"Sugar in any form"

kshama2001
kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm seeing an acupuncturist tomorrow for my golfer's elbow.

(My aunt is an acupuncturist and has treated me successfully for pain many times over the years but is out of state. Please do not bash acupuncture in general, ok? If anything, you wouldn't want to ruin my placebo effect - right?)

I'm filling out the lengthy questionnaire and am rolling my eyes at "How often do you use the following substances? Sugar in any form"

I'm putting "Assuming you mean added sugar rather than intrinsic" and then listing foods I eat regularly and the grams of sugar. (Had to remove Iron and add Sugar back to my diary in order to do this.)

Today, the biggest source of added sugar is blackstrap molasses - I'm anemic and this is one of many sources of iron for me.

Curious to see how this will go. If she even brings it up. It is a lengthy questionnaire after all.

I've been considering doing a "Limit myself to the WHO recommendations for added sugar" challenge for a month or so anyway. I'm inspired by the way @lemurcat2 can speak knowledgeably about this and that, having done it herself for a time.

Replies

  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    Good luck with your acupuncture session. I'm a firm believer. Feel better.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I'd simply answer a badly thought out question exactly as asked - every single day (as I eat carbs in all their many and varied forms every day).

    Good luck with your treatment, a long time ago I managed to give myself golfer's elbow playing squash. Remodelling my backhand eventually fixed it.
  • wshill7
    wshill7 Posts: 25 Member
    Hello! I’ve heard great things about acupuncture treatments but never had one done. I will keep that in mind should I have any physical pain or issues. In response to sugar, every day I read medical reports as part of my job I learned the risks of having too much sugar do lead to health problems, weight gain, diabetes, joints pains, and taking so much crappy medicines!!! I’ve decided to take charge of my life and quit consuming any sugar or substitute in my drink and coffee. My blood pressure is doing good. I’ve also stop salt intake. Any enough said. I talk too much and this is not who I am to write this long. Lol 😝
  • kristen8000
    kristen8000 Posts: 747 Member
    I say if it works, do it. No judging here.

    Now, for the questionnaire...Really? I'd pretty much answer "Yum, sugar" and leave it go. I live on the "if it's fits in my calorie goal, I eats it" rule.
  • Terytha
    Terytha Posts: 2,097 Member
    I was soooooo skeptical of acupuncture until I actually tried it after a car accident left my lower back a mess. One appointment was all it took. Now I'm a believer. XD

    Sugar, like anything, should be controlled. But I think you'd need a LOT to have a problem. I used to drink 5 or 6 cans of coke a day and had no ill effects aside from the obvious weight gain.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    Doesn't sugar increase inflammation? If someone is eating a well-rounded plan there probably isn't room calorically for too much sugar.

    I think I'd just give my total carb grams daily.
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Doesn't sugar increase inflammation? If someone is eating a well-rounded plan there probably isn't room calorically for too much sugar.

    I think I'd just give my total carb grams daily.

    Exactly my issue with sugar.
    I couldn’t figure out why some days my knees were worse than others. I walk mainly for exercise and it’s hilly in our woods where I walk every day, so it wasn’t that. Weather affecting it? No. Didn’t matter if it was sunny, rainy, snowing, humid or a gorgeous, beautiful day. Finally found an article about inflammation from sugar. Researched it on the internet. Cut back on it. Bingo, better overnight, and I’m old, short, and female and don’t have a huge surplus of calories.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Doesn't sugar increase inflammation? If someone is eating a well-rounded plan there probably isn't room calorically for too much sugar.

    I think I'd just give my total carb grams daily.
    missysippy930 wrote: »
    Exactly my issue with sugar.
    I couldn’t figure out why some days my knees were worse than others. I walk mainly for exercise and it’s hilly in our woods where I walk every day, so it wasn’t that. Weather affecting it? No. Didn’t matter if it was sunny, rainy, snowing, humid or a gorgeous, beautiful day. Finally found an article about inflammation from sugar. Researched it on the internet. Cut back on it. Bingo, better overnight, and I’m old, short, and female and don’t have a huge surplus of calories.

    Are you guys talking about added sugar only or sugars from fruits, veggies, dairy, too?

    I felt great when I was in Costa Rico and eating tropical fruit all day long.
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    edited September 2019
    I eat at least 2 servings of fruit every day , but I’m counting all forms of sugar. I think overeating processed sugar ( candy in particular) is what does it for me. I’m definitely not saying it does for everyone, it doesn’t, like everything else about weight loss, it’s what works, or doesn’t work, for individuals. I’m just putting out there why that may be on the questionnaire. It’s really a thing for some. Everyone is not the same.

    Maybe you could ask them why it’s on the questionnaire when you have your appointment. It would be interesting to know.

