I went through a phase where I thought sugar was the devil. It is, and it isn't. It
can be addicting & cause chaos in people's bodies, especially those who are carb-sensitive, but it's also fine in moderation, which is something that took me awhile to personally accept, because I didn't understand how the digestive process really worked. The real problem is that it's an individual responsibility thing, which is an issue because we, as a society, face two problems:
1. People don't understand
how macros work
2. Processed, packaged, and prepared foods typically have an extremely high carb count
Then, combine the two:
* You aren't aware of macros at
all (I certainly wasn't, for many many years)
* You intake huge amounts of carbs on a consistent basis (without really realizing it, and without caring, because most people aren't educated on macros & thus have no personal goals & no plan of any kind for managing their health through food intake)
* Suddenly 50% of America is pre-diabetic or Type II diabetic
To make a simple comparison, a 12-ounce Sprite has 38 grams of carbs, whereas as a McDonalds Big Mac has 46 grams of carbs. Yup, a fast-food burger has more sugar than a soda pop! Now let's combine that Big mac with a large Sprite & a large French fry to make it a meal at lunch time. So now you're looking at 181 grams of carbs just for your mid-day meal:
View attachment 12873
Which is fine...IF it fits your macros for the day. But we have carbs for breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Most people don't track or monitor their carb intake, and most people don't even know what macros are & how they control your bodyweight. So, is sugar itself the problem? Well, yes and no. Companies know that carb-rich products sell well, and consumers enjoy eating & drinking them. Ultimately, it's up to each individual consumer to make their own personal choices about what they put into their bodies.
Skittles isn't going to stop making Skittles just because they're made of pure sugar, because that's the whole point of eating them - they're a yummy treat! If you enjoy them in a responsible manner, then it's a non-issue. A company can't dictate what your personal macronutrient intake should be each day - it's up to the consumer to take personal responsibility for their diet & health. The government already mandates that they print the macros on all packaged products, as well as mass-produced fast-food products like Burger King & McDonalds. Restaurant & fair food & food cart & food truck food is a little more tricky because they're not as consistent, which makes accurate labeling difficult.
It's a tricky question because it's kind of like smoking: plenty of people smoke cigarettes, despite knowing how bad they are for your lungs & your body, and even being warned about the dangers, right on the packaging, over the years. The question then becomes, how much do you want to control people, versus let them make their own choices? Alcohol & cigarettes are legal, even though we know the consequences. Sugar is arguably worse in a lot of ways, because of the myriad of problems that comes with excess intake over time, stuff that can really wreck your health long-term, and is also known to be an addictive substance. Where do you draw the line between providing labeling on packaging & letting consumers manage their own health?
@Mai72 - you may enjoy reading this book:
Buy Potatoes Not Prozac: A Natural Seven-Step Plan to: Control Your Craving: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
It talks a lot about the psychological effects of sugar & the cycles that people go through with it, definitely worth a read if you're interested in the topic of sugar!
