How many times have I said “Sugar is the Devil?” This will be my first attempt to step onto my soap box in a blog post. Those of you who have heard my recent rants about the food supply in the U.S. know that doesn’t mean I don’t get on my soap box at all – I just try not to be preachy about it on the “internets.” J But I decided I had to start a blog and share this lecture with all of you because I think it is important that we all understand what is happening to our bodies internally when we ingest as much sugar as we have become accustomed to doing in this country.
The link above takes you to a super long but really interesting lecture by Robert Lustig from UCSF about what fructose (sugar/high fructose corn syrup) is doing to our nation and the world. He asserts that it is the cause of the obesity epidemic, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, you name it... It's very much in line with all the reading I have been doing in recent years and I thought I would share it with you all. After all, it is a lot easier to watch a video than read an entire book and most of the information in the mainstream media (even reputable dietician and health-conscious organizations) is not accurate. For instance, Dr. Lustig repeatedly says "Calories-in equals calories-out does not work." I was saying "Amen" all the way through his lecture. Fat is not the problem - it is sugar and it's pervasiveness in everything we eat! Some of Dr. Lustig’s lecture gets a bit technical, but the first 45 minutes are easy to follow and (I think) fascinating. If you have the patience, listen all the way through to the end.
He also gives a shout out to Paleolithic eaters, but he does not seem to promote that type of eating specifically in the here and now. He does imply that we are under assault by the food manufacturers and they know exactly what they are doing to keep all of us and our kids addicted to the stuff. It's worth a listen if you have the time... and if you have kids, Please watch it... you will never let them have soda or even juice again. Amazing how bad it is for all of us, especially the little ones.
I would like to add a brief aside to his comments. First, just because you or your child do not have a weight problem, does not mean this "poison" as he refers to it isn't having numerous detrimental effects on you and them. It just manifests in different ways. Second, do not be totally put off by his political leanings. Based on my research, politicians from both sides of the aisle contributed to the events that led our nation down this path of increased disease and obesity. If you have actually read this far into my blog post, thank you – I appreciate it! Now watch the video!
Wishing you long and healthy lives-
I as well do not believe that sugar is the devil, but that it's all the other ingredients they add to the food. I have found that my body can tolerate sugar without a problem when I make anything sweet and yummy from home. Its when I buy the sweets at the store that I feel a difference in my blood sugar levels. I have been diagnosed as "pre-diabetic", and have been watching sugar for several years now.
ReplyDeleteMy belief is that the "extra" ingredients they are allowed to put in the store sweets causes my body to not process the natural sugars(whatever form) properly because it is too busy fighting trying to figure out what that object is.
That can be extended into the whole processed food chain as well. Which is another rant I hope you take on for us Harmony!