    When I was younger, I had no problems and I ate more than my fair share of candy. Things change when you’re old. 😕
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    missysippy930 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Doesn't sugar increase inflammation? If someone is eating a well-rounded plan there probably isn't room calorically for too much sugar.

    I think I'd just give my total carb grams daily.

    Exactly my issue with sugar.
    I couldn’t figure out why some days my knees were worse than others. I walk mainly for exercise and it’s hilly in our woods where I walk every day, so it wasn’t that. Weather affecting it? No. Didn’t matter if it was sunny, rainy, snowing, humid or a gorgeous, beautiful day. Finally found an article about inflammation from sugar. Researched it on the internet. Cut back on it. Bingo, better overnight, and I’m old, short, and female and don’t have a huge surplus of calories.

    I wish that was something I could try to help my knee. I don't even eat enough fruit. Most of my "sugar" comes from vegetables like onions and carrots.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    missysippy930 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Doesn't sugar increase inflammation? If someone is eating a well-rounded plan there probably isn't room calorically for too much sugar.

    I think I'd just give my total carb grams daily.

    Exactly my issue with sugar.
    I couldn’t figure out why some days my knees were worse than others. I walk mainly for exercise and it’s hilly in our woods where I walk every day, so it wasn’t that. Weather affecting it? No. Didn’t matter if it was sunny, rainy, snowing, humid or a gorgeous, beautiful day. Finally found an article about inflammation from sugar. Researched it on the internet. Cut back on it. Bingo, better overnight, and I’m old, short, and female and don’t have a huge surplus of calories.

    I wish that was something I could try to help my knee. I don't even eat enough fruit. Most of my "sugar" comes from vegetables like onions and carrots.

    Is your upcoming surgery for your knee? My uncle just had knee surgery and his recovery is going quite well. He was in agony beforehand, and as someone who does construction and has a sheep farm, it was quite a nuisance for him.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    missysippy930 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Doesn't sugar increase inflammation? If someone is eating a well-rounded plan there probably isn't room calorically for too much sugar.

    I think I'd just give my total carb grams daily.

    Exactly my issue with sugar.
    I couldn’t figure out why some days my knees were worse than others. I walk mainly for exercise and it’s hilly in our woods where I walk every day, so it wasn’t that. Weather affecting it? No. Didn’t matter if it was sunny, rainy, snowing, humid or a gorgeous, beautiful day. Finally found an article about inflammation from sugar. Researched it on the internet. Cut back on it. Bingo, better overnight, and I’m old, short, and female and don’t have a huge surplus of calories.

    I wish that was something I could try to help my knee. I don't even eat enough fruit. Most of my "sugar" comes from vegetables like onions and carrots.

    Is your upcoming surgery for your knee? My uncle just had knee surgery and his recovery is going quite well. He was in agony beforehand, and as someone who does construction and has a sheep farm, it was quite a nuisance for him.

    No. It is for something else. Apparently my knee can be managed with shots and anti-inflammatory drugs for now. By now I mean after I am recovered from the surgery because I can't have anything like that now that I am in the pre-op phase. I was expecting to be told I had to have it replaced which will still likely happen but not for a few more years.
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    edited September 2019
    NovusDies wrote: »
    missysippy930 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Doesn't sugar increase inflammation? If someone is eating a well-rounded plan there probably isn't room calorically for too much sugar.

    I think I'd just give my total carb grams daily.

    Exactly my issue with sugar.
    I couldn’t figure out why some days my knees were worse than others. I walk mainly for exercise and it’s hilly in our woods where I walk every day, so it wasn’t that. Weather affecting it? No. Didn’t matter if it was sunny, rainy, snowing, humid or a gorgeous, beautiful day. Finally found an article about inflammation from sugar. Researched it on the internet. Cut back on it. Bingo, better overnight, and I’m old, short, and female and don’t have a huge surplus of calories.

    I wish that was something I could try to help my knee. I don't even eat enough fruit. Most of my "sugar" comes from vegetables like onions and carrots.

    I wish that for you as well. So, very low sugar intake for you and you probably wouldn’t benefit.

    It’s a simple fix for me. Both knees and shoulders, left knee and right shoulder are the worst, but worth the effort. My father and older sister had knee surgery. Both had bone rubbing on bone. Mine aren’t to that point, yet, hopefully never.

    I hope your surgery goes well and that you get the results you’re hoping for.

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Doesn't sugar increase inflammation? If someone is eating a well-rounded plan there probably isn't room calorically for too much sugar.

    I think I'd just give my total carb grams daily.
    missysippy930 wrote: »
    Exactly my issue with sugar.
    I couldn’t figure out why some days my knees were worse than others. I walk mainly for exercise and it’s hilly in our woods where I walk every day, so it wasn’t that. Weather affecting it? No. Didn’t matter if it was sunny, rainy, snowing, humid or a gorgeous, beautiful day. Finally found an article about inflammation from sugar. Researched it on the internet. Cut back on it. Bingo, better overnight, and I’m old, short, and female and don’t have a huge surplus of calories.

