Can we discuss the effects of sugar?

[Gator-mom]

Found this article today: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3 which has some very interesting info about sugar. 

Seems to getting away from the simple argument of 'sugar is empty calories' to say that sugar is actually toxic to the body and harmful to our liver.  Just wondering if anyone has thoughts on this?

We are in the process of eliminating sugar from our house, but it's a rough transition.  I think having a thorough understanding for WHY we do things makes it easier to stick to our guns!

[lookatreestar]

we need a support group. i would like to eliminate it from our house as well. everything tastes better when you quit sugar.

[Gator-mom]

I've been finding the same thing.  I have been doing well myself, but getting it totally out of the house is another story!  I am currently trying to wean out juice and chocolate almond milk for Ds.  We have been pretty lenient with him, but the more I learn about this, the more I feel like we should ALL be off of it! 

I am having a hard time figuring out what the difference between processed sugars and honey/ real maple syrup and agave nectar is.  Is sugar sugar?  Or are the natural sugars any better?

[Gator-mom]

Oh, and i also agree that we should start a eliminating sugar support thread!  Although I think there is something like that on here already..not sure what the criteria is exactly though.

[SpuglyRoo]

Originally Posted by lookatreestar 

everything tastes better when you quit sugar.

I have to agree with that.  We are starting to eliminate sugar and I've noticed that the almond butter I always found bland is actually quite sweet.  It was reminding me of marzipan!  Refined sugars seem to hamper your tastebuds' ability to detect the natural sugars that are already in foods. 

[Gator-mom]

Originally Posted by SpuglyRoo 

I have to agree with that.  We are starting to eliminate sugar and I've noticed that the almond butter I always found bland is actually quite sweet.  It was reminding me of marzipan!  Refined sugars seem to hamper your tastebuds' ability to detect the natural sugars that are already in foods. 

Yea, I didn't even like almond butter at all before I gave sugar up.  Now I think that and cashew butter are delicious!
 

[HollyBearsMom]

I started cutting added/processed sugar from my diet 10 days ago and in turn my son is eating considerable less sugar. We still eats fruits and lots of veggies which are often high in natural sugars but I am OK with that.

I was never a "sugar" person in the sense that I rarely eat "sweets" like cakes, cookies, sweetened yogurts, added sugar in tea/coffee etc.  However I ate tons of carbs, and things you don't think have sugar in them-breads, snacks, etc.  

I have noticed that if the past few days how much sweeter my strawberries taste, how bright a lemon tastes, the natural sweetness of a pink grapefruit.   And, as other posters said, everything tastes better! 

[samann1121]

I have heard lots of different things about sugar's effect on the liver and various other organs and functions, but all I know is, if I eat some sugar, I want more sugar, and more and more, and then if I don't get it, I'm very mean to my husband and daughter.  So I avoid it alltogether.  I just use honey and maple syrup in moderation (and I eat the occasional dark chocolate).  And you all are right about everything tasting better!  And when I have had bites of very sugary things since giving it up, it's too much!  Yuck.

[tamismom]

The mightly Robert Lustig on whose work that NY times article is based does a super long talk on UTube about the evils of sugar. I've watched it and its very interesting. There is also a shorter (6 or 8 minute) piece that ABC news did on him which sums up his ideas well. It simplifies this work for sure but if you've got a few minutes to spare, its good. I showed it to my 11 year old daughter and she was shocked, esp. about juice, but very interested, too.

As for me, I gave up sugar several years ago to get rid of a lingering yeast infection. After a few days w/o sugar, I suddenly felt, well, good. Better than good, I felt great and I wasn't expecting to feel anything special at all so it took me by surprise. I wasn't tired or moody, no headaches or cravings, no more yeast infections ever again.  I felt surprisingly calm and even. Since I love sweets its not easy to resist all the time and I do fall of the sugar wagon sometimes (hello, cookies, I'm talking to you). But I go easy on myself, get back on track and usually stop craving again after about 48 hours. Typically, I'm good all week, live a little on the weekend, get back on track on Monday. I generally follow the same pattern with the kids too.

[Gator-mom]

Originally Posted by tamismom 

The mightly Robert Lustig on whose work that NY times article is based does a super long talk on UTube about the evils of sugar. I've watched it and its very interesting. There is also a shorter (6 or 8 minute) piece that ABC news did on him which sums up his ideas well. It simplifies this work for sure but if you've got a few minutes to spare, its good. I showed it to my 11 year old daughter and she was shocked, esp. about juice, but very interested, too.

As for me, I gave up sugar several years ago to get rid of a lingering yeast infection. After a few days w/o sugar, I suddenly felt, well, good. Better than good, I felt great and I wasn't expecting to feel anything special at all so it took me by surprise. I wasn't tired or moody, no headaches or cravings, no more yeast infections ever again.  I felt surprisingly calm and even. Since I love sweets its not easy to resist all the time and I do fall of the sugar wagon sometimes (hello, cookies, I'm talking to you). But I go easy on myself, get back on track and usually stop craving again after about 48 hours. Typically, I'm good all week, live a little on the weekend, get back on track on Monday. I generally follow the same pattern with the kids too.

I will have to check that out.  This article is pretty much what has given me the motivation to get Ds off sugar.  I didn't really realize how harmful it was to him.  I realized the same thing when I started getting serious about getting off sugar a month or so ago, that it really makes a difference in my mood and energy level.  I'm pretty sure that I will see a difference in DS now with his moods (or I hope so!) I just need to really get the message through to my in-laws who really seem to have trouble following our food guidelines when they are watching him!  At least I am done with school for the summer now, so I won't need him to go over there quite as often for the next few months.