Too little sugar?

Slacker16
Slacker16 Posts: 1,184 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I don't track my sugar intake, but we have so many threads about it that I checked it out on my reports.

Result:
I have been below MFP's recommended sugar intake for the 84 of the past 90 days. In fact, I have been below half of MFP's recommendation for most of those days. This isn't deliberate, I just don't like sweets.

I get plenty of Carbs, 40-50% of my calories come from them, I just happen to prefer savoury ones.

It would be trivial to remedy that, but I don't feel like doing so unless there is some nutritional reason to do it.
Hence this thread, is there any reason to increase your sugar intake?

Replies

  • Slacker16
    Slacker16 Posts: 1,184 Member
    Bump.

    This was a genuine question, can there be problems from too little dietary sugar?
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I would double check your entries and make sure their sugar levels are accurate. Lots of natural foods still have sugar in them, even if you avoid sweets.
  • Apocalypz
    Apocalypz Posts: 155 Member
    Bump.

    This was a genuine question, can there be problems from too little dietary sugar?
    Depending on the foods, you can get loads of sugar from "normal" non-sweets. As you mentioned, starchy carbs such as potatoes and the like will turn to sugar in your body. You can certainly go without proper sweets and yet have high sugar levels due to your body processing the starch.

    If you're not intaking sweets, then give yourself a pat. You've found what most of us wish we had -- control. ;)
  • Mom0819
    Mom0819 Posts: 82 Member
    Source: (don't know if it is reliable or not) https://www.zocdoc.com/answers/10199/is-it-possible-to-not-get-enough-sugar-in-your-diet

    No, not really. The body is very good at getting the energy it needs from the foods that you eat, and there is no need for refined sugars at all in the diet. A refined sugar is related to a larger class of nutrients, called carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are long chains of sugar building blocks all linked together, where as refined sugars are very short chains or just the building blocks themselves. When you eat food containing carbohydrates, it takes the body a little bit of time to digest the long chains down into the building blocks. This means that the blood sugar doesn't surge as high after a meal but, in the end, your body does have access to the same building blocks that it needs. When you eat refined sugars, on the other hand, there is no delay in the absorption due to digestion, and the blood sugar soars higher. Cutting refined sugars out of the diet, even completely, would have no bad effects on your health, because your body can still get everything it needs from more complex carbohydrates (things like grains and rice). Of course, you should always talk to your dietitian or primary care doctor before making any severe diet changes!
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I had a quick look at your diary - do you not eat condiments? Sauces?
  • Slacker16
    Slacker16 Posts: 1,184 Member
    I had a quick look at your diary - do you not eat condiments? Sauces?
    Not really. Don't eat much fruit either.

    Incidentally, today's entry wasn't representative. I have a weekly treat day, which usually falls on wednesdays because I'm off work on thursdays.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I had a quick look at your diary - do you not eat condiments? Sauces?
    Not really. Don't eat much fruit either.

    Incidentally, today's entry wasn't representative. I have a weekly treat day, which usually falls on wednesdays because I'm off work on thursdays.

    Not really?

    Today didn't look too much different.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    To answer, I don't think you'd have an issue with being under the sugar limit unless you have issues with blood sugar levels.
  • Slacker16
    Slacker16 Posts: 1,184 Member
    To answer, I don't think you'd have an issue with being under the sugar limit unless you have issues with blood sugar levels.
    That's what I figured too, I was curious if sugar added anything to the diet that carbs in general don't, the way fiber can be good for... you know, and the consensus seems to be 'no'.

    I use the vegetable juice as a simili-tomato sauce which works pretty well. Don't use any other sauces.
    As for why today isn't representative, the box of almonds and 7 ozs of brandy aren't daily staples :bigsmile:
  • Unknown
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  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    All of your carbs turn into sugar in your body, so if you're not hitting your target and it doesn't bother you then carry on what you're doing.

    Don't sweat the small stuff.

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