sugar is evil

nimh · Dec 17, 2004

okay, i'm doing some reseach on sugar, thought i'd share, because i know you all want to hear about it right now during candy cane season.

http://www.wholife.com/issues/10_1/02_article.html

The Dangers of Sugar
by Paulette Millis

Did you know that white sugar is physically addictive? It is much like a drug and “the difference between sugar addiction and narcotic addiction is largely one of degree,” writes William Duffy in his book, Sugar Blues.

Sugar is qualified as an addictive substance by the following two responses: 1) Eating even a small amount of sugar, for example, one candy or one bit of cake, creates such a desire in some people that they can’t stop; 2) When one quits sugar cold turkey, withdrawal symptoms appear, for example, strong cravings, depression, fatigue, mood swings, and possibly headaches.

Humans have demonstrated a strong desire for sweets since the beginning of time. As early as 327 BC raw sugar was used in India. The Spaniards brought it to America at the turn of the 16th century. Refining began 600 years ago. Scientific studies on both newborns and adults suggests that the craving for sweets is an instinctive rather than learned response, although we know sugar is an acquired taste.

Sugar is a carbohydrate, and we often think of it only as the white or brown stuff, but sugar is also part of many other foodstuffs such as lactose in milk, maltose in grain, fructose in fruit, sucrose (refined sugar), and more. The simple refined carbohydrate, crystalline table sugar, is first extracted from sugar cane with the bulk and fibre being left behind. It is then purified, filtered, concentrated, and boiled down to sugar crystals produced out of the syrup. Substances such as sulfur dioxide, milk of lime, carbon dioxide, charcoal from charred beef bones, and calcium carbonate are used in this industrial refining process as purifying agents. Brown sugar is simple white sugar with a bit of molasses added back in, or coloured with caramel.

Excessive sugar consumption is believed to be involved in many common health problems: hypoglycemia, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, obesity, indigestion, myopia, seborrheic dermatitis, gout, hyperactivity, lack of concentration, depression, anxiety, and more. Sugar is rapidly converted in the blood to fat (triglycerides), which increase obesity, risk of heart disease, and diabetes. Sugar greatly increases the risk of dental decay. It is devoid of vitamins, minerals, or fibre; it is an empty food. The lack of fibre in sugar causes a tendency to overeat.

Saying “Sugar is bad for you!” is an understatement. The dangers of eating too much refined sugar were lost in the 1980s amidst the outcries that all fat was bad. Many today still blame fat for their health problems instead of sugar. The question is: With all of this “fat” avoidance have disease states lessened? The answer is, “NO!” In fact, the opposite is true. Even though the media portrays fat as the main culprit in the development of several diseases (e.g., heart disease), sugar appears to be the real villain. W. D. Ringsdorf, DMD, MS, co-author of Psychodietetics, says that sugar raises high blood pressure. Sugar mixed with animal fats leads to atherosclerosis and by increasing the stickiness (viscosity) of the blood, it increases the possibility of blood clots.

SUGAR SUPPRESSES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Sugar steals the ability of your white blood cells to destroy bacteria. White blood cells are known as “phagocytes” and phagocytic tests show that a couple of teaspoons of sugar can sap their strength by 25 percent. A large helping of pie and ice cream renders your white cells 100 percent helpless. This effect lasts from 4 to 5 hours. Consider a 900 ml serving of processed and packaged orange juice or one 683 ml of cola—either of these will depress the immune system by 50 percent, 30 minutes after ingestion and this will last for 5 hours! Consider if you have sugar at every meal, which many do by eating processed foods alone, that the immune system is constantly ineffectual. This sets us up for anything from colds to cancer! Remember, instead of having that cinnamon bun or doughnut on your morning break and returning to work amidst people who may have a virus, choose raw nuts, a piece of fruit, or home baking made without sugars and white flours!

SUGAR EVERYWHERE!

Some of the processed foods that we wouldn’t expect to contain added sugar and which do are: hamburgers—to reduce shrinkage and add juiciness, breading in deep fried foods, and on frozen fish to give it a sheen. Of course, most people know that sugar is added to processed cereals (see chart below), ketchup, canned fruit and veggies, etc.

