Live data from Hacker News

John Yudkin: the man who tried to warn us about sugar

smh.com.au

101–110 of 248 posts

Re: John Yudkin: the man who tried to warn us about sugar

#101
post #16
post #8

It's not as simple as "sugar is poison". Some form of "sugar" is in virtually everything we eat. It is unavoidable. Just stick to the rule of "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants" and quit screaming about sugar.

Interestingly enough, the very source of that quote goes on to make a bright-line distinction between food and food products , which, not coincidentally, are chief on the "sugar is poison" crowd's "avoid" list.

I don't agree with most of what Michael Pollan suggests. To me there is no distinction between food and food products. I just think the quote is a good general guideline.

Re: John Yudkin: the man who tried to warn us about sugar

#102
post #72
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think the idea that junk food is bad for you is surprising to anyone, even if Lustig paints it as a revelation. Have you tried 500 calories worth of apples? The closer people move to actual food and sanity, the further I feel we'll move away from obesity. Rehashed sensationalism helps few other than diet gurus and their brand.

I don't see why this is downvoted. Actually 500 calories worth of apples will keep you satisfied at least an hour. And try to eat a thousand, I bet you can't. I believe that low fat, high carb diet is much more sustainable, but one have to try it to see how it works. All that sugar blaming is just a fad and it will pass on, the main problem with sugar is that is almost always accompanied with tons of fat, you would n…

Perhaps, but it seems to me at this point in time most every variety of special diet has been tried, and I've never heard of a low fat high carb being effective, whereas there are MANY thousands of people that rave about the amazing effectiveness of a low carb high fat/protein diet.

If you have evidence to the contrary, preferably including a forum of people who have had success, but even just the common name of such a diet, I'd be quite interested to read about it.

> Take raw potato with From anything I've read, the answer is yes, the carbs are the technical problem, but another at least as important factor is: french fries are delicious, so you'll eat 3 times as many.

Re: John Yudkin: the man who tried to warn us about sugar

#103
post #93
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think that is a fair comparison, can you drink fried bacon? Why would you compare liquid juice with hard meal? It is much easier to digest juice, why not just take a kilo of apples (520 calories)?

because fiber. Okay, how about half a cup of heavy cream instead of bacon. I guarantee you won't feel hungry 15-20 minutes late.

All this is fun for experimenting, but none of it proves that we need to remove sugar from our diets. Food is complex and shouldn't be reduced to macronutrients. Maybe the protein in the bacon or the nitrites challenging your bowels contribute to your satiety too.

If Lustig's views stop people from pounding soda all the way to the diabetician's office, then great, but if they start putting you off of fruit and vegetables then I think it becomes highly questionable.

Re: John Yudkin: the man who tried to warn us about sugar

#104
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was never argued that 12 cans of Coke a day is healthy. It was simply argued that body weight gain/loss is governed by calories in vs calories out. These are two entirely separate statements.

Not all calories are absorbed. Also, I think it's safe to say that minerals and vitamins can contribute to structural/weight changes. Even water can.

Water can certainly affect weight, but only temporarily. You will not get fat drinking water.

Re: John Yudkin: the man who tried to warn us about sugar

#108
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can confirm that from my own experience. I lost 20kg in 6 months. Yes I restricted my calorie intake. But how I did that? By controlling my appetite with avoiding carbs especially sugar. Ketogenic diet is powerful tool for restricting calorie intake.

Concur. I didn't restrict my calorie intake, and lost 40lbs eating 65% fat, 30% protein and 5% carb. As soon as I add in sugar or other carbohydrates in any capacity, I gain weight and eat much more. On a ketogenic diet I rarely even think about food - I am rarely hungry.

> I didn't restrict my calorie intake

>On a ketogenic diet I rarely even think about food - I am rarely hungry.

You probably did lower your caloric intake. The trick is that you did it in a way that it did not bother you. In other words, you ate a healthy diet.

Re: John Yudkin: the man who tried to warn us about sugar

#109
post #98
post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The willing ignorance of East Asia is part of it, but it's more that a lot of the keto diets I've seen draw people in with tirades against refined sugar and starch, yet it ends up with the dieters counting the carbs in their lettuce to maintain their ketosis. How do we get from Coca-Cola being evil to ketosis being necessary? It's a false dichotomy and as crazy to me as 0% fat yoghurt, but people only seem to respond…

I've never heard of anyone following keto counting carbs in their lettuce. I think the only thing extreme here is your characterization.

Fair point. Replace lettuce with nuts, sweet potatoes, milk, lentils etc. None of them in any quantity are a logical extension of refined sugar.
Post reply on HN