Why is sugar the devil?
As you all know, I LOVE my sugar. I put 3-4 packets in my coffee or tea (2 drinks which contain yet another food devil, caffeine, but that's for another day) I adore fresh donuts, candy, soda. Nothing says "Lunch is complete" like a Fruit Rollup... and the list goes on and on. I've been living with the nagging thought that perhaps my diet is awful and somewhere in my delicate internal organs, all this sugar is doing very bad things. Plus Shakes gives me the death-look any time I add sugar to things. But I think that's just part of his hippie programming...
Today I decided to look up exactly why sugar is bad for you, and I have to say that some of the reasoning is very sound. Some of it is just more of the same alarmist tripe that gets beaten into our subconcious. And (imagine this) some sources say sugar is good for you. Here are the main points that keep coming up:
The Good
"At rest, the metabolism of the brain accounts for 15% the total metabolism of the body even though the brain weights roughly 2% the mass of the body. This means that brain metabolism is about 7.5 times higher than the average for the rest of the body. This energy glutton is satiated mainly by glucose, glucose is brain food and the brain depends on the blood supply for its constant stream of sugar."
Um, it tastes great. Duh.
It makes me hyper. Some people would say that's bad, but not me. I don't want to be a boring little drone. And you don't want me to be that, either.
The Bad
Sugar increases insulin level in your blood, and raised insulin levels depress the immune system.
Insulin also promotes the storage of fat.
Too much sugar has been linked to the increase in Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
And it rots your teeth.
So, now I'm going to take these pointers and actually think about how they apply to my life. Sugar is good for the brain. I seem to be a pretty intelligent individual, so I would have to say that my body agrees with that theory. Increased insulin depresses the immune system. I seem to be a pretty healthy person, so I don't think that sugar affects me that way. Insulin promotes fat storage. Well, aside from the tumor in my belly (baby, I mean baby), I haven't had any weight gain problems. Sugar leads to high blood pressure - my blood pressure is consistently in the very low range. And Type 2 Diabetes... now, I actually had a bit of a freakout about this awhile ago and was convinced that I was going to have diabetes. After talking to a certain doctor that I'm related too, I was assured that my sugar intake was not going to be the defining factor in whether or not I get diabetes. As for teeth rot - ok, I do have really crappy teeth. But some of that is linked to genetics. I know for a fact that if I brush 3 times a day and floss, I'm still going to get cavities.
In fact, I would venture to say that my sugar intake takes a back seat to my general lifestyle choices. Sure, if you live a sedentary life, I can see how sugar is the devil. But this little research foray has led me to the conclusion that sugar is in no way impeding my life. Except that I may have to get false teeth at some point. :P
PS - A list of things that are "bad for me" but that I won't stop doing any time soon
- Driving fast
- Crossing the street outside of a crosswalk
- Consuming alcohol in large quantities (well, I'm on a temporary hiatus from that)
- Snowboarding or other "reckless" sports
- Sitting at a desk for 8+ hours a day staring at a monitor. My back, shoulders, eyes and brain all tell me that's bad for me, but I don't see it stopping.
- Living with Shakes
- Growing an alien in my belly
Articles that I read...
(1) http://thoughtmenagerie.wordpress.com/2006/04/20/sugar-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
(2) http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-is-Refined-Sugar---Known-As-White-Sugar---Bad-for-You?&id=119462
(3) http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=266510
(4) http://google-sina.com/2008/03/25/why-is-sugar-bad/
Today I decided to look up exactly why sugar is bad for you, and I have to say that some of the reasoning is very sound. Some of it is just more of the same alarmist tripe that gets beaten into our subconcious. And (imagine this) some sources say sugar is good for you. Here are the main points that keep coming up:
The Good
"At rest, the metabolism of the brain accounts for 15% the total metabolism of the body even though the brain weights roughly 2% the mass of the body. This means that brain metabolism is about 7.5 times higher than the average for the rest of the body. This energy glutton is satiated mainly by glucose, glucose is brain food and the brain depends on the blood supply for its constant stream of sugar."
Um, it tastes great. Duh.
It makes me hyper. Some people would say that's bad, but not me. I don't want to be a boring little drone. And you don't want me to be that, either.
The Bad
Sugar increases insulin level in your blood, and raised insulin levels depress the immune system.
Insulin also promotes the storage of fat.
Too much sugar has been linked to the increase in Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
And it rots your teeth.
So, now I'm going to take these pointers and actually think about how they apply to my life. Sugar is good for the brain. I seem to be a pretty intelligent individual, so I would have to say that my body agrees with that theory. Increased insulin depresses the immune system. I seem to be a pretty healthy person, so I don't think that sugar affects me that way. Insulin promotes fat storage. Well, aside from the tumor in my belly (baby, I mean baby), I haven't had any weight gain problems. Sugar leads to high blood pressure - my blood pressure is consistently in the very low range. And Type 2 Diabetes... now, I actually had a bit of a freakout about this awhile ago and was convinced that I was going to have diabetes. After talking to a certain doctor that I'm related too, I was assured that my sugar intake was not going to be the defining factor in whether or not I get diabetes. As for teeth rot - ok, I do have really crappy teeth. But some of that is linked to genetics. I know for a fact that if I brush 3 times a day and floss, I'm still going to get cavities.
In fact, I would venture to say that my sugar intake takes a back seat to my general lifestyle choices. Sure, if you live a sedentary life, I can see how sugar is the devil. But this little research foray has led me to the conclusion that sugar is in no way impeding my life. Except that I may have to get false teeth at some point. :P
PS - A list of things that are "bad for me" but that I won't stop doing any time soon
- Driving fast
- Crossing the street outside of a crosswalk
- Consuming alcohol in large quantities (well, I'm on a temporary hiatus from that)
- Snowboarding or other "reckless" sports
- Sitting at a desk for 8+ hours a day staring at a monitor. My back, shoulders, eyes and brain all tell me that's bad for me, but I don't see it stopping.
- Living with Shakes
- Growing an alien in my belly
Articles that I read...
(1) http://thoughtmenagerie.wordpress.com/2006/04/20/sugar-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
(2) http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-is-Refined-Sugar---Known-As-White-Sugar---Bad-for-You?&id=119462
(3) http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=266510
(4) http://google-sina.com/2008/03/25/why-is-sugar-bad/
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