Is Sugar Toxic?

I have RA which I treat through diet, gentle exercise, herbs and acupuncture. The first thing my therapist took me off of was sugar, not just refined sugar, but even fruit. I can feel the difference in my pain levels when I avoid all forms of sugar and sweeteners, have been doing this for 12 years now.

I enjoy a good debate, but I really do have to eat. I worked out a lot today. I just stumbled onto this one and thought I'd add my two cents. Didn't know MFP was so lively!

Please do your research on sugar, instead of debating it - look around and make up your own mind. Comparing it to peanut butter is ridiculous. Why not celery? Why not pork rinds ?

Look at sugar for what it is, and do some independent research, if you are really curious.

I look at sugar for what it is all the time. It's a sweetner that has a lot of calories. And if I eat too much of it, I gain weight. Same thing that happens if I eat too much peanut butter. Or too much chicken. Or too much potato salad.

BUT, sugar does not have the same effect on my body as toxins like Draino, chlorine bleach, hydrochloric acid, or gasoline have if I consume them.

TOXINS- poison. Sugar- NOT poison.

Now, if we want to really get some people posting in this thread, we need to say the secret word ASP---AME and presto, 1000 posts.....

Now, if we want to really get some people posting in this thread, we need to say the secret word ASP---AME and presto, 1000 posts.....

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

I enjoy a good debate, but I really do have to eat. I worked out a lot today. I just stumbled onto this one and thought I'd add my two cents. Didn't know MFP was so lively!

Please do your research on sugar, instead of debating it - look around and make up your own mind. Comparing it to peanut butter is ridiculous. Why not celery? Why not pork rinds ?

Look at sugar for what it is, and do some independent research, if you are really curious.

Just because people haven't reached the same conclusions as you doesn't mean they haven't thoroughly researched a topic themselves. They asked you a question, and you're giving the run around.

First: I am not arguing either side of the argument. I just wanted to clear something up.

"Toxic" doesn't necessarily mean it will kill you. Your body (liver) will, however, process a toxin before other nutrients. For instance, alcohol is a toxin so your liver prioritizes the processing of alcohol and stops metabolizing fats until the alcohol has been broken down. The same holds true to environmental toxins and all other toxins.

As mentioned before, I am not taking sides because I have never looked into what happens with refined sugar. I just wanted people to understand the word "toxic" in this context.

yes, there is a difference between the words "toxin" and "toxic". The original post used the word "toxic" which gets you the definition something like "acting as or having the effect of a poison". We can pull the definition for "poison" if needed.....

Just because people haven't reached the same conclusions as you doesn't mean they haven't thoroughly researched a topic themselves. They asked you a question, and you're giving the run around.

*throws down glove*

why, good sir (?), i take umbrage at this disparagement of my character!

I will endlessly debate any point, even if the point keeps being changed from what i said to something i did not say, simply because i have nothing better to do! have at thee!!!

seriously, though. is the question one of toxicity and dosage? sorry, i don't have that information, nor the will to find it for you. you win. congratulations!

i suspect that when the tobacco industries were first questioned about their product, they replied with similar statements: "our product, which brings such pleasure to so many, harmful? but, i've used it for years, with nary an ill effect. sure, *some* people get sick, but that doesn't prove anything. toxicity and dosage, please!"

Even water can be toxic in high enough doses. That said overtime with excessive ingestion and perhaps sometimes even not so excessive people can develop an intolerance to sugar which can escalate into other health problems.

Symptoms of ketogenesis is what diabetics need to go to hospital for. Shouldn't really be strived for by a healthy indivdual.

That's ketoacidosis - way on the other end of the pH scale. Ketosis is different.

I don't think anyone was advocating it - just saying that the brain can be fueled by fat as well as carbohydrate/glucose/

The only source of fuel for your brain is sugar. So, well ... you tell me.

Uh NO Not True . The brain's fuel is fat. The body does need ANY added sugar to function.

>>Upon doing a Google search, the only source of claims of the toxicity of sugar is Dr. Robert Lustig. Every single article that mentions sugar as being toxic or poisonous links back to him. Generally, when information is coming from one source, it is not reliable. There were no direct studies about fructose as a whole being toxic, but there was a mention of research from University of California Davis which is suggesting that excess consumption of high fructose corn syrup could increase your cholesterol, which can then increase risk for heart disease.
A Google Scholar search turned up absolutely nothing. Not a single article. Unless, of course, you're concerned about a type of sugar that is toxic to honey bees. <<

Wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAHgChvUwh8
(jorge Cruze and Dr. Oz on sugar as a toxin)