Sugar As A Healthy Ingredient?

on April 15, 2009 at 7:00 AM

Over on That's Fit, I came across a magical headline: "Sugar -- Is it a Health Food Now?"

Finally I thought, my addiction is valid. It's nothing to be ashamed about anymore. Sugar is our friend. Oh how I was wrong.

That's Fit writer, Jonny Bowden is also an author, nutritionist, and a weight-loss coach, so he knows a thing or two about health. Now that high-fructose corn syrup is getting a bad rep in the press, marketers are pushing regular, white table-sugar as a natural and safer alternative. Not so fast, writes Bowden: "Sugar is one part glucose and one part fructose (50/50). High fructose corn syrup is very close to the same formula, marginally higher in fructose -- 55 percent fructose; 45 percent glucose." Sugar raises insulin resistance, raises triglycerides in the bloodstream, and contributes to fatty liver disease. Whether it comes from high-fructose corn syrup or table sugar, it's simply not good for you. The only time you don't need to worry about fructose or sugar is when you eat fruit, says Bowden.

To add some levity to this sad sugar news, I turned to a recent journal post of Cleanaturalady's entitled "Goodbye My Love":

"Dear Sugar,

I am sorry to have to write this letter. Our relationship has been very toxic for me for a long time and I haven't been strong enough to let you go. I keep thinking that things will improve between us, and they do get better for awhile, but in the end we are just not compatible...I want you to know that it is me, not you. You aren't inherently evil or anything, I am just not able to have a normal relationship with you. I have tried just being friends and having you once in awhile, but one sweet taste of you on my lips and I want more. Then I start to feel so guilty because I realize I am neglecting all the things that are good for me, so that I can spend time with you. It is just not healthy. It is time for me to move on to a life without you..."

What food do you need to break-up with? What would you say to it in a letter?

Filed Under: bad habits, eating healthy, nutrition

Comments (3)

Azanne

on Apr 15, 2009 at 7:44 AM

diet pop i read somewhere that two much of it can cause medical problems but i wouldnt write a letter

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michiganmom116

on Apr 15, 2009 at 9:55 AM

Chocolate in just about any form!!!! And I'm diabetic! It hurts so bad...... crying

May I recommend Truvia (stevia) as an all natural (no processing, no chemicals) alternative to sugar? Stevia is a plant whose leaves are sweet. It does NOT raise blood sugar levels!

Destiny13

on Apr 15, 2009 at 10:31 AM

I need to break up with sugar. I have to hide it from my 1 year old now, and she ends up finding it when I am irresponsable.... It would be better for alll of us if I stopped. Sugar IS evil, though, lol. There are SO MANY ways it's bad for us!!! To bad spinach can't taste like sugar!!

Oh and I think I'll settle on the above letter. I felt funny enough when I wrote a good bye letter to cigarettes.. *blush* It helped a lot though!! (I even cried.....shhhh...)