Sugar Nation - by Jeff O'connell

[tmm99]

This is not a book report. (Since Al does it so well, I am leaving that part to him...)

Amazon.com: Sugar Nation: The Hidden Truth Behind America's Deadliest Habit and the Simple Way to Beat It (9781401323448): Jeff O'connell: Books

I've found this review which matches some of my opinions about this book.
http://jonnybowdenblog.com/book-review-sugar-nation/

I actually found this book at a local library. (Score!)

 

[Queenie]

thanks for the heads up, will definitely get this at the library when I return state-side.

I have been aware of the low GI (glycemic index) diet for some time. Had awful withdrawals when I cut out sugar completely, drove me half crazy for a few weeks. My basic intention was to avoid insulin resistance and then became converted to the whole idea of Glycemic index and the health benefits of this way of eating. The books and research done by Dr. Jennie Brand-Miller are what made me a convert! It isn't easy to follow in the beginning but as with everything you get used to it. Anyone with Diabetes or family history of, heart problems, Celiac Disease or Gluten intolerance should look into a low GI diet.

This is the website of the glycemic index foundation in Australia, it has the most and best information (I think) if anyone is interested:
The Glycemic Index

Queenie

 

[Leonidas]

The GI idea seemed interesting when I first ran across it, but as time goes on I become more critical of the concept. From what I have read the results are not consistent or reproducible. Something that you can eat with little elevation in glucose levels might make mine skyrocket. And when you start adding in subjects that have insulin sensitivity issues the difference in reactions becomes greatly exaggerated.

 

[Nords]

The GI idea seemed interesting when I first ran across it, but as time goes on I become more critical of the concept. From what I have read the results are not consistent or reproducible. Something that you can eat with little elevation in glucose levels might make mine skyrocket. And when you start adding in subjects that have insulin sensitivity issues the difference in reactions becomes greatly exaggerated.

I agree. However I like knowing when I'm eating sugar.

I'm not surprised to find sugar in a bag of chocolate chips. But I'm mightily annoyed to find it in ketchup, milk, and a host of other places where I didn't expect to be eating it.

 

[braumeister]

Keep things in perspective. Ice cream has a pretty good glycemic index.

 

[HFWR]

I agree. However I like knowing when I'm eating sugar.

I'm not surprised to find sugar in a bag of chocolate chips. But I'm mightily annoyed to find it in ketchup, milk, and a host of other places where I didn't expect to be eating it.

There is definitely sugar in milk - lactose. And sugar, in many products, has been replaced with HFCS...

 

[Leonidas]

I agree. However I like knowing when I'm eating sugar.

I'm not surprised to find sugar in a bag of chocolate chips. But I'm mightily annoyed to find it in ketchup, milk, and a host of other places where I didn't expect to be eating it.

There is definitely sugar in milk - lactose. And sugar, in many products, has been replaced with HFCS...

There is sugar in just about everything. Reading labels at the grocery store reveals sugar in places I would never had previously guessed. But after reducing sugar in my diet I can taste it in a lot of foods where I previously never realized it was present.

The latest craze is "whole grain", and the hype associated is starting to make me think there is some shenanigans happening here. I eat almost no grain of any kind so I'm not fretting over it. But I did notice an advertisement for a children's cereal that touted its whole grain goodness, and when I checked the label in the store I found all the sugary badness that they weren't bothering to mention.

It's funny what happens when you give up the sugar - or at least cut back on foods with all the added sugar. After cleaning up some fresh strawberries the other morning I offered some to the DW. As we each bit into our first berry we made a face, but our reactions were for different reasons. I thought they were almost too sweet, and she said they were sour. When she asked where the sugar was - because girlfriend only eats strawberries with sugar sprinkled on them - she thought I was running a con when I told her the sugar was already inside the berry. When I reminded her of fructose she pondered what people did before sugar was so freely added to everything.

 

[HawkeyeNFO]

What I find interesting in today's food items is the amount of corn derived items, most of which is made cheap by the various corn subsidies that the federal gubmint provides. HFCS is the most prevalent, but not the only item. And the more I learn about all the items made from corn, the less "natural" the typical American's diet seems to me.

 

[Leonidas]

What I find interesting in today's food items is the amount of corn derived items, most of which is made cheap by the various corn subsidies that the federal gubmint provides. HFCS is the most prevalent, but not the only item. And the more I learn about all the items made from corn, the less "natural" the typical American's diet seems to me.