    Are you guys talking about added sugar only or sugars from fruits, veggies, dairy, too?

    I felt great when I was in Costa Rico and eating tropical fruit all day long.

    Well, but, Costa Rica though.

    I felt great in the Bahamas drinking rum all day. :lol:
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Doesn't sugar increase inflammation? If someone is eating a well-rounded plan there probably isn't room calorically for too much sugar.

    I think I'd just give my total carb grams daily.
    missysippy930 wrote: »
    Exactly my issue with sugar.
    I couldn’t figure out why some days my knees were worse than others. I walk mainly for exercise and it’s hilly in our woods where I walk every day, so it wasn’t that. Weather affecting it? No. Didn’t matter if it was sunny, rainy, snowing, humid or a gorgeous, beautiful day. Finally found an article about inflammation from sugar. Researched it on the internet. Cut back on it. Bingo, better overnight, and I’m old, short, and female and don’t have a huge surplus of calories.

    Are you guys talking about added sugar only or sugars from fruits, veggies, dairy, too?

    I felt great when I was in Costa Rico and eating tropical fruit all day long.

    Well, but, Costa Rica though.

    I felt great in the Bahamas drinking rum all day. :lol:

    The Rum Diet.
    You won't lose any weight but you might lose an entire weekend.....

    :drinker:

    Only a weekend? Lightweight.
  • Diatonic12
    Diatonic12 Posts: 32,344 Member
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Doesn't sugar increase inflammation? If someone is eating a well-rounded plan there probably isn't room calorically for too much sugar.

    I think I'd just give my total carb grams daily.

    Ayup. Especially if you have T2. Sugar withdrawal is miserable. Feel free to rant and rave, I get it. When you fall back into sugar your joints will tell on you immediately. Most are not able to embrace the concept of never. The entirety of life is just too huge to contemplate without the comfort of sugar. However, on a one day at a time basis this decision has become easier for me.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I'm seeing an acupuncturist tomorrow for my golfer's elbow.

    (My aunt is an acupuncturist and has treated me successfully for pain many times over the years but is out of state. Please do not bash acupuncture in general, ok? If anything, you wouldn't want to ruin my placebo effect - right?)

    I'm filling out the lengthy questionnaire and am rolling my eyes at "How often do you use the following substances? Sugar in any form"

    I'm putting "Assuming you mean added sugar rather than intrinsic" and then listing foods I eat regularly and the grams of sugar. (Had to remove Iron and add Sugar back to my diary in order to do this.)

    I'd roll my eyes at that wording too, of course. And probably answer just as you did!

    "Use" sugar? And "in any form" certainly sounds like it includes fruit, and fruit is usually listed as more of an anti-inflammatory food, if anything.

    For some reason I've totally lost any desire for foods with added sugar lately, probably because it's summer and so I'm eating lots of fruit (also fresh corn, which I understand from another thread is going to kill me because it's so sugary, but eh, it's local).
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    My understanding is that our bodies do not differentiate where sugar comes from. Some fruits, and other foods have anti-inflammatory benefits, but it’s not the sugar in fruit that is anti-inflammatory.
  • Emmapatterson1729
    Emmapatterson1729 Posts: 1,296 Member
    When it says "substance," I would assume it means added.

    The wording "of any form" I would take as added: sugar, honey, agave, coconut sugar, etc.

    It probably had the same question about alcohol (any form: wine, whiskey, beer, vodka, etc) and tobacco (cigarette, chew, dip, vape, etc).

    I think it's being over-thought.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    edited September 2019
    Our bodies don't distinguish between glucose from whatever source (all else equal) or fructose from whatever source (all else equal), although they are processed differently (which is why excess fructose is likely harder on the liver and glucose is more of an issue for T2D, as I understand it, although of course they typically come together. They also don't meaningfully distinguish between sugar and refined starches, since the latter is so easy and fast to break down.

    But our bodies do distinguish between sugar/starches with fiber and without, and with certain other ingredients and without, and I don't think we really know why high added sugar diets tend to be inflammatory. Given that fruit tends to be anti-inflammatory, I wouldn't assume that total amount of sugar from all sources in the diet (vs. total refined carbs, especially) is relevant to inflammation and have never heard that. Maybe kshama can report back if she asks what the reasoning is.

