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On Sugar (s)
Apr. 21st, 2011 11:07 amThis week I read a most interesting article that was linked through Slashdot and it's certainly made an impression. So much of an impression, I'd like to share it with you.
As you know I'm working on my health and weight, and while doing so I am also running into a heap of myths and a mountain of prejudice. But we can all agree to disagree, we can all realise our bodies work in different ways, and just because this diet works for me, it doesn't mean if I hadn't started on it, my weight would have killed me.
In any case, before I get distracted by another discussion, I'd like to share with you the rather big article titled "Is Sugar Toxic?" by Gary Taubes on the New York Times website.
I was aware there were many kinds of sugar. There's saccharose, from refined sugar and glucose where I wasn't sure where it comes from. There is fructose, from fruits, and dextrose, from grapes (I think). There's also lactose, which is the sugar found in dairy. And aparantly these are all very different. Especially in the way your body handles them.
The article focuses not only on the sugar -> diabetes link, but also on why our bodies react to certain sugars in a certain way. It quotes various studies and theorises quite liberally.
The sugar -> obesity link (and the sugar + fat -> obesity link) is also explored as well as the whole "but it's cultural!" debate, explaining that yes, there is a link between declining health and eating western food. (Korean, Japanese and even the Inuit food habits are explored.)
I must say the last part of the article, where the sugar -> cancer link is discussed, reminded me a bit of sensationalism, but all in all I am very, very impressed with the message from this article and the clear way it was written.
I certainly gained an understanding from it, and I'll be sure to print it for my dietitian tomorrow.
The comments on Slashdot were numerous, but the most fun one I will quote here:
Summary:
Instead of a spoonful of sugar in your coffee, put a potato. (Anonymous comment)
As you know I'm working on my health and weight, and while doing so I am also running into a heap of myths and a mountain of prejudice. But we can all agree to disagree, we can all realise our bodies work in different ways, and just because this diet works for me, it doesn't mean if I hadn't started on it, my weight would have killed me.
In any case, before I get distracted by another discussion, I'd like to share with you the rather big article titled "Is Sugar Toxic?" by Gary Taubes on the New York Times website.
I was aware there were many kinds of sugar. There's saccharose, from refined sugar and glucose where I wasn't sure where it comes from. There is fructose, from fruits, and dextrose, from grapes (I think). There's also lactose, which is the sugar found in dairy. And aparantly these are all very different. Especially in the way your body handles them.
The article focuses not only on the sugar -> diabetes link, but also on why our bodies react to certain sugars in a certain way. It quotes various studies and theorises quite liberally.
The sugar -> obesity link (and the sugar + fat -> obesity link) is also explored as well as the whole "but it's cultural!" debate, explaining that yes, there is a link between declining health and eating western food. (Korean, Japanese and even the Inuit food habits are explored.)
I must say the last part of the article, where the sugar -> cancer link is discussed, reminded me a bit of sensationalism, but all in all I am very, very impressed with the message from this article and the clear way it was written.
I certainly gained an understanding from it, and I'll be sure to print it for my dietitian tomorrow.
The comments on Slashdot were numerous, but the most fun one I will quote here:
Summary:
Instead of a spoonful of sugar in your coffee, put a potato. (Anonymous comment)
