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Why is sugar the nightmare that it is?
Glucose is the main sugar needed for cellular metabolism. Its use is regulated by hormones like insulin, leptin and glucagon. Table sugar is made up of 50% glucose and 50% fructose. Unlike glucose, fructose is metabolized solely by the liver where it is turned into fat. Therefore, when you eat sugar 1/2 of it goes to fat while the other half goes to the cells for use. This is all good when the volume consumed is in balance with your needs.
What happens when demand is exceeded by the supply? Good ole human economics. The supply builds up and our good friend insulin says that it is time to go to the storage center, FAT.
Why would our bodies behave this way? It sounds self defeating. Well, if you are a human living in times of food scarcity (we used to always live this way in the recent past) then having sugar and fruit turn into fat 50% of the time is life saving. Fruit falls off of the tree and you gorge on it before it spoils. You get fat like a walrus and survive to procreate again in the spring. Evolutionary GENIUS.
Fast forward to the era of high fructose corn syrup and cheap sugar. We have a problem Houston! HFCS is made up of 55% fructose and 45% glucose. Now we have an extra 5% fat deposition going on per mg eaten. Multiply this by some large percentage of the 77 pounds and it is not a leap of faith to see how we have gone off the deep end with sugar.
*Let us also note that the FDA and the FTC allow these companies to avidly target your children with advertisements during cartoons and on processed food labels.
This sugar to fat evolution has changed the entire dynamic of our metabolic effect, micro biome, hormonal function and ultimately our health depravity.
Sugar is now a poison! How sad. I have a hard time blaming the average person for loving sugar. It is euphoric to eat something sweet. It is addictive and lovely.
What is the solution? I like the idea of moderation in all things with an understanding that refined sugar/HFCS is the main issue. Enjoy fruit daily as part of your 8-10 servings of vegetables and fruits per day. Avoid most if not all HFCS, sugar enhanced beverages and processed foods. Teach your kids the 90/10 rule. If 90% of the food they ingest is wholesome and non processed then depending on their metabolism 5-10 % of their diet can have some "kid" food in it.
Remember that a 12 oz can of cola has 44 grams of sugar which is equivalent to 11 sugar packets on the table at a restaurant.
Just for the fun of it: I received this information from a friend on hidden sugars.
How much sugar is in: (KKD = Krispy Kreme Doughnut)
Yoplait original yogurt = 27 grams or 2.7 KKD
V8 Fusion Vegetable Juice (8oz) = 28 grams or 2.8 KKD
Vitamin WATER (20oz) = 33 grams or 3.3 KKD
California Pizza Kitchen Thai Chicken Salad = 45 grams or 4.5 KKD
Odawalla Super Food Smoothie (12oz) = 50 grams or 5 KKD
Nesquick fat free chocolate milk (16oz) = 54 grams or 5.4 KKD
These are all purported to be HEALTHY! Not so much.
Dr. M
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