L.A. Liberty

Re: Sugar and Glucose

thecheekylibertarian replied to your link: How High Fructose Corn Syrup has Decimated Human Health

Sorry, but HFCS =/=sugar. Sugar that isn’t highly processed isn’t terrible for you (whole fruits, for example) unless removed from its natural form (ex: pulp-less juice). I eat a *lot* of sugar is fruit, but HFCS makes me feel *terrible*.

“Sorry, but HFCS =/=sugar.” If you read the piece, you’ll find that it says exactly that (counter to the assertion in the 60 minutes piece). You’re not alone in feeling terrible after eating HFCS - refined fructose tends to be a digestive irritant in many people. Also, read below…

 mustardmanor replied to your link: How High Fructose Corn Syrup has Decimated Human Health

Your brain needs sugar to survive.

Yes, the brain needs glucose - but the amount the brain requires is significantly less than most people are led to believe (see: How Much Glucose Does Your Brain Really Need?). Yours is a common and understandable objection, but the body only needs a minimum of 30 grams and well under 120 grams of dietary glucose (depending on the individual’s diet). This glucose needn’t necessarily be consumed as sugar (especially refined sugar) as all carbohydrates eventually become glucose in the body. Berries, kale, coconuts, bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes, macadamia nuts, even the occasional maple syrup are all nutrition-dense options that serve to provide glucose to the body. Furthermore, your body can obtain a fair portion of its energy from fat-derived ketones, meaning fat-adapted individuals (those who consistently eat low-carb) have trained their bodies to require less actual glucose without compromising brain function whatsoever. Even more amazingly, your body - through glucogenesis - can derive some glucose by burning its own fat. In certain situations, this fat-burning process creates a by-product known as glycerin, which your brain can also use instead of glucose. The brain, in fact, seems to prefer lactate over glucose for its energy needs, so those who exercise regularly would require less glucose as well.

Point is: practically no one needs any more than 150 grams of carbs per day. Most people, in fact, will find optimal health by consuming less than 100 grams per day. Considering that excess sugars and carbs are directly correlated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, even cancer - it’s clear many of us (myself included, previously) are using the brain’s needs as an excuse to overindulge.

Notes:

1. principlesof98 reblogged this from laliberty
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5. letterstomycountry said: Yep. There’s a reason people have had so much success with the “paleo” diets. The addition of large amount of carbs into the human diet is a relatively recent phenomenon. We weren’t eating pasta and sweet rolls on the Tundra, that’s for damn sure.
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