THE NUTRITION REPORT
A REVIEW OF THE HEADLINES
STJNMC
ARE WE SICKENING OURSELVES WITH SUGAR?
The Real Scoop on Sugar
By Sharon Palmer, RD
Today’s Dietitian October 2012,Vol. 14 No. 10 P. 28
According to the 1964 Walt Disney musical Mary Poppins, just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. But while sugar may help the medicine go down, you don’t hear anyone singing these praises anymore. Instead, many Americans and those in the healthcare community claim “Sugar is toxic.” “Sugar causes obesity.” “Sugar makes you fat.”Sugar consumption in the US is so alarmingly high, that our children, who all too often have unrestricted acess to soft drinks, are developing type-2 diabetes at much younger ages than previously seen. Sharing Palmer writes well about the extent to which our sugar consumption is making us a sickly nation. She writes: "
For decades, both consumers and health experts have been pondering the potential negative health effects related to sugar consumption. The classic 1986 book Sugar Blues by William Dufty exploded onto the sugar-busting scene. People were shocked to read they were consuming, on average, 100 lbs of sugar per year.
Fast forward to today, when Americans are consuming even more of the sweet stuff. According to the USDA, per capita consumption of caloric sweeteners, mainly sucrose and corn sugars, increased 39% between the 1950s and 2000 to an average of 152 lbs per year.1 People are now eating an average of about 30 tsp of sugar per day, which contributes a whopping 476 kcal per day.2 And along with the rise in sugar intake has come a growing sense of dread among the public over the potential health fallout. Findings from the International Food Information Council Foundation 2012 Food & Health Survey revealed consumers’ attitudes about sugar and health."
CARBOHYDRATE CONTROVERSIES
MORE CARBOHYRATE STORIES
BUSTING THE TOP 10 CARB MYTHS
Busting the Top 10 Carb Myths
By Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN, CD
Today's Dietitian April 2016 Vol. 18 No. 4 P. 30
CARBOHYDRATES have been vilified dating back to the Atkin's Diet Revolution of the 1970s. Since that many weight loss strategies have focused at greatly diminishing carbohydrate intakes to facilitate more rapid weight loss. On the short term it's an approach that works, as the low crbohydrate intake favors diuresis or loss of water. But the main problem that many don't really speak about is that carbohydrates are the only sources of dietary fiber. Once it becomes popular for a culture to cut carbohydrates, then the incidence of gastrointestinal disease begin to rise. Carrie Dennett, in her April 2016 article writes: "Now, carbohydrates seem to be nutrition public enemy No. 1. From the Atkins diet and the South Beach Diet toGrain Brain and Wheat Belly, carbs are getting a bad rap. And while some carbs, such as fruits and vegetables, get a thumbs up from Paleo proponents, grains, dairy, and legumes are considered a no-no. Is this fear of carbs really warranted? According to nutrition research, the answer is a qualified no—the devil is in the details." READ MORE
Groceries in Wicker Basket ©: monticello/Shutterstock.com
The metabolic effects of low-carbohydrate diets and incorporation into a biochemistry course
Authors: Wendy Pogozelski, Nicholas Arpaia, Salvatore Priore
Published: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education 2005; 33(2): 91-100
Obesity is a growing problem throughout much of the world. The 12th European Congress on Obesity reported that 37% of American children, 20% of European children, and 10% of Chinese children are overweight [2]. Obesity is even increasing in parts of the developing world. As a result, weight loss methods are widespread and are part of popular culture. A recent study found that 44% of adult American women and 29% of American men are dieting at a given time [3]. In recent years, one of the most dominant and yet controversial dieting trends has involved plans that restrict carbohydrate intake. Read More