Watch the movie "King Corn" and you will be amazed at the roles that corn plays in our nutrition. I found it on Netflix.

King Corn (film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here's some sugar porn to liven up your day, or, sometimes they don't even try to hide the sugar:

This is food that parents feed their children? Wow.

(Snowballimus? The retired vice cop in me is suspicious of the sexual innuendos in that name.)

 

[Badger]

As a Biologist and Educator I have been warning about the vast amounts of manipulation with our food, both processed and "fresh", for the last 40 years. It has only become worse over time and unfortunately will continue to be so.

I am glad that I had the chance to visit my grandparents when I was a small boy and taste the fruits and vegetables they grew in their 1 acre garden. So many natural flavors unspoiled by chemicals, processing and genetic engineering. The chickens, pigs, and cows they raised were all "free range" (they didn't inject antibiotics and hormones). No one knew any other way.

In addition to all the junk we have been fed by corporate producers is all the junk in their smoke screen marketing that has and continues to be detrimental to our health. In short, unless you stop buying processed food and have access to responsible truck farmers for your produce, eggs, dairy, and meats (or grow your own food) you are going to be consuming more junk and paying for it with your health.

Cheers!

 

[REWahoo]

This is food that parents feed their children? Wow.

(Snowballimus? The retired vice cop in me is suspicious of the sexual innuendos in that name.)

"Kinky Twinkies"

 

[haha]

(Snowballimus? The retired vice cop in me is suspicious of the sexual innuendos in that name.)

Snowballing is a crime? Who knew!?

Ha

 

[FinanceDude]

(Snowballimus? The retired vice cop in me is suspicious of the sexual innuendos in that name.)

I believe the Webster's description of "snowballimus" refers to the chance you will be able to hold onto your marriage if your spouse catches you in a compromising position in bed with someone other than them. So, the sexual innuendo is definitely applied!

 

[Leonidas]

Snowballing is a crime?

It used to be illegal, but in these enlightened times it's only illegal if you do it in a public place.

 

[travelover]

As a teenage boy, I thought those snowballs were erotic.

 

[Nemo2]

As a teenage boy, I thought those snowballs were erotic.

When one is a teenage boy, one thinks everything is erotic.

 

[Bestwifeever]

When one is a teenage boy, one thinks everything is erotic.

From some of the posts on this thread and elsewhere on these boards, it's also true that many ERs also find everything erotic

 

[travelover]

When one is a teenage boy, one thinks everything is erotic.

OK, I admit it. I still think they are erotic.

 

[haha]

I wonder if it is still permissible to post about Sugar Nation? No, not that kind of sugar, you naughties!

I bought the book for my Kindle, the library waiting list was already longer than I wanted to wait. IMO, a very good book, if kind of dense. Plenty of references given in endnotes.

It is more a book about diabetes and prediabetes than diet or weight loss per se, which is a why I bought it. Jeff is like me, a thin pre-diabetic. Apparently 20% of outright diabetics are thin, even a larger % of prediabetics. There is a lot of history and politics and drug company information, which may not be interesting to everyone.

Jeff has seen diabetes at its terrible worst- his Dad, who is also a thin diabetic lost his leg to gangrene. He really does not want this to happen to him. (Nor would any sane person) I am reminded of yesterday's thread about stupid people. To be facing this disease and not take it very seriously, at whatever stage, is like reading about lung cancer and cigarettes and lighting up. There just has to be a better way.

I read from the start to about halfway through Chapter 11, which is where he deals with exercise. He was for some years a contributing editor to a major muscle mag (can't remember which one), and currently is a contributing editor to Men's Health which has always impressed me as being pretty much on the money for a popular magazine. Citing various researchers he comes down in favor of High Intensity Interval Training, as well as superset weight training- 3 days of each, max of 40' /day.

I just read series of studies coming out of Duke that come down strongly in favor of volume rather than intensity. So as usual, there is nothing clear about this.

I plan to do both. A minimum of 300 cals daily on my C2, and on 3 of those days some intervals. I do intervals hard, but don't puke.

We'll see what happens. No new A1C, and no clear results from my meter, but low carb had that pretty level anyway. I am losing weight, about 4# since I got my C2.

Weight loss was not a goal, but I am pleased by it.

