General Discussion

Silent3

(15,909 posts)

175. BS. Sugar is not toxic.

Fri Mar 1, 2013, 08:35 PM

Mar 2013

That article, however, is a good example of bad science reporting.

The actual study in question says nothing at all about sugar being "toxic", despite the exaggerated, melodramatic second-hand rewording of the study by author Mark Bittman.

The study shows that an excess of sugar in the diet corresponds to an increased risk of diabetes. The study also show how the increased risk of diabetes is specific to sugar since weight gained in a low-sugar diet doesn't carry the same diabetic risk.

Isn't that bad enough? Isn't that enough to warn people to pay attention to the sugar content in their diet, without the hyperbole?

This is how obnoxious memes get started and propagated. The first line of the article will be what people remember and repeat like a mantra. The more reasoned and moderate corrections in the comments that follow the article will have minimal impact.

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All of you who criticized Bloomberg over the Soda ban ... consider this [View all] srican69 Feb 2013 OP

I did consider all that... and rejected it as woefully insufficient cthulu2016 Feb 2013 #1

The history of soda? randome Feb 2013 #8

Such a stark, yet true visualization of where this leads.... DeSwiss Feb 2013 #9

cthulu! you just made my day with your word pictures! People grown in vats and chariots in CTyankee Mar 2013 #140

Sugar is toxic and needs to be regulated? darkangel218 Feb 2013 #2

Which part of it do you find funny? srican69 Feb 2013 #4

The part where you think sugar needs or can be regulated. Obviously. nt darkangel218 Feb 2013 #12

I know right? Puzzledtraveller Feb 2013 #74

So does oil, we waste too much...You should only be allowed to buy 10 quarts a year snooper2 Feb 2013 #19

Your body requires sugar to function Major Nikon Mar 2013 #149

And of course the only way to get it is with huge vats of soda mainer Mar 2013 #164

Which has pretty much squat to do with whether sugar is "toxic" or not Major Nikon Mar 2013 #165

people are generally too stupid so they do need rules and regs. Whisp Feb 2013 #3

"people are generally too stupid so they do need rules and regs." green for victory Feb 2013 #14

so you like de-regulation? How did that wall street de-reg work out? Whisp Feb 2013 #23

Its not that simple roxy1234 Feb 2013 #33

what do you do with soda in the bedroom? Whisp Feb 2013 #43

Completely different situation. white_wolf Feb 2013 #67

'deregulation'? wtf? when was this previous time when individuals weren't allowed to buy big HiPointDem Feb 2013 #107

+1. what a great demonstration of democratic values. "people are too stupid to buy their own HiPointDem Feb 2013 #106

do you think corporations have too much influence on us? Whisp Feb 2013 #110

gad. you're really trying to make the case that this is some kind of revolutionary blow HiPointDem Feb 2013 #111

That's completely backwards - massive corporate profits are driven by sugar consumption bhikkhu Mar 2013 #173

The fact that super-size sodas EXIST is proof of the point. MH1 Mar 2013 #174

Consuming ANYTHING in massive quantities is stupid johnlucas Mar 2013 #176

Spoken like a true Republican SpartanDem Feb 2013 #15

lol. okay Whisp Feb 2013 #22

I believe is making sure consumers are informed. SpartanDem Feb 2013 #28

I think you missed something important... Whisp Feb 2013 #44

When a substance becomes a public health issue, it is in the interest of society Luminous Animal Feb 2013 #37

The vast majority of sexual assaults and domestic violence involve alcohol Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2013 #70

Hold on a sec... Luminous Animal Feb 2013 #77

So in other words, it may not cause abuse but it does facilitate it. Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2013 #79

No, it doesn't facilitate it. It just provides a handy excuse. Luminous Animal Feb 2013 #85

Um -- Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2013 #92

Again. Using alcohol does not make it easier to abuse. Luminous Animal Feb 2013 #99

let me get this straight. you want to regulate sugar, but not alcohol or cars? HiPointDem Feb 2013 #109

Yes, and tobacco Brainstormy Mar 2013 #146

Unfortunately I see the "we know what's better for you" mentality on both sides Puzzledtraveller Feb 2013 #75

"people are generally too stupid so they do need rules and regs" Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2013 #32

overdosing on sugar is bad for you Whisp Feb 2013 #41

Overdosing on anything is bad for you, hence the term "overdosing" Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2013 #45

there is something really curious Whisp Feb 2013 #47

Is it as odd as Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2013 #52

Overdosing? So what's the LD50 for sugar? jeff47 Feb 2013 #46

thanks for pointing that out. Whisp Feb 2013 #49

I meant to say 'over doing' it but Whisp Feb 2013 #51

Ok, let's assume you manage to consume 0 sugar. jeff47 Feb 2013 #54

did I say 0 sugar? Whisp Feb 2013 #57

So....are you unable to read more than one paragraph? (nt) jeff47 Feb 2013 #65

actually no, it's a condition from not drinking enough poison from Corporate fucks PepsiCo. n/t Whisp Feb 2013 #76

Ah, too bad. 'Cause paragraph #3 addressed the point you were trying to make. (nt) jeff47 Feb 2013 #78

