in defense of sugar page 2

[Barefoot]

I agree- I enjoy small amounts of sugar, but its easy to go down a slippery slope with it- for sure. Haha, like marijuana and beer. And I hate sugar substitutes except for honey and maple syrup.

I don't think having sugar in a cup of coffee and a banana is like being hummingbird sugar fiend- it's just enjoying what you can enjoy. And for me, stevia is like fake fat- I never end up satisfied like I do with sugar.

Ditto, I really don't like any of the fake sugars. If I need sweetener, I use sugar, honey or maple syrup. Thankfully I've gotten past the point where a little sugar caused me to have huge cravings, so I can add a little here and there without worrying.

[Spubba]

I don't think having sugar in a cup of coffee and a banana is like being hummingbird sugar fiend- it's just enjoying what you can enjoy. And for me, stevia is like fake fat- I never end up satisfied like I do with sugar.

Stevia for me isn't a trigger - but nuts and cheese are, at least for me, so I guess it varies from person to person. I do wonder if the spoonful of stevia in my coffee is ok for 'Paleo' but then I remind myself of all the goobers on the low-fat forums arguing about how much fat is in their vitamin E capsules and I don't want to become Those Guys, so I don't stress about it.

Do you think it is ok to eat a banana if you're having a 'sweet' craving? Because I know bananas aren't supposed to exist in nature. They're a freak hybrid kind of plantain, if I remember correctly. Grok would have never seen or tasted a banana that didn't look like this one.

I have been eating fruit and losing fat since last year, but I wonder if I'm unwittingly holding myself back from even greater progress. My favorite fruits are blueberries, cherries, pears, and the occasional banana, but I try to eat them all in moderation (no more than a couple servings per day, and only when I want them). My philosophy being, it's better for me to eat a pear than a candy bar. OK/not OK?

[Ande]

Yesterday, when I was eating a peach I thought, yes, sugar is definitely a gift from God

[mmapags]

I have been eating fruit and losing fat since last year, but I wonder if I'm unwittingly holding myself back from even greater progress. My favorite fruits are blueberries, cherries, pears, and the occasional banana, but I try to eat them all in moderation (no more than a couple servings per day, and only when I want them). My philosophy being, it's better for me to eat a pear than a candy bar. OK/not OK?

I agree. I'm not a fan of processed sugar and especially not of HFCS. I do like a little honey occaisionally and also a little maple syrup. I consider them along with fruits gifts from God!

[magnolia1973]

Do you think it is ok to eat a banana if you're having a 'sweet' craving?

I spent YEARS not eating bananas but eating whatever. Now if I want a banana, I eat one. If I want pineapple or blueberries, I eat them. My problem was eating a bag of snickers or a (whole) cake or a pint of ben and jerries. I don't sweat a 100 calorie banana.

[Bosnic]

In short: More sugar = more exercise.

Soblem Prolved.

[ljq309]

god can't help you if you shovel it in your system like a jerkface

Seems to me there are an awful lot of jerkfaces (or hey wait, perhaps they're just normal people who succumbed to a bit too much sugar and have become addicted and don't realise it). It also seems to me that the hilarious term "in moderation" means, to an awful lot of people, "you shovel it in your system like a jerkface".

Perhaps people should, at the very least, be alerted to what the white crap is doing to their bodies, rather than being told they are either jerkfaces or that eating bucket loads is perfectly OK.

It's not worth defending, because of what it does to the jerkfaces, not because some of us CAN actually consume it in moderation.

[mamacaz]

I think you've got it there, Lisa - the ambiguity of the term 'moderation'. Looking at the kids lunches at school 'moderation' seems to mean 'something sweet/processed/junky' everyday (just in a cute kid-sized packet). Oh and then there's the after school treat. And the chocolate spread in the sandwich. And the sugary cereal for breakfast. But at least they get a piece of fruit as well, hey?

'Moderation' really does come a lot closer to dado's definition for the average kid (and I must assume their parents are eating something similar when not on a low-fat diet). Jerkface is right - especially when you're doing it to your child.

What gets to me some days is that I'm seen as a freak, mean mum, weirdo, etc. (did I mention that I make my kids walk to school???)

[activia]

In short: More sugar = more exercise.

Soblem Prolved.

Maybe in terms of maintaining body composition (although it will make you hungerier and you'll think you can eat more of it then you really can). But I'd disagree on the health level as constant insulin spikes is not good for overall health, also fructose is especially bad as the way its processed in the body thru the liver just like alcohol.