[–] thin_privilege 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Yeah that's probably right, the contents don't have sugar in them but they add sugar since people want sweet food.
Sugar is not addictive though. People do like sugar, just like most mammals like sugar, since it provides energy. Something we needed a long time ago running from mammoths and huge tigers. Alcohol addiction is completely different and I don't get why people always compare eating too goddamn much with substance addiction.
[–] PleaseDontEatMe ago
Sugar is actually a drug, for all intents and purposes. It has no nutritional value, and really is just empty calories. The body doesn't need it for energy as we can function perfectly well (even better as well), on a diet rich with good fats. (On an interesting note, cancer cells need sugar to survive, and cannot metabolise fats like healthy cells in our body can). Lastly, it has an effect on the body, think 'sugar high' or 'sugar rush'. Sugar is more addictive than cocaine - a study done with rats showed that when given the choice, even if rats are addicted to cocaine, they will still choose sugar over cocaine. That is why sugar is compared to 'substance addiction', because it most definitely is a substance that uses the same pathways as substances that people are known to become addicted to, that is, the dopamine pathways (or in other words the body's internal reward system). As to whether it has a physiological factor, and not just a psychological factor when it comes to addiction, I'm not sure on that one. But sugar addiction is most definitely a real thing, and it's why it is used in so many foods to get people hooked and coming back for more ^.^ Hope that explains a bit about the addicting part of sugar. If you're interested, you should look into it yourself. Plenty of good reading out there, just be aware of the sources! :D
[–] JelDeRebel 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
and hfcs, the cornerstone of american food, is even worse than sugar
High-fructose corn syrup causes characteristics of obesity in rats: increased body weight, body fat and triglyceride levels https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3522469/
[–] PleaseDontEatMe ago
HFCS is a very refined form of sugar that comes from corn, and it is indeed a lot worse for you then sugar refined from cane or beets. Basically because of the 'high fructose' part. Sugar is usually fairly evenly divided into 'fructose' and 'glucose', and the body metabolises the different parts of sugar differently. I can't remember the specifics, only that I think if I remember correctly, fructose requires high amounts of fibre to be properly metabolised, otherwise it puts stress on the liver as it is quite toxic and needs to be gotten rid of, hence why 25% of Americans are suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease which leads to cirrhosis (like in alcoholics), and liver cancer. Fructose is what constitutes most of the sugar in fruits, however when you eat fresh fruit, you're also getting the fibre you need from the fruit to metabolise the fructose. If you are eating straight HFCS in food without the fibre, then that's when you have a problem. More or less, the more refined that sugar is, the worse it's going to be for you.
Since I'm Australian, HFCS isn't as commonly used here as in the states. We rely mostly on cane sugar because that's what grows here and is the cheapest to produce in Australia. But certainly I see it on labels from overseas products here. In that way, I suppose I'm getting the lesser of two evils XD
[–] LordoftheBeetus 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
The only thing that makes you get fat is too many calories. If you eat a reasonable amount of calories and a fairly varied diet, it is unlikely that you are eating enough sugar to make much of a difference. The issue comes when you eat a diet that is mostly carbs which break down into sugar or, as with 99.99999% of people, you eat too damn much of it. Get in your daily vegetables and protein and you can't possible go over the sugar limit because you won't have the calories left to do it.
Basically it comes down to taking fucking responsibility for yourself and what you put in your body. No one forced you to eat shitty food, you decide to do it. You have no one to blame but yourself if it makes you unhealthy.
[–] PleaseDontEatMe ago
Agreed that too many calories is certainly the cause of becoming fat (though I will say that calories are processed differently based on the individual microbiome, but that just means some people need to eat less. Too many calories is always the issue). I 100% agree that a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of protein and veggies is the best way to circumvent having too much sugar. Making stuff from scratch is certainly delicious. I also 100% agree that people need to take responsibility for their diets. Fats will say "I'm not lazy" but never cook because 'they don't have time', when they have enough time to bitch on social media about people calling them fat. If they spent the time and energy they waste on eating too much and calling people mean on the internet, instead using their time better to cook proper meals and eat less shit food, then they wouldn't be fat and wouldn't be calling people mean on the internet for calling them fat.