Article "Is Sugar Toxic?"

[JulieM]

A friend just sent this to me and I found it to be a pretty interesting read. Warning, it's long, so make a cup of coffee or tea, no sugar of course and see what you think.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/ma...R_AP_LO_MST_FB

[charley]

I've seen him on a few shows ... 60 Minutes, CNN, and GMA . I think there's much validity to what he says.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7403942n/

[RiverFarm]

That's fascinating, as is the article on fat that is referenced in the piece on sugar. I've never heard Robert Lustig but I think that what he says has a lot of merit, just from everything else I've seen. Thanks for posting this!

[wallycat]

Lustig is awesome. He also speaks on many panels with Taubes, who wrote "Why we get Fat"...the shorter version of Good Calories, Bad calories.

[VictoriaL]

Although we eat healthy meals and exercise, DH and I decided about a month ago to cut down on sugar, dairy, and wheat. Not cut out, just cut back. We had both read articles by Robert Lutsig (among others), which actually brought about that decision.

It had been difficult, to say the least.

I'll print out this article, Julie, just to keep on hand when my resolve starts to "weaken". Thanks for posting the link.

[JulieM]

Although we eat healthy meals and exercise, DH and I decided about a month ago to cut down on sugar, dairy, and wheat. Not cut out, just cut back. We had both read articles by Robert Lutsig (among others), which actually brought about that decision.

It had been difficult, to say the least.

I'll print out this article, Julie, just to keep on hand when my resolve starts to "weaken". Thanks for posting the link.

Have you noticed any changes in the way you feel, your energy, your weight? I think this is the approach we're about to take as well. Are you limiting all dairy or just those high in fat?

[RiverFarm]

I noticed that Mark Bittman is very much down on dairy these days, but if I had to give up my cheeses I would be most unhappy!

Yes, I'd love to know whether you're feeling any different cutting back on sugar, dairy and wheat. I'd like to cut way back on sugar, but then I don't know what I'd do with all of those quarts of raspberries, blackberries and blueberries in my freezer!

[wallycat]

I know you did not ask me, but I will just share a quick snippet if no one minds

My really good dietitian friend went to a conference that featured Gary Taubes. She was able to speak with him and was kind enough to ask, on my behalf, about why I am low carbing and now losing much weight. He gave his personal experience about having problems dropping pounds until he gave up cream in his coffee and then really noticed the weight loss.
I realize not everyone uses cream, but I did.
I quit the cream, I cut back on cheese (eliminated for a week) and cut back on nuts.
I dropped 5 pounds in that week. Go figure...and I have been low carbing for several years because I just feel better on it (even if I did not lose weight).
He did mention that weight gain/loss also has to do with hormones and previous fat/weight issues, so it is not a cut-dried resolution for those wanting to lose weight.
I was also taken off my cancer meds in April, so maybe my body is just finally doing what it was supposed to...
well...that is my story.

[JulieM]

Thanks Ana for sharing your experience--I always want to know what you think! I could give up coffee creamer and cheese, but I would hate to give up nuts! I agree we're all different and need to find our own balance.

[wallycat]

I don't think you have to "give up" those foods forever.
Once your body kicks in to weight loss, I think it is easier to start adding a few things.
I need to get about another 7 or so pounds off and once they are gone, I will try adding cream back.
I have already started adding my cheese back and I simply cut the nut intake down, not out after the week....if the pounds creep back up, then at least I will know where it is coming from.
I feel lighter and better, so at some point this is an individual decision we make...what are we willing to give up to feel and/or look a certain way. Ideally, we could introduce it all back, but just less of it. I don't think I can give up my cheese forever. Cream in coffee is nice but not a must-have. Nuts are nice, but I have the unsweetened soy-nut butter that fills my void well enough.
I do eat berries, but small amounts and not often.

We had company and went out to eat and my entree had sweet potato fries. I ate 1/4 of them and gave the rest to DH and guest. We'll see if the weight stays or goes up or ....
Life is short, so I don't want to feel a continual "I am deprived" mindset, but I certainly don't want to make it shorter if I can help it.

[LakeMartinGal]

Thanks Ana for sharing your experience--I always want to know what you think! I could give up coffee creamer and cheese, but I would hate to give up nuts! I agree we're all different and need to find our own balance.

And I could give up nuts, though I really like them, but black coffee? No way -- I'd have to go back to Diet Coke as my caffeine source.

[JulieM]

And I could give up nuts, though I really like them, but black coffee? No way -- I'd have to go back to Diet Coke as my caffeine source.

LOL! It's funny how different we all are about what we can't part with when it comes to food and beverages. I still agree with the thought that nothing is bad in moderation. And OMG a little cream in your coffee could not possibly be as bad for you as Diet Coke! (Which I still have on ocassion, particularly at the movie theater, though I feel very ashamed of myself when I do.)