The body can make it's own glucose madville Mar 2013 #159

Uh....no. jeff47 Mar 2013 #167

Uh....yes. It's called Gluconeogenesis madville Mar 2013 #172

Your posts here have been enlightening Union Scribe Mar 2013 #171

"pushing stuff on the public" -- because they're too dumb to resist... green for victory Feb 2013 #80

for sure. legal prescription drugs = one of the biggest killers in the US. deaths growing by HiPointDem Feb 2013 #108

Presumptuous 1 percenters dictating to us is worse. N/T beevul Mar 2013 #113

You do know that alcohol and cigarettes are still sold, right? WinkyDink Mar 2013 #129

You do know that soda is still sold, too? mainer Mar 2013 #170

In this case it is their freedom to be stupid. white_wolf Feb 2013 #66

health costs related to obesity is harming everyone, in one way or another. Whisp Feb 2013 #81

And here I thought we were the party of choice Bonduel Feb 2013 #72

It's not so much that people are stupid, baldguy Mar 2013 #137

I'm sure the soda industry is well invested in this outrage of loss of human rights. n/t Whisp Mar 2013 #143

Sugar no different than tobacco? Rex Feb 2013 #5

Sugar is really really bad. HFCS is even worse. Kalidurga Feb 2013 #6

The Cato Institute?! KamaAina Feb 2013 #35

Of course its toxic but... bunnies Feb 2013 #7

Not everyone who consumes enormous quantities of soda is an adult. randome Feb 2013 #10

True. I should have quantified my statement. bunnies Feb 2013 #11

No. Because a 'small' soda is 16 oz. LiberalAndProud Feb 2013 #25

'Small' was 8 ounces when I served it. randome Feb 2013 #63

Not everyone who OwnedByCats Mar 2013 #117

No one said that. No one is trying to prevent you or anyone else from drinking soda. randome Mar 2013 #132

It's like I've been OwnedByCats Mar 2013 #141

Eat more chick peeps... TeeYiYi Feb 2013 #21

Yeah he and Carrie Nation are on right side history SpartanDem Feb 2013 #13

agreed jollyreaper2112 Feb 2013 #16

Uh, your brain runs on glucose. In other words, sugar. Zoeisright Feb 2013 #17

watch this in your spare time ... and get back to me srican69 Feb 2013 #18

Your video doesn't change the fact that your brain only eats glucose. jeff47 Feb 2013 #50

glucose aint the problem .. its fructose. srican69 Feb 2013 #58

Ah, so are you one of the people who thinks HFCS is 100% fructose? jeff47 Feb 2013 #62

where did I imply that? please point it to me ... HFCS is about 60% fructose .. the cane sugar is srican69 Feb 2013 #64

There's several blends available jeff47 Feb 2013 #68

IKR? Rex Feb 2013 #24

The most amusing thing about salt is when they finally studied it jeff47 Feb 2013 #60

Yep, if you want to abstain from sugar, you pretty much have to starve to death. alp227 Mar 2013 #178

Let me know when he's ready to ban homelessness, hunger, Autumn Feb 2013 #20

He already did ban homelessness KamaAina Feb 2013 #36

Gosh I guess the Krebs cycle and glycolysis where ATP comes from glucose must be toxic still_one Feb 2013 #26

Except there isn't sugar in most sodas anymore SoCalNative Feb 2013 #27

You win!!!!!! Autumn Feb 2013 #38

Mountain Dew Throwback is sweetened with real sugar. white_wolf Feb 2013 #69

Yes, we NEEEED the government to run our lives for us! B2G Feb 2013 #29

Yes!! My question is this. Puzzledtraveller Mar 2013 #142

I know, right? B2G Mar 2013 #147

I do not want anyone protecting me from myself. Buzz Clik Feb 2013 #30

So.... water is toxic in sufficient quantities! whistler162 Feb 2013 #31

The last time I checked Hyper-Hydration wasn't a national epidemic srican69 Feb 2013 #34

No, it isn't. jeff47 Feb 2013 #48

Fructose gets metabolized in the liver and produces some stuff that interferes with the pathways srican69 Feb 2013 #56

No. jeff47 Feb 2013 #73

but fruit as the video above points out - comes with fibre - srican69 Feb 2013 #83

Switching magic bullets doesn't suddenly make it work. jeff47 Feb 2013 #86

Because regulating what we put in our bodies has worked so well! Peter cotton Feb 2013 #39

Bottom line is we are at odds all the way to form of government. Forget role and scope. TheKentuckian Feb 2013 #40

Fuck him... Everyone seems to be about choice until someone makes one they disagree with... Whats_that Feb 2013 #42

"Fuck him"? darkangel218 Mar 2013 #155

Point taken... Whats_that Mar 2013 #156

Personally I'm not the biggest fan of soda I usually buy it when I have people over who drink it Arcanetrance Feb 2013 #53

