Is Sugar Toxic?

[porchrat]

Not if you read the research, the arguments are pretty compelling against carbohydrates unless you are running or something.

It also explains why so many people have stories that go something like, "Back in my day, we ate 5 eggs and 8 rashers of bacon for breakfast, on toast smothered in high fat butter, and we were fine." They actually were fine.

I think even the correlation between high fat diets and heart problems is not as strong as people believed. As far as I know (and I could be wrong) obesity itself is correlated more strongly with heart disease than high fat diets. In other words, if you get fat from carbs but dont eat fat, you are still in trouble. Conversely, if you eat a lot of fat but stay thin, you're not at zero risk but are better off than the fat dude who only eats white bread and coke.

It actually doesn't matter what you eat: proteins, lipids, carbohydrates. They're all basically hydrocarbon skeletons with some amine groups in some cases. They can each be converted to one another depending upon the needs of your body. Regardless of which one you eat if you sit on your ass and do nothing after eating them they will become "fat" and be stored.

 

[Anony-mousse]

sugar is very dangerous, so is milk and potatoes. oh, and earthworms too.

 

[alpha777]

i think that if you eat more refined sugar your immune system will definitely be impacted negatively.

 

[Ancalagon]

It actually doesn't matter what you eat: proteins, lipids, carbohydrates. They're all basically hydrocarbon skeletons with some amine groups in some cases. They can each be converted to one another depending upon the needs of your body. Regardless of which one you eat if you sit on your ass and do nothing after eating them they will become "fat" and be stored.

Yes, it does. Why do you think people advocate we eat a balanced diet?

Energy is received in different forms from different foods - this is what makes carbs so harmful. Your insulin spikes to deal with the sugar, building up insulin resistance. Dont take my word for it, read the research on it.

 

[porchrat]

Yes, it does. Why do you think people advocate we eat a balanced diet?

Well fair enough it does make a difference. There are some things your body can't interconvert. They're limited though. It also of course takes energy to convert from one form to the other and so your body will always use what it has in that form already before it converts. This I thought was obvious though.

Energy is received in different forms from different foods - this is what makes carbs so harmful. Your insulin spikes to deal with the sugar, building up insulin resistance. Dont take my word for it, read the research on it.

Actually there are very few forms of energy that your body utilises. Ultimately ALL energy from these foods must be used in these few (when I say few I mean there are only 2 forms: NADP+ and ATP) forms. The only thing that differs is how much energy is consumed before that energy can be converted into one of those forms.

Sure you can develop insulin resistance. It takes a hell of a long time and copious quantities of glucose though (not sugars in general but glucose because that is the stuff that insulin deals with).

 

[w1z4rd]

Reminds me of this: http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

Frequently Asked Questions About Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO)

What is Dihydrogen Monoxide?

Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid. Its basis is the highly reactive hydroxyl radical, a species shown to mutate DNA, denature proteins, disrupt cell membranes, and chemically alter critical neurotransmitters. The atomic components of DHMO are found in a number of caustic, explosive and poisonous compounds such as Sulfuric Acid, Nitroglycerine and Ethyl Alcohol.
For more detailed information, including precautions, disposal procedures and storage requirements, refer to one of the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available for DHMO:

Kemp Compliance & Safety MSDS for DHMO
Chem-Safe, Inc. MSDS for Dihydrogen Monoxide
Applied Petrochemical Research MSDS for Hydric Acid
Original DHMrg Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Dihydrogen Monoxide (html)
Should I be concerned about Dihydrogen Monoxide?

Yes, you should be concerned about DHMO! Although the U.S. Government and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) do not classify Dihydrogen Monoxide as a toxic or carcinogenic substance (as it does with better known chemicals such as hydrochloric acid and benzene), DHMO is a constituent of many known toxic substances, diseases and disease-causing agents, environmental hazards and can even be lethal to humans in quantities as small as a thimbleful.
Research conducted by award-winning U.S. scientist Nathan Zohner concluded that roughly 86 percent of the population supports a ban on dihydrogen monoxide. Although his results are preliminary, Zohner believes people need to pay closer attention to the information presented to them regarding Dihydrogen Monoxide. He adds that if more people knew the truth about DHMO then studies like the one he conducted would not be necessary.
A similar study conducted by U.S. researchers Patrick K. McCluskey and Matthew Kulick also found that nearly 90 percent of the citizens participating in their study were willing to sign a petition to support an outright ban on the use of Dihydrogen Monoxide in the United States.

etc

 

[Ancalagon]

Sure you can develop insulin resistance. It takes a hell of a long time and copious quantities of glucose though.