Ha

 

[SJ1_]

I agree. However I like knowing when I'm eating sugar.

I'm not surprised to find sugar in a bag of chocolate chips. But I'm mightily annoyed to find it in ketchup, milk, and a host of other places where I didn't expect to be eating it.

I had no clue they put it in coleslaw.

I actually went in a restaurant where they did not have one side dish that did not have "tons of sugar" in it.

 

[Leonidas]

I wonder if it is still permissible to post about Sugar Nation? No, not that kind of sugar, you naughties!

A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Actually, I like your review of this book better than the one linked to by the OP. Or, at least it makes me want to read the book now.

To be facing this disease and not take it very seriously, at whatever stage, is like reading about lung cancer and cigarettes and lighting up. There just has to be a better way.

One would think so, but I think there are a lot of people who just want to go on whatever medication their doctor is offering and go on living eating the same stuff and not increasing (or initiating) their exercise program. Given the potential side effects in any medication I would much rather exercise than pop a pill.

There's a quote I ran across somewhere, attributed to some unknown Stanford doc that helps clarify it in my mind: "Sweat is the best cardiovascular agent known to man."

 

[tmm99]

I wonder if it is still permissible to post about Sugar Nation? No, not that kind of sugar, you naughties!

Thank you for the great review, haha! I am one of those people who is thin, but have to watch the carb intake (I would never do a glucose tolerance test because I already know the answer.) so I read this book with interest. You probably haven't gotten to it yet, but he talks about Glucomannan midway in the book. Glucomannan is what those "Shirataki" noodles (konjac powder) are made from. I may even start another thread just for that.

Anyway, I am not gonna give it all away, but he talks about his echocardiogram experience after having been on low carb/high fat/exercise for like 6 years at the end part of the book. I'd just say the result is encouraging.

 

[harley]

I had no clue they put it in coleslaw.

I actually went in a restaurant where they did not have one side dish that did not have "tons of sugar" in it.

Lots of sugar in coleslaw. I love it, but haven't been able to eat since the big D. I've tried making it myself without sweetener, and it's pretty nasty. Well, not really nasty, but just sort of a cabbage carrot mayo vinegar salad. Not the same thing at all. Maybe I'll try it again with Splenda, see how that works out.

The one that really teed me off was when I found out that Vitamin Water has 33 grams of sugar per bottle. I started drinking it (years ago) after workouts for the vitamins and such. I knew it was sweetened, since I could taste it. But 33 grams of sugar?

 

[tmm99]

Lots of sugar in coleslaw. I love it, but haven't been able to eat since the big D. I've tried making it myself without sweetener, and it's pretty nasty. Well, not really nasty, but just sort of a cabbage carrot mayo vinegar salad. Not the same thing at all. Maybe I'll try it again with Splenda, see how that works out.

Have you ever tried Xylitol? I have Xylitol made from 100% birch tree (Ultimate Sweetner). Xylitol is often used in toothpaste and healthfood store chewing gums. It has no aftertaste that I can detect (I barely tolerate taste of Splenda.) and it is considered diabetic safe with very very low glycemic value, although it does have some carb value, plus it doesn't have the punch in its sweetness than real sugar.

If coleslow with Splenda doesn't taste very good, you may want to try Xylitol. I believe there are xylitol based imitation honey on the market also (assuming you used to make your coleslow with honey instead of sugar...)

I use honey in my coleslow, sweet wine in some dishes, and I don't worry too much about small amount of sugar in condiments, etc, but when something calls for a small amount of sugar when I am cooking, I use Xylitol, or half xylitol and half sugar (I am not diabetic, but I don't do well at all with any fast acting carbs.)

 

[Leonidas]

The one that really teed me off was when I found out that Vitamin Water has 33 grams of sugar per bottle. I started drinking it (years ago) after workouts for the vitamins and such.

You fell for the ole "Package some crap and call it something healthy trick".

I knew it was sweetened, since I could taste it. But 33 grams of sugar?

Go check out the labels on the "healthy" energy bars - I spent 20 minutes one day reading the labels on every one they had and realized they should change the name to, "candy bar".

My youngest spent the summer before college working in his uncle's pool service business. Someone decided he looked tired and needed a pick-me-up of something that alleged to be a b-12 energy drink. He tried one and was amazed at the burst of energy he got....from 34 grams of sugar.