Is sugar intake really that important?

Some Health "Experts" think consuming a lot of Sugar leads to certain Illnesses like Cancer etc.
Well, my Partner's Grandfather was 86 when he passed away (natural causes) and he practically lived on Chocolate and Sweets (Candy) and was hardly ever sick. Neither was he overweight.
I eat some sort of Chocolate or Sweet treat every day - obviously along with eating a healthyish balanced diet, been doing so for decades and i'm as fit as a fiddle (had a Medical 2 days ago).
My take on it is, if you don't want to eat Sugar...don't. If you do,..... go ahead.
The only thing i do worry about with regards to Sugar, are my Teeth.

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If you can ingest sugars in moderation, enjoy!

beccaawalsh wrote: »

Thanks guys. No I don't gorge on sweets. Just like the protein boost from greek yoghurt but the sugar is a pain. My man is diabetic that's the only reason I ask. 47 grams seem little if it's from non processed sources imo

Carbs in general are an issue for diabetics so I understand your thinking because you are used to thinking about your man and his diabetes (is he T1 or T2? Does he take insulin or other medication?)

Basically, you don't need to worry if you are healthy. It is best to get the majority of your carbs (including sugars) from fruit, veggies, whole grains, and dairy but there is no reason to avoid high sugar foods, just don't make them the majority of your diet.

Regarding the sugar in Greek Yogurt, I don't like all the added sugar in the flavored ones so I eat plain and add a scoop of protein powder to it. It ends up like a not very sweet mousse. When I make up some with vanilla, I often add fresh fruit. I am T2Dm (managed by diet and exercise) so I have to watch my carbs closer than the majority of people. I need to choose where they come from and make sure I stay under my target (35% of my calories with a maximum of 180 g per day as advised by my diabetes management doctor)

ETA: even though I am diabetic, I do not track sugars, just total carbs

@earlnabby , I hear you. My diabetes is in remission but I agree that all carbs needed to be watched. I had to be careful with rice for instance, but a teaspoon of jam with my peanut butter on toast was no problem at all.

Pairing my carbs with protein and perhaps some fiber seemed to help a lot. So the OP's smoothie with Greek Yogurt works beautifully as does an apple with peanut butter.

beechjb wrote: »

Natural sugars(fruits), not bad- in moderation. All other sugars(processed)- bad. Period. But, again, if you have to have it, do it in moderation. Yes, total caloric intake in vs calories burned is how you lose weight, but do you want to be healthy and lose weight or unhealthy and lose weight? This is what your diet will determine.

Sucrose is sucrose, fructose is fructose, lactose is lactose. It does not matter if it occurs naturally in the foods you eat (fruit, veggies, dairy, honey), or it has been isolated from foods in which it occurs naturally (cane, beets, corn, maple sap, agave, etc). The body does not know the difference and treats it all the same. The volume is a problem for some, the source is not a problem for anyone (unless you have allergies or intolerances like many have to lactose).

I made a delicious jam this week from the rhubarb from my sister's garden. It is so tasty. I've paired it with my Wasa cracker and a laughing cow wedge.

I used up all the spare bits of sugar I had in the cupboard so this jam is made from white sugar, corn syrup, honey, and agave nectar. I am guessing a combo of fructose, glucose, and sucrose, higher in the fructose (thanks to the honey).

PeachyCarol wrote: »

All the prohibitions to limit sugars out there are against added sugars, so don't worry about lactose in yogurt or milk or sugar in fruits in vegetables. I'm an ovo/lacto veggie who relies on dairy for a lot of my protein and I've gone over my sugar from just plain (no sugar added dairy) and veggies.

Like earlnabby, I'm not a fan of the sweetened sorts of yogurts, but if you like buying flavored stuff, Siggi's brand Icelandic yogurt tends to have lower added sugar than most. I usually just add raspberries and some liquid splenda to my plain Greek yogurt.

This. The main concern is that food with a lot of added sugar tends to be the same type of food with very little nutritional value. If you aren't eating a lot of empty calories and you don't have a medical problem, I wouldn't worry.