Yes, that is right Sugar is Toxic. I happened upon this little fact about a year ago when someone shared a video from a Dr. Lustig entitled “Sugar: The Bitter Truth” that literally changed my life.
Dr. Lustig’s video is a bit technical so I will summarize it here. Dr. Lustig and a microbiologist found that Sugar (Fructose) is processed in the Liver in almost exactly the same way as Alcohol. As a result, its consumption has almost the same long term health consequences/risks.
Some of the health problems/risks are the very same chronic deseases that are increasing the cost of medical care for everyone including:
Nifty right? It get better. Sugar is also addictive. Just as you can be an Alcoholic, most Americans are now Sugaroholics. That is because sugar:
- Stimulates that same pleasure centers in the brain as opium
- Sugar makes you hungry
So sugar feels good and makes you hungry for.. more sugar.
I know it seams a bit insidious, but sugar has evolved this way to propagate fruits which were rare. This is a nice symbiotic relationship in nature in that fruit has many vitamins that we need and enough fiber to slow down the digestion of Sugar so that it does not spike our insulin and cause the other problems.
What IS insidious is that MOST of the food we eat now contains Processed Sugar. Why? Because processed food manufacturers know that Sugar is addictive so they add it to almost everything they make. As a result Americans are have gone from 5 lb. of sugar in the early 1900’s to over 200 lb. of Sugars per year. Is it any wonder that America is Obese?
Don’t believe me? Read the lables, but be aware that they hide procesed sugar under a number of names including:
- High fructose corn syrup
- Cane Juice
- Fruit Juice
- Dextrose
- Sucrose
Yep, that is right, “Fruit Juice” is Processed Sugar as well. You have concentrated the sugar (which is poison) out of the Fruit which is good for you. I will never look at a container of orange juice again without thinking it should have a scull and cross bones!
When you are wide awake, take the time to watch all of Dr. Lustig’s video or if you have more time and perhaps read the commentary by Gary Taubes of the NY Times. It takes a bit of concentration, but it might save your life!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM
So true! I was 10 lbs lighter living in France eating similar, and in many cases fattier food. Im sure its because they add sugar (or more sugar) to the same foods here…its ridiculous!
So true! I was 10 lbs lighter living in France eating similar, and in many cases fattier food. Im sure its because they add sugar (or more sugar) to the same foods here…its ridiculous!
That is a fact! The average American went from 5 lb. of sugar a year in the early 1900’s to over 200 lb. per year today.
Marty, thanks for the PSA, but that delicious looking doughnut on your blog post is not helping!
Heh, after being off Sugar for a while the doughnut looks disgusting to me. Your tastebuds change and sugar becomes too sweet after a short while.
Been geeking out on this stuff myself recently and I’m in full agreement. I’d recommend the book The Paleo Solution for further inquiry.
I also recommend the book “Fantastic Voyage” which contains this advice and much more. Or for lighter reading, “Transcend” by the same authors.
Yeah i hate overly sweet stuff. (doughnuts). Now if they would just sneaking sugar into every other food…ugggg
*Stop* sneaking lol
Henrik Bennetsen I havent read “The Paleo Solution” yet. I have read “Primal Blueprint” and have been “mostly” primal for some time now. (I am not as strict on legumes or grains, though I do stay away from gluten)
If you are going Primal you may want to check out MarksDailyApple http://www.marksdailyapple.com/ It has a lot of tips and recipes.
Chuck Esterbrook I havent gotten too dealt into Kurzwell’s take on life extension, but from what I have read there is some basis for that direction as well. I will have to add it to my reading list.
Whitney Rowe The only way that the food cartels will stop slipping sugar into our foods is if we stop buying it.
Every little bit helps!
Well, I’ll post this on my page at least 🙂
Whitney Rowe That is exactly why I wrote it! Please share as much as you can.
Oh I just thought of a better tag line if you want to repost it… “Average American consumes 200 lb. of Poison a year!”
Lol yeah thats good. Cause my friends are arguing anything is excess is poison including water lol.
They are right.. and what america is consuming is VERY Excessive
You can also eat a tiny bit of arsenic each year.. that doesn’t mean it isn’t poison 😉
Thanks for sharing this, Marty.
My pleasure. The least we can do is share.
Am not completely strict myself but I have found myself to be veering in that direction as this has been going on for some time now.
I have been past Mars Daily Apple but not stayed for long so I will have a closer look. Thx for the heads up.
according to Dr. Mercola’s article about fructose, it is really bad to our health. It an cause obesity and it is bad for our heart. you can read it here – http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/01/02/highfructose-corn-syrup-alters-human-metabolism.aspx
@michellechass Thanks for the link, it is a great deep dive on fructose. It is good to see others elaborating on Dr. Lustig’s work!
@michellechass Thanks for the link ( http://goo.gl/KMoee ) , it is a great deep dive on fructose. It is good to see others elaborating on Dr. Lustig’s work!
Fricking amen.