Sugar is Evil

Meganne1982
Meganne1982 Posts: 451
edited October 1 in Food and Nutrition
I already knew this... but catching up on one of my favorite blogs I came across this posting of this amazing documentary. And I'm disgusted that what was known 25 years ago is still so widely ignored.

http://www.fathead-movie.com/index.php/2011/08/21/before-sugar-the-bitter-truth/
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Replies

  • The third clip down is particularly info filled :)
  • Gilbrod
    Gilbrod Posts: 1,216 Member
    Here comes another battle. I will only say, yes. Sugar is evil only when we don't practice moderation or restraint. Liek everything else. Good link though.
  • lockef
    lockef Posts: 466
    Thanks for the link!
  • Aokark
    Aokark Posts: 25
    Here comes another battle. I will only say, yes. Sugar is evil only when we don't practice moderation or restraint. Liek everything else. Good link though.

    Exactly.

    I am pretty sure that the majority of the world can tell you that excess amounts of sugar is not good for you.
    Most people who have problems with sugar knows it's bad for them, they just have a hard time using it in moderation.

    I've never heard anyone say "This chocolate cake is healthy for me, my body needs it"
    but a lot of the times we hear "This chocolate cake is so baaad for me but I can't help it"
  • Here comes another battle. I will only say, yes. Sugar is evil only when we don't practice moderation or restraint. Liek everything else. Good link though.
    [/quote

    Agreed. Moderation is the key with everything. When you overdo things, that's when there becomes a problem.
  • If you were to watch the clips (clip two has a nice break down of sugar content of all sorts of things) you would realize that the problem is that in the S.A.D. (standard american diet) of processed foods, sugar is not consumed in moderation... even by some people who would say that they "avoid sweets".

    but you can't tell people things they don't want to hear... [sigh]
  • lockef
    lockef Posts: 466
    I am pretty sure that the majority of the world can tell you that excess amounts of sugar is not good for you.
    Most people who have problems with sugar knows it's bad for them, they just have a hard time using it in moderation.

    I've never heard anyone say "This chocolate cake is healthy for me, my body needs it"
    but a lot of the times we hear "This chocolate cake is so baaad for me but I can't help it"

    That's the thing, we all know this. We've known it for a long time, yet our sugar consumption is still going up.
  • 123456654321
    123456654321 Posts: 1,311 Member
    The title of this thread discredits just about anything valid or worth reading in it for me.....
  • The title of this thread discredits just about anything valid or worth reading in it for me.....

    LOL


    then why did you bother to comment?
  • 123456654321
    123456654321 Posts: 1,311 Member
    The title of this thread discredits just about anything valid or worth reading in it for me.....

    LOL


    then why did you bother to comment?

    Because I enjoy being a smart *kitten* sometimes.

    But no, really, I have an issue with blanket statements like ...."SUGAR IS EVIL! CARBS ARE THE DEVIL! PROTEIN IS KILLING YOU!!" ...

    Although I agree with the fact that we shouldn't be eating so much of it, overdose in anything is bad for you. I don't think any nutrients in natural foods are evil. Moderation is key. Fruits and veggies are not evil, they contain sugar. What we don't need is ADDED sugar. We could all go without it and be better off for it.
  • anthony438
    anthony438 Posts: 578 Member
    The title of this thread discredits just about anything valid or worth reading in it for me.....

    LOL


    then why did you bother to comment?

    Because I enjoy being a smart *kitten* sometimes.

    But no, really....I have an issue with blanket statements like ...."SUGAR IS EVIL! CARBS ARE THE DEVIL! PROTEIN IS KILLING YOU!! ...

    Although I agree with the fact that we shouldn't be eating so much of it, overdose in anything is bad for you. I don't think any nutrients in natural foods are evil. Moderation is key. Fruits and veggies are not evil, they contain sugar. What we don't need is ADDED sugar. We could all go without it and be better off for it.

    I have to disagree with you, as protein can kill you. It happened to an uncle of mine.

    A cow sat on his head.
  • Aokark
    Aokark Posts: 25
    I am pretty sure that the majority of the world can tell you that excess amounts of sugar is not good for you.
    Most people who have problems with sugar knows it's bad for them, they just have a hard time using it in moderation.

    I've never heard anyone say "This chocolate cake is healthy for me, my body needs it"
    but a lot of the times we hear "This chocolate cake is so baaad for me but I can't help it"

    That's the thing, we all know this. We've known it for a long time, yet our sugar consumption is still going up.


    That's exactly my point, the problem isn't lack of knowledge. We can't say we didn't know it is bad for us, if we do know. People know smoking is bad for them, but they still smoke. We have put up tons of smoke free zones, yet... People smoke.