CEREAL CHART

Shredded wheat 1.0% Cheerios 2.2% Puffed Wheat 3.6% Special K 4.4% Kellogg Corn Flakes 7.8% Kellogg Rice Crispies 10.0% Kellogg Raisin Bran 10.6% Kellogg 40% Bran Flakes 16.2% 100% Bran 18.4% All Bran 20.0% Frosted Mini Wheats 33.6% Sugar Pops 37.8% Alpha Bits 40.3% Cap’n Crunch 43.3% Frosted Flakes 44.0% Froot Loops 46.6% Sugar Smacks 61.3% (taken from
The Nutrition Desk Reference) A FEW OTHER FOOD PRODUCTS AND THEIR SUGAR CONTENT ARE: 1 cup Kool-aid 6 tsp 2 tbsp ketchup 1-1/2 tsp 1 stick gum 1/2 tsp 1/12 of a two-layer chocolate cake 15 tsp 1 chocolate chip cookie 2–3 tsp 1 3” doughnut, glazed 6 tsp 6 oz grape juice drink 3.9 tsp 1/3 cup Jello 4.5 tsp 3 oz ham 1 tsp 3 sausage links 3 tsp 1 cup chocolate milk 6 tsp 2 peach halves, canned in syrup 3.5 tsp 1 Pop tart 3.8 tsp 12 oz Seven-Up or Cola drink 9 tsp 1 tbsp French salad dressing 3/4 tsp 1 cup fruited yogurt 7.5 tsp (taken from The Nutrition Desk Reference)
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nimh · Dec 17, 2004

more...

ALIASES OF SUGAR

Added sugars in processed foods can be found under the following names:
Sugar (sucrose) - the refined crystallized sugar; a combination of glucose and fructose.
Dextrose (glucose) - a simple sugar made of only one molecule.
Lactose - a simple sugar from milk.
Maltose - a simple sugar made from starch, usually grains.
Maltodextrin - a manufactured sugar from maltose and dextrose.
Brown sugar - the refined sugar coated with molasses or coloured with caramel.
Raw sugar - a less refined sugar with a small amount of molasses remaining.
Fructose - a simple sugar refined from fruit.
Corn syrup - a manufactured syrup of corn starch, containing varying proportions of glucose, maltose, and dextrose. (see note below).
High-fructose corn syrup - a highly concentrated syrup of predominantly fructose.
White grape juice - a highly purified fructose solution; virtually no other nutrients are present.

Be aware that cornstarch, treated by heat or enzymes to make dextrose, maltose, corn syrup, corn sugar, and crystalline dextrose, is used to supplement sucrose in processed foods in order to: bring costs down, add colour and flavour, and retain bright colours in preserves, ketchup, and cured meat. This widespread use may be a cause of the increased allergies to corn.

Typically, when ingredients are listed on a product, they must be listed from largest amount down to smallest amount found in that product. Do not be fooled into thinking there is very little sugar in an item if it is not listed near the beginning. Often you will find three or four of the above aliases in the ingredient listing, meaning that in the end the product may be mostly sugar!

TIPS TO CUT DOWN ON SUGAR INTAKE

Eat whole unprocessed foods with nothing added, e.g., whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables, and unprocessed meat, poultry, and fish.

Read all labels! Become familiar with the different names for sugar and make the decision to leave those with sugars on the shelf. Beware of those “fat-free” foods, that may be laden with sugar.

Eliminate soft drinks, sugared fruit juices, and baked goods made with sugar.

Replace refined sugars with brown rice syrup, stevia, or maple syrup. (See WHOLifE Journal, March/April 2004 for an article on natural sweeteners.)

Do NOT use sugar substitutes, especially aspartame, or aspartame sweetened foods. Aspartame breaks down into aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol, which degrades into formaldehyde—a well-known toxin. The Medical World News has already reported in 1978 that the methanol content of aspartame was 1000 times greater than most foods under FDA control. (Alive Magazine, March 2000.) For more information about aspartame, a diabetic specialist and world expert on aspartame poisoning, Dr H J Roberts, has written a book called, “Defense Against Alzheimer’s Disease.” He and others have stated there are 167 documented side affects to aspartame, from “stimulating neurons of the brain to death, causing brain damage of various degrees,” to “consuming aspartame at the time of conception can cause birth defects,” and many more too numerous to mention here.

Buy cookbooks without sugar and/or convert your favourite recipes using the natural sweeteners such as fruit purees, brown rice syrup, stevia, maple syrup, fruit juice, etc.

Be sparing with all concentrated sugars, natural or not.

