eat a high sugar diet and still get fit. Below pretty much debunks your theory.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/903628-one-year-of-barbells-and-ice-cream-my-story-so-far-pics?hl=a+year+of+lifting+and+ice+cream

EsqDreams

Natural or added, my body doesn’t like sugar very much! I just have bad genes, I guess! :sad:

My weight loss is painfully slow but when I add even the smallest amounts of sugar during the week, it stops my weight loss dead-cold!

Everyone is different but if you start to struggle in your weigh loss progression, you may want to revisit the “sugar” issue. Looping in your doctor should you need to revisit is always a good idea!

And as always, this is just my opinion based on my own struggle.

SLLRunner

You have to do what's right for your body. Sugar is delicious, and there is not a thing wrong with it.

However, I have a sugar sensitivity so I have to be very careful of how much sugar I consume, and what type. For example, I eat a few pieces of fruit during each day, but I buy other items with no sugar added (not sugar free, because sugar substitute is added, and I'm sensitive to some of those as well).

Once in a great while I eat something with sugar in it, but I try not to overdo it. If I eat too many sweets, I soar and then crash.

I use Agave nectar in the place of granulated sugar. If I use Splenda, my body seems to react the same way as it does to granulated/added sugars. I can't stand Sweet and Low, and Truvia can be a bit too sweet for me.

Kadoober

Thank you for posting this, I was about to ask the same question.
The fruit in my morning smoothie puts me in the red immediately.
It's FRUIT, for goodness sakes! I'm not going to stop having it

Just_Jon

Thank you for posting this, I was about to ask the same question.
The fruit in my morning smoothie puts me in the red immediately.
It's FRUIT, for goodness sakes! I'm not going to stop having it

Exactly. MFP does not distinguish between cane sugar (sucrose) and fruit sugar (fructose). I watch the sugar just because I don't want my carbs to be all simple carbs. I personally want complex carbs because they help me more with distance running.

And also, jelly beans and M&M's can ruin my diet. Need to watch those (from a distance).

hookilau

I posted this on another thread yesterday but it's just as pertinent here...


.......I would look into what I know about my family history BEFORE I asked if getting too much carbs from fruit & veggies would be a problem.

I wasn't over on my sugar from fruits & veggies when I was diagnosed with T2D 4 months ago. The doctors rolled their eyes at me when I explained that I only consumed 24 g of sugar per day for the 3 months prior & had the MFP diary to prove it huh

When I told them that 5 of my 6 aunties & uncles, both maternal & paternal pairs of grandparents had T2D, they were not the LEAST bit surprised that 17 yrs ago, when I was pregnant with my son, I had been tested for gestational diabetes but because the criteria was lower back then, was told it was nothing to worry about.

Each one of those individual reasons listed above is enough to increase one's risk & put them firmly in the group to watch out for markers as they reach into as early as their 30's, however, with my history, it was absolutely unavoidable.

My kids are 24 and 17 yrs old. Both have been speached about how to watch out for the possible breakdown so that at least THEY won't be blind sided as I was grumble

Shame was what kept all of my aunties & uncles from admitting and talking to each other about their diabetes. Only upon finding out about my diagnosis & questioning everyone, did they start talking about it. embarassed

Your risk should be assessed through family history as whether or not this may be a problem for you is largely genetic.

maillemaker

I'm assuming you are here to lose weight.

You can lose weight eating Twinkies and other snack cakes:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

So sugar is not inherently bad for most people.

The key to weight loss is maintaining a calorie deficit.

For good health, you will want to eat a balanced diet that provides all the nutrition your body needs, including things like protein so that you minimize muscle loss.

I personally don't focus on the macros but on the calorie goal.