    I'm not bashing anyone but I don't think the problem is with us not knowing bad food is bad food.
  • lockef
    lockef Posts: 466
    Because I enjoy being a smart *kitten* sometimes.

    But no, really, I have an issue with blanket statements like ...."SUGAR IS EVIL! CARBS ARE THE DEVIL! PROTEIN IS KILLING YOU!!" ...

    Although I agree with the fact that we shouldn't be eating so much of it, overdose in anything is bad for you. I don't think any nutrients in natural foods are evil. Moderation is key. Fruits and veggies are not evil, they contain sugar. What we don't need is ADDED sugar. We could all go without it and be better off for it.

    Does someone need a hug?
  • anthony438
    anthony438 Posts: 578 Member
    Because I enjoy being a smart *kitten* sometimes.

    But no, really, I have an issue with blanket statements like ...."SUGAR IS EVIL! CARBS ARE THE DEVIL! PROTEIN IS KILLING YOU!!" ...

    Although I agree with the fact that we shouldn't be eating so much of it, overdose in anything is bad for you. I don't think any nutrients in natural foods are evil. Moderation is key. Fruits and veggies are not evil, they contain sugar. What we don't need is ADDED sugar. We could all go without it and be better off for it.

    Does someone need a hug?

    I can haz hug???
  • lockef
    lockef Posts: 466
    I can haz hug???

    *bro hug*
  • 123456654321
    123456654321 Posts: 1,311 Member
    Because I enjoy being a smart *kitten* sometimes.

    But no, really, I have an issue with blanket statements like ...."SUGAR IS EVIL! CARBS ARE THE DEVIL! PROTEIN IS KILLING YOU!!" ...

    Although I agree with the fact that we shouldn't be eating so much of it, overdose in anything is bad for you. I don't think any nutrients in natural foods are evil. Moderation is key. Fruits and veggies are not evil, they contain sugar. What we don't need is ADDED sugar. We could all go without it and be better off for it.

    Does someone need a hug?

    I love how being rational = being mad around here.

    ........Whatever though, sure...I'll take the hug. No reason to pass on a nice warm hug.
  • anthony438
    anthony438 Posts: 578 Member

    ........Whatever though, sure...I'll take the hug. No reason to pass on a nice warm hug.

    Bwahahaha, you're too late - I stole yer hug!!!!!
  • 123456654321
    123456654321 Posts: 1,311 Member
    The title of this thread discredits just about anything valid or worth reading in it for me.....

    LOL


    then why did you bother to comment?

    Because I enjoy being a smart *kitten* sometimes.

    But no, really....I have an issue with blanket statements like ...."SUGAR IS EVIL! CARBS ARE THE DEVIL! PROTEIN IS KILLING YOU!! ...

    Although I agree with the fact that we shouldn't be eating so much of it, overdose in anything is bad for you. I don't think any nutrients in natural foods are evil. Moderation is key. Fruits and veggies are not evil, they contain sugar. What we don't need is ADDED sugar. We could all go without it and be better off for it.

    I have to disagree with you, as protein can kill you. It happened to an uncle of mine.

    A cow sat on his head.

    lol

    Yeah, my aunt died in a sugar avalanche just last year......tragic story.
  • lockef
    lockef Posts: 466
    I love how being rational = being mad around here.

    ........Whatever though, sure...I'll take the hug. No reason to pass on a nice warm hug.

    Writing in caps comes off as angry, at least to me.

    *rational group hugz*
  • anthony438
    anthony438 Posts: 578 Member
    The title of this thread discredits just about anything valid or worth reading in it for me.....

    LOL


    then why did you bother to comment?

    Because I enjoy being a smart *kitten* sometimes.

    But no, really....I have an issue with blanket statements like ...."SUGAR IS EVIL! CARBS ARE THE DEVIL! PROTEIN IS KILLING YOU!! ...

    Although I agree with the fact that we shouldn't be eating so much of it, overdose in anything is bad for you. I don't think any nutrients in natural foods are evil. Moderation is key. Fruits and veggies are not evil, they contain sugar. What we don't need is ADDED sugar. We could all go without it and be better off for it.

    I have to disagree with you, as protein can kill you. It happened to an uncle of mine.

    A cow sat on his head.

    lol

    Yeah, my aunt died in a sugar avalanche just last year......tragic story.

    To be fair it wasn't my uncle's fault, he was just trying to get some milk straight from the tap.
  • I have nothing but love for anyone on myfitnesspal- everyone here wants to be healthier.

    I care about peoples' health, and my personal belief is that a lot of people (particularly americans) are misguided in their quests for health. So, I just wanted to share something that I found enlightening and full of good information, for the benefit of the good people here.