Let desserts be special, not everyday fare. Serve desserts alone, away from protein and fat meals. Fruit desserts are best.

Use unsweetened juice; make you own fresh squeezed rather than buying processed and sweetened juices.

If you must use canned fruit, choose no sugar added or canned in their own juices.

Do NOT use sweets as a reward!

Snack on whole foods like nuts and seeds, fruits, or veggies and dip rather than candy and other sweets.

Eliminate processed cereals entirely, and make whole or cracked grain cereals, or make granola using fruits as a sweetener. Eliminate refined sugar on cereals and fruits and beverages; use natural sweeteners if necessary.

Do not put sugar on the table. Use raisins, dates, etc.

To help reduce cravings, supplement your diet with a good quality high potency multi-vitamin and mineral, 2–3 grams of vitamin C, an anti-oxidant formula, and essential fatty acids like flax or fish oil. Dr. Hyla Cass suggests placing the powder from a 500 gram capsule of L-glutamine under the tongue to reduce cravings. (Alive Magazine, November 2003.)

The best way to get sugar out of the diet? DO NOT HAVE IT IN THE HOUSE

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nimh · Dec 17, 2004

Of course, mercola has something to say about sugar....

124 Ways Sugar Can Ruin Your Health Contributed by Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., www.nancyappleton.com
Author of the book "Lick The Sugar Habit"

In addition to throwing off the body's homeostasis, excess sugar may result in a number of other significant consequences. The following is a listing of some of sugar's metabolic consequences from a variety of medical journals and other scientific publications.

Sugar can suppress the immune system

Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body

Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children

Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides

Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases)

Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function, the more sugar you eat the more elasticity and function you loose

Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins

Sugar leads to chromium deficiency

Sugar leads to cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostrate, and rectum

Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose

Sugar causes copper deficiency

Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium

Sugar can weaken eyesight

Sugar raises the level of a neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine

Sugar can cause hypoglycemia

Sugar can produce an acidic digestive tract

Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children

Sugar malabsorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel disease

Sugar can cause premature aging

Sugar can lead to alcoholism

Sugar can cause tooth decay

Sugar contributes to obesity

High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis

Sugar can cause changes frequently found in person with gastric or duodenal ulcers

Sugar can cause arthritis

Sugar can cause asthma

Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections)

Sugar can cause gallstones

Sugar can cause heart disease

Sugar can cause appendicitis

Sugar can cause multiple sclerosis

Sugar can cause hemorrhoids

Sugar can cause varicose veins

Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users

Sugar can lead to periodontal disease

Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis

Sugar contributes to saliva acidity

Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity

Sugar can lower the amount of Vitamin E in the blood

Sugar can decrease growth hormone

Sugar can increase cholesterol

Sugar can increase the systolic blood pressure

Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children

High sugar intake increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs)(Sugar bound non- enzymatically to protein)

Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein

Sugar causes food allergies

Sugar can contribute to diabetes

Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy

Sugar can contribute to eczema in children

Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease

Sugar can impair the structure of DNA

Sugar can change the structure of protein

Sugar can make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen

Sugar can cause cataracts

Sugar can cause emphysema

Sugar can cause atherosclerosis

Sugar can promote an elevation of low density lipoproteins (LDL)

High sugar intake can impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in the body

Sugar lowers the enzymes ability to function

Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson’s disease

Sugar can cause a permanent altering the way the proteins act in the body

Sugar can increase the size of the liver by making the liver cells divide

Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat

Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney

Sugar can damage the pancreas

Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention

Sugar is enemy #1 of the bowel movement

Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness)

Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries

Sugar can make the tendons more brittle

Sugar can cause headaches, including migraine

Sugar plays a role in pancreatic cancer in women

Sugar can adversely affect school children's grades and cause learning disorders

Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves

Sugar can cause depression

Sugar increases the risk of gastric cancer

Sugar and cause dyspepsia (indigestion)

Sugar can increase your risk of getting gout

Sugar can increase the levels of glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test over the ingestion of complex carbohydrates

Sugar can increase the insulin responses in humans consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets

High refined sugar diet reduces learning capacity

Sugar can cause less effective functioning of two blood proteins, albumin, and lipoproteins, which may reduce the body’s ability to handle fat and cholesterol

Sugar can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease

Sugar can cause platelet adhesiveness

Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance; some hormones become underactive and others become overactive

Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones

Sugar can lead to the hypothalamus to become highly sensitive to a large variety of stimuli