Down 27 pounds since 4/19/13. And down 3% body fat since 6/1/13.

martineyes26

Adding my two cents for what it's worth. Every BODY is different. For me personally, cutting my sugar way down helped me lose weight significantly. That being said, I also had/have a sweet tooth. I still go over my sugar macro everyday, but I try to keep it in check as much as possible. Try lowering your sugar intake for 3-4 weeks and see if it makes a difference in your weight loss. If not, then continue eating fruits and sugary foods (within moderation) and look more closely to the other macros.

maillemaker

I'd be willing to be that most of the time when people cut their "sugar" intake they are cutting sugar from calorie-dense foods and as such maintaining a better calorie deficit.

Minnie2361

Sugar from fruit I would ignore if you are getting your 3 or 5 daily servings. I would look at the other foods.
Sometimes it can't be helped if it is found in your milk , whole wheat bread /pasta tomato sauce etc.

I would avoid all other forms of sugar.

Acg67

Sugar from fruit I would ignore if you are getting your 3 or 5 daily servings. I would look at the other foods.
Sometimes it can't be helped if it is found in your milk , whole wheat bread /pasta tomato sauce etc.

I would avoid all other forms of sugar.

So don't eat veggies?

jonnythan

Sugar from fruit I would ignore if you are getting your 3 or 5 daily servings. I would look at the other foods.
Sometimes it can't be helped if it is found in your milk , whole wheat bread /pasta tomato sauce etc.

I would avoid all other forms of sugar.

So the sugar added to your yogurt, salad dressing, ravioli, broccoli slaw, etc are not OK? What about the sugar from your honey and red peppers? Those aren't OK either?

And what about the sugar in your homemade oatmeal raisin cookies?

Geez.

Minnie2361

Okay let me be more specific , the red bell pepper, in fact in all fresh veggies and fruit I eat for me they all okay. I ignore sugar from these sources provided I am eating my serving size not the entire bag of apples. These sources have fiber in them,

The sugar found in my yogurt and salad dressings, my bread/pasta I can modify. I am taking a look at home made salad dressings where I sub the honey for the sugar.

Now we can argue honey has already been processed by the bees and it is a sugar and if I eat in great abundance my program will be doomed. But I look at it this way, it is enhancing my nutrient rich oatmeal breakfast, It is 2 small tablespoons of salad dressing on my healthy salad. So yes they should be gone , it would be better , however this is where I practice moderation.

Acg67

Okay let me be more specific , the red bell pepper, in fact in all fresh veggies and fruit I eat for me they all okay. I ignore sugar from these sources provided I am eating my serving size not the entire bag of apples. These sources have fiber in them,

The sugar found in my yogurt and salad dressings, my bread/pasta I can modify. I am taking a look at home made salad dressings where I sub the honey for the sugar.

Now we can argue honey has already been processed by the bees and it is a sugar and if I eat in great abundance my program will be doomed. But I look at it this way, it is enhancing my nutrient rich oatmeal breakfast, It is 2 small tablespoons of salad dressing on my healthy salad. So yes they should be gone , it would be better , however this is where I practice moderation.

Adding honey to your oatmeal so adding sugar to a bowl of sugar?

oferb1

Okay let me be more specific , the red bell pepper, in fact in all fresh veggies and fruit I eat for me they all okay. I ignore sugar from these sources provided I am eating my serving size not the entire bag of apples. These sources have fiber in them,

The sugar found in my yogurt and salad dressings, my bread/pasta I can modify. I am taking a look at home made salad dressings where I sub the honey for the sugar.

Now we can argue honey has already been processed by the bees and it is a sugar and if I eat in great abundance my program will be doomed. But I look at it this way, it is enhancing my nutrient rich oatmeal breakfast, It is 2 small tablespoons of salad dressing on my healthy salad. So yes they should be gone , it would be better , however this is where I practice moderation.

Adding honey to your oatmeal so adding sugar to a bowl of sugar?

So true... carbs - unless they are fiber, are metabolized to sugar... bread, pasta, cookies, pastries, were the death of me... 5 weeks ago, in my annual checkup, I came as borderline diabetic with triglycerides through the roof... 5 weeks diet, one of them juice cleanse and 4 weeks of low-carb, high-fat diet, and my metrics are shockingly better (not to mention the 18 lbs I lost)...