Is It Time to Treat Sugar Like Smoking?

[Guzzler]

Smoking tobacco hit Europe at roughly the same time ish (circa 16c) as sugar (although both were used for a lot longer in the Americas).
Sugar started to become a real problem during and since the Industrial Revolution (circa 1800) opening up the market for sugar to the masses.

We have finally accepted that smoking tobacco shortens lifespan. I wonder how long it will be before we realise that eating sugar to the levels that it becomes a toxin may also shorten one's lifespan?

 

[LittleGreyCat]

So your argument for eating a non nutrient is that is a preservative?

Whatever makes you think that sugar is not a nutrient?
Pure processed sugar may not be a balanced diet but it will supply energy to the body.
Our shared problem is to do with too much sugar in the blood which is the main energy source for the body unless you switch over to ketogenesis.
In hospital you can be put on a saline and glucose drip to keep you alive, and glucose is a sugar.

 

[Guzzler]

Whatever makes you think that sugar is not a nutrient?
Pure processed sugar may not be a balanced diet but it will supply energy to the body.
Our shared problem is to do with too much sugar in the blood which is the main energy source for the body unless you switch over to ketogenesis.
In hospital you can be put on a saline and glucose drip to keep you alive, and glucose is a sugar.

Could you give me the nutrient breakdown of sugar, please? We are talking about sugar here arn't we, that is table sugar which is a man made thing, one molecule of fructose bonded to one molecule of glucose to make sucrose. I did not say that sugar is not an energy source.

 

[Member496333]

Whatever makes you think that sugar is not a nutrient?
Pure processed sugar may not be a balanced diet but it will supply energy to the body.
Our shared problem is to do with too much sugar in the blood which is the main energy source for the body unless you switch over to ketogenesis.
In hospital you can be put on a saline and glucose drip to keep you alive, and glucose is a sugar.

It’s energy for sure, but it burns quick and dirty, leaving behind untold damage. It has no micronutrients that I’m aware of and cannot be used to build and maintain the body. You most certainly could not live on it indefinitely, unlike fat and protein. Perhaps that was what @Guzzler meant?

Edit: cross posted.

 

[Guzzler]

It’s energy for sure, but it burns quick and dirty, leaving behind untold damage. It has no micronutrients that I’m aware of and cannot be used to build and maintain the body. You most certainly could not live on it indefinitely, unlike fat and protein. Perhaps that was what @Guzzler meant?

Edit: cross posted.

I thought that was what I said .

 

[Member496333]

I thought that was what I said .

You did but I was typing my post while you posted.

 

[Listlad]

Interestingly, honey as a preservative and sweetener goes back to Egyptian times. Maybe as far back as 5 to 10000 years ago.

 

[Member496333]

Interestingly, honey as a preservative and sweetener goes back to Egyptian times. Maybe further.

Although to be fair, according to some anthropologists, the ancient Egyptians were riddled with heart disease and tooth decay. That said, I believe this is thought to be due to their grain agriculture and fondness of bread.

 

[Listlad]

Although to be fair, according to some anthropologists, the ancient Egyptians were riddled with heart disease and tooth decay. That said, I believe this is thought to be due to their grain agriculture and fondness of bread.

And before that? In Georgia some 5500 years back?

 

[Member496333]

And before that? In Georgia some 5500 years back?

No idea I’m afraid.

 

[Listlad]

No idea I’m afraid.

And then Homo Sapien Neanderthalensis liked a spot of honey too. It seems to go back a long way.

 

[Member496333]

And then Homo Sapien Neaderthalensis liked a spot of honey too. It seems to go back a long way.

I don’t doubt it.

 

[Guzzler]

You did but I was typing my post while you posted.

Ooops sorry....again.

 

[Veryanxious]

Whatever makes you think that sugar is not a nutrient?
Pure processed sugar may not be a balanced diet but it will supply energy to the body.
Our shared problem is to do with too much sugar in the blood which is the main energy source for the body unless you switch over to ketogenesis.
In hospital you can be put on a saline and glucose drip to keep you alive, and glucose is a sugar.

How much sugar is too much?

 

[Robinredbreast]

Something needs to be done though. I am sure there is a middle way.

Lets hope so.

 

[Diakat]

It is debatable whether sugar is a food at all. It is 100% carbohydrate with no nutritional value whatsoever. It is said by some that if sugar had been invented very recently it would at best be given the label 'Additive'.

It wasn’t invented- it’s extracted.

 

[Guzzler]

It wasn’t invented- it’s extracted.

Fair enough.

 

[Member496333]

To be fair sucrose is also heavily refined from raw sugar. It’s not exactly a natural extract anymore than vegetable oil is pressed from vegetables. But yes, invented is arguably incorrect.

 

[Guzzler]

Strange word 'extracted'. Something that dentists are doing more and more to children's milk teeth.

 

[Listlad]

It wasn’t invented- it’s extracted.

It’s a natural resource.