Sugar can lead to dizziness

Diets high in sugar can cause free radicals and oxidative stress

High sucrose diets of subjects with peripheral vascular disease significantly increases platelet adhesion

High sugar diet can lead to biliary tract cancer

Sugar feeds cancer

High sugar consumption of pregnant adolescents is associated with a twofold increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant

High sugar consumption can lead to substantial decrease in gestation duration among adolescents

Sugar slows food's travel time through the gastrointestinal tract

Sugar increases the concentration of bile acids in stools and bacterial enzymes in the colon

Sugar increases estradiol (the most potent form of naturally occurring estrogen) in men

Sugar combines and destroys phosphatase, an enzyme, which makes the process of digestion more dificult

Sugar can be a risk factor of gallbladder cancer

Sugar is an addictive substance

Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol

Sugar can exacerbate PMS

Sugar given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon dioxide they produce

Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability

The body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream than it does starch

The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects

Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Sugar adversely affects urinary electrolyte composition

Sugar can slow down the ability of the adrenal glands to function

Sugar has the potential of inducing abnormal metabolic processes in a normal healthy individual and to promote chronic degenerative diseases

I.Vs (intravenous feedings) of sugar water can cut off oxygen to the brain

High sucrose intake could be an important risk factor in lung cancer

Sugar increases the risk of polio

High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures

Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people

In Intensive Care Units: Limiting sugar saves lives

Sugar may induce cell death

Sugar may impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in living organisms

In juvenile rehabilitation camps, when children were put on a low sugar diet, there was a 44% drop in antisocial behavior

Sugar can cause gastric cancer

Sugar dehydrates newborns

Sugar can cause gum disease

Sugar increases the estradiol in young men

Sugar can cause low birth weight babies

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http://www.***********/article/sugar/dangers_of_sugar.htm#

nimh · Dec 17, 2004

and even mainstream dieticians know that sugar is evil:
http://www.healthwell.com/healthnotes.cfm?ContentID=1904005

Health benefits and concerns

Diarrhea

Some foods contain sugars that are absorbed slowly, such as fructose in fruit juice or sorbitol in dietetic confectionery. Through a process called osmosis, these unabsorbed sugars hold onto water in the intestines, sometimes leading to diarrhea. By reading labels, people with chronic non-infectious diarrhea can easily avoid fruit juice, fructose, and sorbitol to see if this eliminates the problem.

Immune function

Nearly all forms of sugar (including honey) interfere with the ability of white blood cells to destroy bacteria. In one study, when healthy volunteers consumed a large amount (100g) of refined sugar, their white blood cells’ ability to destroy bacteria was impaired for at least 5 hours. The importance of these effects in the prevention of infections in humans remains unclear. Nevertheless, many doctors recommend a reduced intake of sugar for prevention and treatment of infections (e.g., colds, flu, bronchitis, and urinary tract infections). Unlike other sweeteners, stevia has been reported to possess anti-viral activity.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Preliminary evidence suggests that some people with IBS have greater trouble than healthy people absorbing the sugars lactose (as found in milk), fructose (as found in high concentration in fruit juice and dried fruit), and sorbitol (as found in some dietetic candy). In this report, restricting intake of these sugars led to reduction of symptoms in 40% of people with IBS symptoms. Therefore, when attempting to uncover food sensitivities, people with IBS should consider the possibility that fruit juice and dried fruit might trigger symptoms.

Retinopathy

Animal studies suggest that dietary fructose may contribute to the development of retinopathy (damage to the eye’s retina). Although such an association has not been demonstrated in humans, some doctors advise their diabetic patients to avoid foods containing added fructose or high-fructose corn syrup. On the other hand, the fructose that occurs naturally in some fruits has not been found to be harmful.

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

In one study, when healthy volunteers consumed a large amount (100g) of refined sugar, their white blood cells’ ability to destroy bacteria was impaired for at least 5 hours. For this reason, many doctors recommend a reduced intake of sugar for prevention of UTI recurrences.