[LakeMartinGal]

LOL! It's funny how different we all are about what we can't part with when it comes to food and beverages. I still agree with the thought that nothing is bad in moderation. And OMG a little cream in your coffee could not possibly be as bad for you as Diet Coke! (Which I still have on ocassion, particularly at the movie theater, though I feel very ashamed of myself when I do.)

Especially since I only drink 2 cups of coffee a day, but probably 4 diet soft drinks -- sometimes 5. We pick our own poison -- and then we can't be complaining about it at the end!

[Cafe Latte]

I have seen that 60 Minutes segment and do believe a lot of what has been said. I don't drink sweet drinks, and I limit desserts. I use half and half in my coffee (no sugar) and lost over 25 lbs since March on weight watchers. The amount of cream I use amounts to only 1 point out of 26 a day, so for that fraction, I am not giving it up. Now if I had several cups a day with that qty, I would have to cut back. You have to find out what works for you. I've not eliminated any foods - nor did I think I over ate, but I have learned to stick to true portions and be happy with that.

[RiverFarm]

Cafe Latte, congratulations on that weight loss! What a good feeling! But I do think that a lot of these recommendations aren't just meant to help lose weight but are also intended to address a whole host of other ailments and to enhance wellness in general.

[JulieM]

I have seen that 60 Minutes segment and do believe a lot of what has been said. I don't drink sweet drinks, and I limit desserts. I use half and half in my coffee (no sugar) and lost over 25 lbs since March on weight watchers. The amount of cream I use amounts to only 1 point out of 26 a day, so for that fraction, I am not giving it up. Now if I had several cups a day with that qty, I would have to cut back. You have to find out what works for you. I've not eliminated any foods - nor did I think I over ate, but I have learned to stick to true portions and be happy with that.

Congratulations! I have a dear friend in her 60's who has struggled with her weight her entire adult life, and now with the help of Weight Watchers has finally lost the weight and is on maintenance with them and keeping it off.

[wallycat]

Congrats on the weight loss!

If you are counting calories, then the reason you limit cream is because fat has more calories.
If you are low-carbing, the dairy (and protein) also elevates insulin levels. Not anything like carbs, but not zero. Too much protein won't get you into ketosis, which means no weight loss.

People mistakenly think that Atkins is a high protein diet. It isn't. It should be considered a high fat diet. The cream in my coffee, especially in the morning, when insulin and glucose then to run higher, must have kept me out of ketosis because of the protein in dairy, not the fat. Milk would have been equally bad.

[JulieM]

Interesting Ana, especially the part about dairy elevating insulin. I'm convinced DH has metabolic syndrome, which as I understand it means his body is no longer handling insulin properly because he now has a fatty liver. He LOVES cheese. Why is it we crave what is worst for us? Anyway, he's ready to make some big changes so hopefully he'll have some good results in a few months.

[VictoriaL]

Why is it we crave what is worst for us?

Ain't that the truth?!?

We have been cutting back on wheat, dairy, and sugar very gradually, and we are starting week #4, so it's really too early for me to make any statement about how we feel now vs before. And we will never totally eliminate any of these because, as Ana said, life is short-- I would be absolutely miserable without the occasional scone or cookie!

Breakfast was the most challenging meal to redefine. We eat a lot of eggs (mostly whites) and toast (bagels, English muffins) seem to be a perfect go-with. Now I've subbed potatoes for two of our 3 egg-breakfasts each week. I eliminated milk as a beverage, using it only in coffee, but that brought us a problem of what to drink with breakfast. Most juices are high in sugar, but for now we are cutting oj (100% juice, no added sugar) with about 1/3 sparkling water. I played around with iced tea recipes until I figured out one that we like even without any added sugar. It's amazing how much sugar, either added or naturally occurring, is in so many products!

We're not big on cheese, but do like yogurt. I'm hoping that cutting out just a little of that per week will be okay... we shall see...

We ate a relatively healthy diet before this (few restaurant meals, little processed foods, low fat, no red meat, lots of veggies and fruits), but DH and I both felt that we needed to do something more. I'm 54, he is 60, and we were feeling much less energetic than we remember feeling even a year or two ago, plus even with regular exercise we both were putting on a couple of pounds and just couldn't seem to get rid of them.

I hope that this latest adjustment to our diet works because I really don't think that there's a lot more we can do.

[wallycat]

Sadly, as we age, we lose muscle and gain fat and even though the scale may show "the same weight," it clearly functions differently.

As we age, how we process carbs also becomes less efficient, but not for everyone. DH tried the lowcarb diet and occasionally has carbs and lost 15 pounds quickly. I have to be vigilant or it just doesn't work.
If you have metabolic syndrome, and many people are unaware they do have it, then even 40 grams carbs/day becomes too much (and you can't lose weight).
I suppose if you cut enough calories, it will happen and I guess people have to decide if they would rather cut calories drastically and walk around hungry or eat low carb and feel satiated, albeit have to give up some of the favorite carbs. As stated earlier, we all have our own value system.
I need to feel full.