Which is exactly what Americans have been eating and exactly why diabetes is on the rise so fast. Type II diabetes used to be called adult onset diabetes, because it was only seen in adults. Its now seen in children too.

EDIT: hey I'm allergic to dihydrogen monoxide, its serious stuff. I had to buy a R5000 filter for my shower so that I could shower without constant pain and rashes. It filters out all the nasty dihydrogen monoxide and leaves pure natural water.

 

[porchrat]

Which is exactly what Americans have been eating and exactly why diabetes is on the rise so fast. Type II diabetes used to be called adult onset diabetes, because it was only seen in adults. Its now seen in children too.

Not all sugars are a problem. I know when most people say "sugar" they mean the white crystalline powder that we have with tea and coffee but that isn't the only form sugars can take. The real problem is not sugars, it is glucose.

None of this (diabetes included) mean that sugars are some sort of deadly poison. They're not. Some are crucial. Copious quantities of sugars are bad for you but that applies to every form of biological macromolecule you consume. The fact that the public is just more exposed to what happens to you when you have too much glucose is not a reason to call sugar a poison.

EDIT: hey I'm allergic to dihydrogen monoxide, its serious stuff. I had to buy a R5000 filter for my shower so that I could shower without constant pain and rashes. It filters out all the nasty dihydrogen monoxide and leaves pure natural water.

You must smell awful

 

[Ancalagon]

Not all sugars are a problem. I know when most people say "sugar" they mean the white crystalline powder that we have with tea and coffee but that isn't the only form sugars can take. The real problem is not sugars, it is glucose.

None of this (diabetes included) mean that sugars are some sort of deadly poison. They're not. Some are crucial. Copious quantities of sugars are bad for you but that applies to every form of biological macromolecule you consume. The fact that the public is just more exposed to what happens to you when you have too much glucose is not a reason to call sugar a poison.

Strictly speaking I agree, its not a poison, and besides, even knowing how unhealthy it is and the risk of diabetes I take, I could never give it up. But, a high fat diet is healthier than a high sugar diet. Look up ketogenic diets. High fat diets dont even necessarily lead to heart disease, high sugar diets lead to heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

People have unfairly demonized fat, while ignoring the risks of sugar. Thats my point.

 

[zeridine]

Reminds me of this: http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html


etc

LOL. that was awesome.

 

[porchrat]

Strictly speaking I agree, its not a poison, and besides, even knowing how unhealthy it is and the risk of diabetes I take, I could never give it up. But, a high fat diet is healthier than a high sugar diet. Look up ketogenic diets. High fat diets dont even necessarily lead to heart disease, high sugar diets lead to heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

People have unfairly demonized fat, while ignoring the risks of sugar. Thats my point.

Neither a high fat diet nor a high sugar diet are healthy. The idea that one is healthier than the other is fine but one can't use that as justification for a high fat diet over a high sugar diet. They're both going to lead to complications eventually.

The answer is to eat everything in balance and exercise regularly. There is nothing wrong with eating sugars in the right quantities. In fact it is necessary for a healthy life. It is ultimately the best source of energy your body can have.

As for a ketogenic diet in some medical conditions that is a good thing. Most of the time though it is going to lead to ketosis (which carries it's own set of conplications) and you are going to have less energy than those that consume sugars. Ketogenic diets result in a starvation state in your body where you start using ketone bodies to generate energy. This is an inefficient way to generate energy. Unless you have epilepsy I wouldn't recommend it.

More than any other part of your body your brain relies pretty much exclusively on glucose for it's energy needs. Ketone bodies are a substitute but not a good one.