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Industry pushes sugary products, while obfuscating the health hazards

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Re: Industry pushes sugary products, while obfuscating the health hazards

#91
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well it’s also the type of sugar. Before the 70’s HFCS didn’t exist and it didn’t hit mainstream until the early 80’s. Soft drinks are now predominately made with HFCS which includes multiple sugars, some that are broken down in the liver and others that go into the blood steam and require insulin. Keep in mind one of the reasons most foods include HFCS is because it’s subsidized and cheaper than say cane sugar, so t…

There is no actual proof that HFCS is more harmful than other types of sugar.

That’s a strange reply...I never suggested HFCS was different or more harmful than any other sugar, I only mentioned that it contains both sugar that is processed by the liver and sugar that is released into the blood stream triggering insulin.

Although now that you bring it up...if one were to choose it’s probably better to have only a single one type of sugar processed by the liver or released into the blood triggering insulin...rather than both.

Re: Industry pushes sugary products, while obfuscating the health hazards

#92
post #86
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure that's adjusted for serving size?

Does the US not have a section telling you the nutritional content per-100g (or 100mL or whatever "standard" measurement you folks have) so you can compare products? Or is everything given in serving sizes (which can be arbitrarily chosen by the producer)?

The nutritional content label for individual size soft drinks is usually for the whole container. It's not standardized to 100mL.

Re: Industry pushes sugary products, while obfuscating the health hazards

#93
post #27

Sugar, all by itself is bad (awful bad), but when you add "Red 40" to the mix children go into instant hyperactive-overdrive. They start bouncing off the walls and you might as well be feeding them crack cocaine. I spent a total of 24 days watching our grandkids this year and everyone of them was a battle over what they'd eat. I could not get the oldest (11 years old now) to take a single bite of real food during the…

Did you try just giving them the option of eating the food you made or going to bed without any food (and following through)? I've heard that works well for European parents, though it's obviously easier said than done.

Also, just not having any of the stuff with Red 40 or whatever in it in the house can probably help - it certainly helps me eat better.

Re: Industry pushes sugary products, while obfuscating the health hazards

#94
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Starbucks are supposed to be good guys? I thought they were pretty well known as the shop that produces sugary milkshakes with caffeine in them.

I never go there so I don't know their products. But I always had the impression that they are riding on a reputation of being a 'responsible' business compared to for example Coca-Cola. But based on the nutrition label of the Chai I guess Starbucks is really just another sugar water manufacturer.

[deleted]

Re: Industry pushes sugary products, while obfuscating the health hazards

#95
post #85
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's mind boggling how much sugar is in everything I remember traveling to Western Europe a couple of years ago (I live further East) and trying to buy plain yogurt from a supermarket, I mean yogurt which should have tasted as close as possible to the one my peasant grandma used to make. It was close to impossible to find such a product, as even the yogurt labeled as "plain" had a sweetish taste, you could definite…

No, I buy plain unsweetened yogurt in the US several times month without a problem.

I can only find it in huge containers. Sugary yogurt gets sold in small ones but unsweetened only in large ones.

Re: Industry pushes sugary products, while obfuscating the health hazards

#96
post #27

Sugar, all by itself is bad (awful bad), but when you add "Red 40" to the mix children go into instant hyperactive-overdrive. They start bouncing off the walls and you might as well be feeding them crack cocaine. I spent a total of 24 days watching our grandkids this year and everyone of them was a battle over what they'd eat. I could not get the oldest (11 years old now) to take a single bite of real food during the…

Ok, caffeine is not the culprit.

Red 40 has a very easy to see in real life cause and effect. It's possible it doesn't affect all kids, but I've seen it way too many times to deny it.

If you've not actually taken the time to observe it yourself you really are clueless as to cause and effect, and I don't care what the "studies" say.

If you read even the title of this article you'd know why.

Re: Industry pushes sugary products, while obfuscating the health hazards

#97
>Stop Blaming Yourself

I'm not sure if such advice is good. Of course, the industry should start reducing/removing added sugar from products. You can keep eating what you're eating, keep blaming the evil corporations and wait for ages until the industry starts changing.

Or, you know, you can take a bit of responsibility for own eating habits and get noticeably healthier in a matter of weeks. Adapt to the reality where most packaged products are full of sugary stuff and therefore should be avoided as if they are spoiled. Maybe buy less packaged products, and buy more fresh food. Maybe cook sometimes instead of watching TV. Maybe start paying more attention to ingredients and don't buy products which contents is more appropriate for a chemical lab rather than a kitchen. It doesn't take much and it definitely is not "an incredible burden" as the article states. Yes, it's a burden, but far from "incredible".

And no, you don't necessarily have to start going to the gym to become healthier. It would be a nice addition to your new lifestyle, but it's not strictly required.

Re: Industry pushes sugary products, while obfuscating the health hazards

#98
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lots of people don't realize that 1 cup milk has 13g sugar from the lactose. For comparison, a typical sugar packet is 2-4g. (This is why cereal + milk is probably just about the unhealthiest thing possible to start your day). It's a good idea to switch from the sugary/milky Starbucks drinks to anything else - like cold brew, or black coffee where you add trace amounts of sugar/cream yourself, if any.

Not sure I would recommend adult humans drink milk, but 13g is not really that much (depending on your choice of cereal) the USDA suggests males 19-30 could eat up to 82g/day (the WHO is a little more reasonable at 50g for all adults)[1] 1: http://www.foodpyramid.com/daily-sugar-intake/

The USDA is at least complicit in the diet this article criticizes.

Re: Industry pushes sugary products, while obfuscating the health hazards

#99
post #36
post #27

Sugar, all by itself is bad (awful bad), but when you add "Red 40" to the mix children go into instant hyperactive-overdrive. They start bouncing off the walls and you might as well be feeding them crack cocaine. I spent a total of 24 days watching our grandkids this year and everyone of them was a battle over what they'd eat. I could not get the oldest (11 years old now) to take a single bite of real food during the…

That sounds like poor parenting more than anything else. Also, the "sugar -> hyperactive ADHD kids!" thing is a myth.

It is no doubt poor parenting.

And no, sugar does make kids hyperactive. You really only have to spend time with them to know this. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't.

Re: Industry pushes sugary products, while obfuscating the health hazards

#100
post #93
post #27

Sugar, all by itself is bad (awful bad), but when you add "Red 40" to the mix children go into instant hyperactive-overdrive. They start bouncing off the walls and you might as well be feeding them crack cocaine. I spent a total of 24 days watching our grandkids this year and everyone of them was a battle over what they'd eat. I could not get the oldest (11 years old now) to take a single bite of real food during the…

Did you try just giving them the option of eating the food you made or going to bed without any food (and following through)? I've heard that works well for European parents, though it's obviously easier said than done. Also, just not having any of the stuff with Red 40 or whatever in it in the house can probably help - it certainly helps me eat better.

It's really not up to me. I am not their parent.

These kids are my step-grandkids. And while their mother loves me like a father, I'm not really able to step in and make demands. She was 18 when her mother and I got together, so the best I can do there is lean on her, and I have been.

I actually stayed at home and raised my daughter myself, and when I met my current wife she had a daughter that was 6 years old and a son who was still 3 years old. Those two I've been much more involved with. They're in their 30s now but none of them have any kids yet, and I don't expect their kids will go through this sugar addiction

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