    Very often people use "sugar" to mean added sugar, and given the very weird wording of the question, which was not "how much sugar do you eat, by gram" or some such, but "How often do you use the following substances? Sugar in any form," I suspect they are not actually talking about intrinsic sugar. (Does anyone refer to eating a peach as "using sugar"?) But who knows. I do object just linguistically to calling even eating ice cream as "using sugar" too, btw -- "using sugar" seems to me to imply either "using sugar in a recipe" or "using sugar as a drug user uses a drug, since it's a drug." I have a bit of a suspicion the latter might have been the intended implication, but again, who knows. Maybe kshama will find out that they did want to know how many total grams of sugar she eats daily, on average.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    For context, here's the complete list of substances:

    How often do you use the following substances? coffee_______black/green tea __________ nicotine________ alcohol_____sugar in any form________ soft/energy drinks______ non-medical drugs_______

    She didn't bring sugar up, and I didn't ask for clarification, as I wanted to focus on my elbow. I'm less optimistic about her being able to help me with my uterine fibroids and heavy bleeding, but she was interested in that, and we spent a lot of time talking about that.

    I used the weed wacker yesterday and my elbow was really hurting today when I went in. It still hurts now, but I feel better overall, if that makes sense.

    I'd forgotten I get an endorphin rush from acupuncture. I also had the spacey, post-massage type feeling afterwards, which made working this afternoon...interesting. I'll have my next appointment at night.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited September 2019
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I'm seeing an acupuncturist tomorrow for my golfer's elbow.

    (My aunt is an acupuncturist and has treated me successfully for pain many times over the years but is out of state. Please do not bash acupuncture in general, ok? If anything, you wouldn't want to ruin my placebo effect - right?)

    I'm filling out the lengthy questionnaire and am rolling my eyes at "How often do you use the following substances? Sugar in any form"

    I'm putting "Assuming you mean added sugar rather than intrinsic" and then listing foods I eat regularly and the grams of sugar. (Had to remove Iron and add Sugar back to my diary in order to do this.)

    I'd roll my eyes at that wording too, of course. And probably answer just as you did!

    "Use" sugar? And "in any form" certainly sounds like it includes fruit, and fruit is usually listed as more of an anti-inflammatory food, if anything.

    For some reason I've totally lost any desire for foods with added sugar lately, probably because it's summer and so I'm eating lots of fruit (also fresh corn, which I understand from another thread is going to kill me because it's so sugary, but eh, it's local).

    Here's a corn recipe for you if you feel like fussing:

    https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020386-corn-bacon-and-cheddar-pie-with-pickled-jalapenos

    2b2ecf19ba939e22f093034330a58f07.png

    9c489e39ac0eb7452a26685ae93bf23a.png

    Prepare the crust: In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, or in a large bowl, pulse or mix together flour, cornmeal and salt until combined. Add butter, and either pulse or use your finger to smoosh it in until butter is the size of lima beans. Add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse or mix just until dough comes together. There should still be large flecks of butter left in dough. Shape dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before baking. (Dough can be made up to 5 days ahead.)

    On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer dough to a 9-inch pie plate; trim and crimp edges. Chill for 30 minutes.

    Heat oven to 425 degrees. Prick the bottom of the pie with a fork. Line with foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights, dried beans or rice. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil or paper and pie weights or beans. Bake until pale golden and dry to the touch, about 5 to 7 minutes more. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees.

    While crust is chilling and baking, prepare the filling: Cut red onion in half across the equator (not root to stem), then from the center, cut out two very thin, round slices. Separate onion slices into rings and put them in a bowl with lime juice and a pinch each of salt and sugar. Set aside while you assemble the rest of the tart. Coarsely chop remaining onion and set aside.

    Scatter bacon in a cold 12-inch skillet. Turn heat to medium, and cook until the bacon is golden and the fat has rendered, 10 to 14 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate. Leave fat in the skillet.

    Stir chopped onion into pan with bacon fat and place over medium heat. Sauté until golden-edged and translucent, about 6 minutes. Stir in corn, 1/2 teaspoon salt and chopped pickled jalapeño. Cook until corn is tender, 2 to 5 minutes.

    Remove from heat and scoop 1/2 cup corn mixture into a blender. Add cream, sour cream and eggs. Blend until you get a thick purée. Using a spatula, scrape corn purée back in pan with whole corn kernels, and stir in 1/2 cup Cheddar, the parsley and the cooked bacon. Scrape into baked pie shell.

    Top filling mixture with pickled red onion slices and jalapeño slices. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup Cheddar.
    Bake until puffed, golden and just set, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    I have "tennis elbow" from using a computer mouse. It gets better with lower sugar and some resistance exercises...and logging off forums...
  • thanos5
    thanos5 Posts: 513 Member
    whelp i'm going to H-E double hockey sticks for adding that recipe to my list.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    Recipe looks good, although I likely won't feel like fussing that much. Will save it, however.
  • magnusthenerd
    magnusthenerd Posts: 1,207 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I'm filling out the lengthy questionnaire and am rolling my eyes at "How often do you use the following substances? Sugar in any form"
    Well given my feelings about alternative medicine, I'd be inclined to answer as literally as possible and say "for as long as I'm alive", since if your body ever stops using glucose, you're dead.

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