Sugar. Is addiction real?

[vash]

We just had a safety meeting. The host brought a virtual cornucopia of baked goods. Pecan morning buns as big as a face. Someone chopped one up, and I grab a tiny piece.

$/;((!)&?!!! It was good!! I’ve done my best to cut as much sugar from my diet. Wasn’t easy. That tiny taste was explosively good. Almost shocking.

I backed away.

People talk about sugar addiction. Never thought much about it. Legit?

[speeder]

It's 100% real. I had to read a book called, "Sugar Blues" back in HS in the '70s about a guy who quit eating sugar and his health improved dramatically. It had two photos of him on the back cover...one was a pasty looking young guy with birth control glasses and greasy hair and the other was this handsome older guy with a sun tan, straight white teeth, etc. I thought that was pretty hilarious.

I believed every word of it the way he laid out his case against sugar but I didn't get the message, here I sit 50 years later still eating too much sugar. They put it in everything plus I've been a lifelong addict. Just try to minimize it, I guess and understand blood sugar and how it works.

[masraum]

I'd say so, as much as coffee or many other things. I think some amount of addition is down to personal biology/biochemistry and maybe personality (that I believe is governed by the bio-stuff).

If you have ever seen/known various types of addicts, they often have multiple additions. Or if folks manage to kick one addition, it often gets replaced with another.

And it's my understanding that specific to sugar, there are genetic markers that make some folks more likely to like sweet flavors while other folks prefer savory.

I often joke that I don't have "a sweet tooth" because I have "sweet teeth, all of them".

[cantdrv55]

You’ve seen me. Yes it’s real.

[Bill Douglas]

I've had a sugar addiction most of my adult life. A while ago I went cold turkey on it and spent three years with no sugar.

Umm, now I'm doing sneaky sugar things like going out for dinner and "No dessert for me, thanks." then getting home and secretly ripping into something very sugary.

Edit: When I stopped eating/drinking sugar I lost about 7kg in three weeks.

[Tobra]

sugar and salt

[onewhippedpuppy]

Sugar addition, is that a common core thing?

[KFC911]

sugar x sugar x sugar x sugar = sugar cube

Really?

Maf is hard enough already ...

[oldE]

You know it all adds up.

[Bill Douglas]

S²

[A930Rocket]

Yeah, I’m a weak man, who can’t resist sweet things. It hard to not buy cookies, ice cream, etc., when shopping, but if I did, I’d eat them all quickly.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Tobra

sugar and salt

+1 It can definitely be one or the other, though.

As to addiction, I'm way more the carbs guy and my brother the salt guy.

I went on the Atkins diet (seriously on it) and people at work asked me if I was taking medecine because I was so chill.

Brother can vaporize a bag of chips in no time. My sodium numbers have always been boringly normal though a fat boy.

[herr_oberst]

Got the monkey on my back, Sugar and carbs. I eat 'em like I'm a teenager.
I'm incredibly jealous of people who crave good, fresh healthy food. I know you're out there. One of my best friends is one of you.

I made this banana bread yesterday; there are zero expectations that it will last the weekend.

[billybek]

Coffee+Sugar=Sweet Coffee
It all adds up.

Going to eat my frosted mini wheats now but my coffee is black, no sugar...

[flatbutt]

Avoiding sugar requires a lot of discipline. I constantly read labels. We have cold drinks in the squad kitchen, and it is stunning to read that a bottle of Arizona iced tea has more than 30 grams of sugar. 30!!

[Paul T]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Avoiding sugar requires a lot of discipline. I constantly read labels. We have cold drinks in the squad kitchen, and it is stunning to read that a bottle of Arizona iced tea has more than 30 grams of sugar. 30!!

Yup. I pretty much drink only water these days (well, and beer!). I avoid all soda, juices, teas, energy drinks, etc. Other than alcohol, black coffee and water makes up 99% of my liquid consumption. Sugar is a ***** to get out of your diet, but once you do everything is better.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Type 1 diabetic here. Avoiding added sugar is my main job. I really miss a good scone in the morning.

[vash]

sorry for the autocorrect in the title. the universe wanted me to type it like that.


my wife is addicted to sugar big time. it isn't a good thing. the doctor already admonished her, and explained where it is headed.

I had the same conversation a long time ago, and I took a class through my hospital about it. some class for pre-diabetes. it didnt fully sink in then, but it has now. I am nowhere near the danger zone. I have accepted I will eat cake twice a year. no 3x. my birthday, her birthday , and a floater cake holiday. and a couple of big bites will do it.

that sticky bun almost got a grip on me. hahahha..

my friend has a daughter that he said never ever drinks soda. didnt have one until recently and she is 17. talk about a foundation to build off of!!

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by vash

People talk about sugar addiction. Never thought much about it. Legit?

I think it is a real thing.

I call it the carb rollercoaster, and it is a terrible lifestyle.

https://www.pacehospital.com/roller-coaster-effect-in-diabetes


Wheat flour is the common carrier for sugar in processed foods.

If you go on a low gluten diet, you are in essence going on a low sugar diet.

One thing you will find when going gluten free is you will not get crazy hungry like a drug addict needing a fix. You will simply slow down like a child's toy with a drained battery. Hunger pains will be replaced with fatigue, and tiredness will be the signal to eat. Best to avoid draining down too far, and eat something light every three hours or so.

If you are working out vigorously you need about twice as much protein. Natural unprocessed protein stays in your bloodstream only 3-4 hours. Fast acting and processed protein powders even a much shorter time.

I would not go big on gluten free breads, treats or beer. The main advantage of going low gluten is going low carb, and substituting one carb for another is a lateral change costing you twice as much.

Things would be much easier if our government didn't subsidize all the wrong foods for our health.

November 3, 2021
PRIMER: Agriculture Subsidies and Their Influence on the Composition of U.S. Food Supply and Consumption
Tara O'Neill Hayes, Katerina Kerska
https://www.americanactionforum.org/research/primer-agriculture-subsidies-and-their-influence-on-the-composition-of-u-s-food-supply-and-consumption/

Executive Summary

The federal government has long subsidized America’s farmers, significantly affecting our food supply and what we eat.

The most highly subsidized crops—corn, soy, wheat, and rice—are the most abundantly produced and most consumed, often in the form of ultra-processed foods.

Sugar is also highly subsidized in the form of indirect price supports that benefit producers and drive-up prices, yet sugar is also widely overconsumed.

Fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, receive relatively little subsidization—and Americans eat much less produce than recommended.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Avoiding sugar requires a lot of discipline. I constantly read labels. We have cold drinks in the squad kitchen, and it is stunning to read that a bottle of Arizona iced tea has more than 30 grams of sugar. 30!!

I used to drink A LOT of sodas. Many, many years ago now, I went cold turkey. Now I drink unsweetened seltzer water. I mostly drink flavored these days, but I'm also happy with unflavored.