    There's nothing about sugar that is healthy. I want people to be healthy.

    Hugs all around.

  • ........Whatever though, sure...I'll take the hug. No reason to pass on a nice warm hug.

    Bwahahaha, you're too late - I stole yer hug!!!!!

    COMPLETELY off topic buuuuut......CHEWBACCA! CHEWIE! CHEWBACCA! WHAT A WOOKIE!
    All Jedi had was a bunch of muppets
  • 123456654321
    123456654321 Posts: 1,311 Member
    I love how being rational = being mad around here.

    ........Whatever though, sure...I'll take the hug. No reason to pass on a nice warm hug.

    Writing in caps comes off as angry, at least to me.

    *rational group hugz*

    The caps were a quote.......but I forgive you lol *hugs back*
  • 123456654321
    123456654321 Posts: 1,311 Member
    I have nothing but love for anyone on myfitnesspal- everyone here wants to be healthier.

    I care about peoples' health, and my personal belief is that a lot of people (particularly americans) are misguided in their quests for health. So, I just wanted to share something that I found enlightening and full of good information, for the benefit of the good people here.

    There's nothing about sugar that is healthy. I want people to be healthy.

    Hugs all around.

    ^___^

    I understand. I do think the videos are quit informative, I've been linked to them in the past. It's just that I don't believe sugar is "evil." However I do believe that the over consumption of sugar (and many other things) is doing us much harm.
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    Thanks for posting those! I haven't seen them yet. All I have to say is that Robert Lustig and Gary Taubes (and many others in that vein) have shifted my paradigm. And yes, I "knew sugar was bad" before ever hearing or reading any of their work.
  • Oh noes! Sugar is the evil!

    When I went to Africa, every morning my breakfast was white rice with a bunch of sugar poured on top. This is what the Africans I was with ate every morning for the last 20+ years of their life. All of them were skinny and without any of the health problems associated with high sugar intake.

    Why is that?

    Hmm, maybe because sugar isn't evil? I know I know, crazy concept. Who would have thought that EATING A CALORIE DEFICIT would mean that you can have sugar, even in pretty decent amounts, and still remain underweight and not have insulin issues that are associated with a high sugar intake. Maybe, JUST MAYBE, it's the fact that Americans eat so much damn food that there are health issues that somehow get pinned onto sugar.

    I'm really getting sick of demonizing sugar.
  • lockef
    lockef Posts: 466
    Being skinny does not make you healthy. Someone can be skinny and still have heart disease.

    Not "demonizing" sugar, but don't try to argue that sugar is healthy. There are zero health benefits to sugar.
  • Being skinny does not make you healthy. Someone can be skinny and still have heart disease.

    Not "demonizing" sugar, but don't try to argue that sugar is healthy. There are zero health benefits to sugar.

    Incorrect. There are plenty of health benefits to sugar.

    Sugar is the driving force of glycolysis. That means you need glucose when you exercise intensely. If you're going to exercise intensely then sugar has plenty of benefit for you.

    Sugar also spikes insulin. For people who exercise 2+ times a day or train for distance races, etc, sugar replenishes glycogen which increases exercise performance and keeps hormones balanced/optimized.


    Without sugar, there would be plenty of people out there (myself included) who wouldn't be able to live the lifestyle that we do. So, if you don't want sugar in your diet, more power to you but don't demonize it because it's not something you need. Plus, certain types of foods (fruits, raw honey, etc) are full of sugar and still good for you.
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    Incorrect. There are plenty of health benefits to sugar.

    Sugar is the driving force of glycolysis. That means you need glucose when you exercise intensely. If you're going to exercise intensely then sugar has plenty of benefit for you.

    Sugar also spikes insulin. For people who exercise 2+ times a day or train for distance races, etc, sugar replenishes glycogen which increases exercise performance and keeps hormones balanced/optimized.


    Without sugar, there would be plenty of people out there (myself included) who wouldn't be able to live the lifestyle that we do. So, if you don't want sugar in your diet, more power to you but don't demonize it because it's not something you need. Plus, certain types of foods (fruits, raw honey, etc) are full of sugar and still good for you.

    If you actually watched the videos you would know that they were referring to all of the added sugar in our foods. You can fuel athletic performance with sweet potatoes and fruit or you can fuel it with jelly beans and soda. I know which one I would prefer.
  • lockef
    lockef Posts: 466
    Again , not demonizing sugar. Some people have a higher tolerance for it, some don't. You can't say ALL people can safely have it. Even people who aren't diabetic have many adverse effects.

    For people who train, you can get plenty of glucose from other fast absorbing carbohydrates (white bread, fruits, PWO shakes).
This discussion has been closed.