Health benefits and concerns for sweeteners
Many health benefits and concerns associated with this food are applicable to other sweeteners. Read about health benefits and concerns for sweeteners for a full description.
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Joe Cool · Dec 17, 2004

indeed

http://www.rotten.com/library/crime/drugs/sugar/

nimh · Mar 24, 2006

:X

it's still evil

Bilby · Mar 24, 2006

Hey Nimh have been converted to the idea of wholefoods and not worrying about this cholesterol nonsence? Have you got www.westonAprice.org in your list of bookmarks?

nimh · Mar 24, 2006

Bilby said:

Hey Nimh have been converted to the idea of wholefoods and not worrying about this cholesterol nonsence? Have you got www.westonAprice.org in your list of bookmarks?
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naw, i'm beyond all of that, it's incorporated into my viewpoint, but i'm not soley focused on NT/weston price. GFCFNN is more my style~eggs, fish, meat, veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, looks like it did when it was growing, low on the food chain to avoid toxins, organic and freerange when available and affordable. paleo, orthomolecular, yadda yadda. i've probably read hundreds of books on nutrition at this point.

'sugar is evil' is just one part of the picture, this wasnt specifically about cholesterol.

i was just going thru some old threads, and saw this one, thought it deserved a little bumpola. besides, fallon uses too much sugar if you ask me.

cheers bilby,
in health,
nimh

Bilby · Mar 24, 2006

nimh said:

naw, i'm beyond all of that, it's incorporated into my viewpoint, but i'm not soley focused on NT/weston price. GFCFNN is more my style~eggs, fish, meat, veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, looks like it did when it was growing, low on the food chain to avoid toxins, organic and freerange when available and affordable. paleo, orthomolecular, yadda yadda. i've probably read hundreds of books on nutrition at this point.

cheers bilby,
in health,
nimh
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What is NT and GFCFNN?

nimh · Mar 24, 2006

Bilby said:

What is NT and GFCFNN?
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NT=Nourishing Traditions

gfcfnn is glutenfree casien free native nutrition.

i'm also a fan of parts of 'the garden of eating', it's another weston price spinoff

i'm surprised you didnt know about NT, especially because you're so gung ho on the whole weston price thing. i just started reading meinig's root canal coverup book, have you seen it? it's based on price's work too.

Bilby · Mar 24, 2006

I have read Nourishing Traditions. I thought she was a bit extreme in her views but it was an interesting read. Actually lately I have really gone off sugar. I generally believe in the wisdom of the body. If I don't feel like eating something, then I don't.

lynsey · Mar 26, 2006

wow I totally agree I had hypoglycemia and since I reduced sugar in my diet it is gone along with the mood swings and health problems. I use L Caratine and stevia extract when I crave sugar. I get it in liquid form and put about 40 drops under my tongue it tastes horrible but in about an hour my craving and headache is gone. I still have sugar just not as a replacement for food. I sued to eat sugar for every meal and would never eat normal food.

badwolf · Apr 28, 2006

Thanks
There was a chunk of information regarding Aspartame that I found very useful. I'm trying to help a friend in her quest to stop drinking Diet Coke.

FinnishButterfly · Apr 28, 2006

If sugar got me pregnant... i'd be in trouble. I'd have some pretty sweet kids though.

hippywitch · Apr 30, 2006

badwolf said:

Thanks
There was a chunk of information regarding Aspartame that I found very useful. I'm trying to help a friend in her quest to stop drinking Diet Coke.
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I just wanted to say I love your avatar.

Michelle

Duck · May 16, 2006

in that list of 124, I would say about 30 are solid fact

nimh · May 16, 2006

Duck said:

in that list of 124, I would say about 30 are solid fact
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so, i guess the question is, are 30 reasons not to eat sugar enough for you to drop it from your diet in favour of healthier alternatives?

Duck · May 16, 2006

nimh said:

so, i guess the question is, are 30 reasons not to eat sugar enough for you to drop it from your diet in favour of healthier alternatives?
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I wasn't arguing that sugar isn't bad, I'm just saying that this is clearly propoganda, for what purpose I wil choose not to make assumptions, but it is very obviously overhyping the situation

most things are bad for you in certain respects but can be good for you in others, if you ask me, it's all too much hassle to sort through all the bullshit

fritz · May 16, 2006

That Mercola guy seems to be just out for profits.
I'm glad lynsey mentioned stevia extract because I was going to ask what we can use besides honey.
(I'm not a vegetarian of any sort, but I don't see anything wrong with it.)

Elizabeth247 · May 31, 2006

I have heard great things about Xylitol and XyloSweet. It is a naturally occurring sugar found in corn cobs!
http://www.jigsawhealth.com/products/xylosweet_xylitol.html

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