Fat is bad for you... ohheckyeah Feb 2013 #55

Slippery slope OwnedByCats Mar 2013 #118

Except meddling. :-) WinkyDink Mar 2013 #135

Oh yeah OwnedByCats Mar 2013 #139

Yeah, let's tax it. Jon Ace Feb 2013 #59

Everyone may have a different perspective jonthebru Feb 2013 #61

Can we agree: Bloomberg did NOT ban soda. mainer Feb 2013 #71

"He just banned the sales of single-serving drinks" green for victory Feb 2013 #90

This message was self-deleted by its author mainer Feb 2013 #102

Restricting single-servings of soda doesn't accomplish much mokawanis Feb 2013 #82

You know what this sounds like? av8r1998 Feb 2013 #84

I wish I had someone to tell me no a decade or two ago. I welcome help from anyone graham4anything Feb 2013 #87

Yup. Earth_First Feb 2013 #91

How can one be free, when they are beholden to a vice? graham4anything Feb 2013 #97

Freedom means... beevul Mar 2013 #114

As Kristofferson wrote, Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose graham4anything Mar 2013 #115

So if I have a lot of bodyfat to lose, does that make me free or not free? Bucky Mar 2013 #120

If Jimmy Stewart's bumbling Georgie Bailey was standing on a bridge ready to jump off graham4anything Mar 2013 #122

"90% of Americans used to smoke" --Source please? Thx in advance n/t green for victory Feb 2013 #98

You can have my soda when you pry it from my cold dead hands. Travis_0004 Feb 2013 #100

I for one would rather idolize JFK's stand on fitness, and not Chuck Heston graham4anything Feb 2013 #101

Thank you for the post. Travis_0004 Feb 2013 #104

Don't misjudge the ratio graham4anything Feb 2013 #105

Link Between Sugar and Increased Cancer Risk ErikJ Feb 2013 #88

Oh yeah, that's the way to do it... richmwill Feb 2013 #89

what's more dangerous than sugar? alc Feb 2013 #93

Sometimes, IS is just IS and there IS nothing sinister in IS nothing before or after but IS itself graham4anything Feb 2013 #94

"when does the government stop trying to control our..."-- as pointed out above green for victory Feb 2013 #95

Anything is toxic if you consume too much of it. Avalux Feb 2013 #96

It's a limit on single-serving SIZE. Not on freedom to imbibe. mainer Feb 2013 #103

It's the principal of the thing Art_from_Ark Feb 2013 #112

The difference is the psychology of super-sizing mainer Mar 2013 #121

I've always ordered the smaller size drinks, because the larger are just more ice. ;-) WinkyDink Mar 2013 #125

How far do you wanna take it? christx30 Mar 2013 #181

I'm for a reduction in calories Pancho Schneider Mar 2013 #116

Hello Pancho Schneider. I hope you find what you seek here at DU. In_The_Wind Mar 2013 #124

And diet soda doesn't. WinkyDink Mar 2013 #126

Hey I got a crazy idea OwnedByCats Mar 2013 #119

Stores are still selling CHOCOLATE CANDY. WinkyDink Mar 2013 #123

And they're still SELLING SODA too. mainer Mar 2013 #127

Nobody actually consumes that much soda, either, in one sitting. WinkyDink Mar 2013 #128

If nobody ever finishes it, then why complain about the new law? mainer Mar 2013 #130

Because of its nature. Because of its "mind-set." Because of its targetting. WinkyDink Mar 2013 #134

Oh OwnedByCats Mar 2013 #131

It's the principle, n'cest-pas? WinkyDink Mar 2013 #136

Yeah OwnedByCats Mar 2013 #138

Party of 4+ people? HockeyMom Mar 2013 #133

Are the "pro-soda" people here also opposed to seat belts? mainer Mar 2013 #144

Not at all - but legislating the choice does'nt help all that much. n/t Mopar151 Mar 2013 #150

Well since you mentioned it..... Purplehazed Mar 2013 #166

It's not "pro soda" it's pro freedom from punks like bloomie the billionaire green for victory Mar 2013 #169

As much as I am an advocate for healthy living Proud Liberal Dem Mar 2013 #145

Yeah they don't ban those poisons in our foods so why ban serving sizes? johnlucas Mar 2013 #177

So should governments also drop laws that ban overnight alcohol sales, alp227 Mar 2013 #179

Soda does not equal Alcohol Proud Liberal Dem Mar 2013 #180

Having traveled extensively in Europe mainer Mar 2013 #148

I don't need the government regulating common goods Ter Mar 2013 #151

This is what I think stores should do with his illegal law: Ter Mar 2013 #152

Thank you for this OP. chervilant Mar 2013 #153

Sugar is toxic libodem Mar 2013 #154

Low blood sugar has apparently impeded your brain function. Mopar151 Mar 2013 #160

Thanks for your concern about my blood glucose libodem Mar 2013 #161

Try facts. all Im sayin. Mopar151 Mar 2013 #162

So we need 32-ounce sodas to keep up our blood sugar? mainer Mar 2013 #163

As I understand it , serving me 12 oz of soda and 12 oz of ice in a cup is illegal. Mopar151 Mar 2013 #168

Tab and a candy bar Mopar151 Mar 2013 #157

Yeah, but it is not Dpm12 Mar 2013 #158

BS. Sugar is not toxic. Silent3 Mar 2013 #175