Too Much Sugar? page 2

[Lewis]

I am 63, 5'8" and weigh 145 lbs. I have been on a vigorous exercise program and have lost 20 lbs since my last physical in Dec 2011. For years I had been on a super low fat high carb diet (except for frequent ice cream and cookie binges) and my trigs had increased from 66 to 140. Also, I had been eating huge quantities of vanilla non-fat yogurt which I now realize is loaded with sugar. No wonder my trigs were up. My TC and LDL have been elevated for my entire life at 240 and 160 respectively. HDL is 52. BP is 100/65 and at rest pulse is 50-55. My doc has been trying to get me on statins for years.

Statins? You might want to read this first:

Cholesterol is NOT the Cause of Heart Disease 5/28/05

As for the blood figures -- it seems that there's almost nobody whose numbers don't improve on a carbohydrate-restricted diet. However, if you're losing a lot of weight, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol can go up transiently as cholesterol comes out of fat cells.

I am trying to educate myself on the causes of CVD

It's still a disputed matter. However, here's one understanding:

Heart Surgeon Speaks Out On What Really Causes Heart Disease -- Health & Wellness -- Sott.net

and improve my diet. I just found out about this forum and PB a few weeks ago. I have already made some big changes but still do not understand some of the basics. Eg, Robb Wolf says no dairy, but folks here seem to say dairy is ok. I have eliminated all grains except for 1/4 c of uncooked steel cut oats every morning. I will ditch them too after I my current stash is gone.

Robb Wolf is particularly concerned with autoimmune diseases, of which he personally has been a sufferer, and which are probably far more common among the general public than has been thought in the past. Robb always advises people trying a Paleo Diet for 30 days to eat a strict Paleo Diet that eliminates what are the foods that most commonly cause autoimmune reactions -- cereal grains, legumes, and dairy products. That's why.

Robb would say re-introduce any of these foods again after 30 days off them and see how you "look, feel, and perform". But initially he suggests getting them out. This is where Robb's coming from -- a concern with autoimmunity.

Other people who don't have auto-immune problems, or who don't believe them to be as much of a problem, will naturally have a different emphasis.

[primalkyle]

I'm not a big fan of juice either since it usually removes the pulp/skin. I love eating fruit whole or making a smoothie with it. If everything is balanced and you're feeling good though, I wouldn't worry about it.

[wolfman]

Too high, cut the juice, I have about 0-20 grams a day and that's if I happen to have fruit or dark chocolate....so usually on my non- lifting days it's around 0-10.

[Artbuc]

It's still a disputed matter.

Thanks. Yes, I have read the links you referenced. Have also listened to and read Chris Masterjohn's oxidative theories plus many other papers. As I posted on the research forum, no one knows for sure what causes CVD. There is an emerging view that the CW lipid theory is incorrect; but, we do not have anything to replace it. This is where the Nutrition and Research sub-forums intersect for me. I was hoping for a definitive diet plan to minimize my risk of CVD. This is impossible, of course, because all we have right now is a mix of theory and informed speculation. I think the best bet for me is to keep exercising, manage my weight and stress, eat a well balanced diet which largely eliminates sugar, refined carbohydrates, cereal grains and PUFA's. I am so glad I found this web site!

[Neckhammer]

Yikes! I just added up the daily sugar I eat from my unsweetened grapefruit juice, apple, frozen strawberries and yogurt. It is almost 80 grams. (I'm not sure if I should be including the 9 grams from yogurt?). On triglycerides.com they say to limit sugar to 50 grams daily. Should I cut back on my fruit intake?

Problem is your eating concentrated juice and not the actual fruit....so Yes, you should cut back on your fruit juice....not necessarily your fruit intake. There is a difference. Heck if I was gonna pound 80 grams of sugar by fruit juice you just may as well drink a six pack of beer instead....probably about the same liver destruction in each instance.

[Artbuc]

Problem is your eating concentrated juice and not the actual fruit....so Yes, you should cut back on your fruit juice....not necessarily your fruit intake. There is a difference. Heck if I was gonna pound 80 grams of sugar by fruit juice you just may as well drink a six pack of beer instead....probably about the same liver destruction in each instance.

That isn't what I said. I drink just 8 oz of unsweetened GF juice per day which accounts for 20 of the 80 gram total. The balance comes from 1 lg apple, 2 servings of frozen strawberries and 8 oz of nonfat Greek yogurt. Oh, and 3 grams from my chocolate.

[Neckhammer]

Yikes! I just added up the daily sugar I eat from my unsweetened grapefruit juice, apple, frozen strawberries and yogurt. It is almost 80 grams. (I'm not sure if I should be including the 9 grams from yogurt?). On triglycerides.com they say to limit sugar to 50 grams daily. Should I cut back on my fruit intake?

Oh, that whole thing put together made me think this was some sort of fruit drink mix. I would still nix the juice. Other than that your probably OK if you are fairly metabolically healthy. If you are not (thyroid, prediabetic, bad lipid/trigs panel ect....) then I would cut fruit back drastically and get my carbs from sweet potato, squash, pumpkin, and other root veggies.