Do We Need to Fear Fruit Sugar?
Information from the Australian Health Survey reveals those with higher intakes of whole fruit were 12% less likely to be obese than those with lower intakes. Those with higher intakes of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and chocolate were 9% more likely to be obese. There is no need to fear fruit sugar, although chemically similar, the…
Read MoreHoliday Shots Fired in the War on Sugar
A systematic review of the the evidence supporting current recommendations for significantly lowering sugar intake says they are based on weak evidence. However, an accompanying editorial says this is not trustworthy because it was funded by an organization (ILSI) supported by Coca-Cola and other food and beverage manufacturers. These are similar to claims made by the tobacco industry…
Read MoreSoda Money Fuels Obesity?
The two major soda companies, Coco-Cola Company and PepsiCo, sponsored programs at 96 national health organizations between 2011-2015. These "sweet deals" helped them lobby against 29 public health bills intended to reduce soda consumption and promote better nutrition. Organizations such as the American Diabetes Associaiton, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American…
Read MoreThe Sour Side of the Sugar Industry
In an analysis of archived correspondence between the Sugar Research Foundation (today the Sugar Association) and several prominent Harvard nutrition researchers in the mid-1960s, it has been revealed that secret support was given in an attempt to shift the blame from sugar to fat as the culprit behind coronary heart disease. Not all the dots…
Read MoreGranola: A Really Sweet Dessert!
Are you part of the majority of Americans who believe a mixture of oats, sugar, vanilla flavor, and maybe a few nuts and raisins is a healthy food? If so, think again! Most commercial granolas tend to have enough sugar that they rival an ordinary slice of chocolate cake or a cup of ice cream. Read…
Read MoreVideo: If Soda Commercials Were Honest
Analysis of the Framingham Heart Study has found those drinking sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) had more belly fat than those not drinking SSBs. Yet the industry continues to supply the market with large quantities of this liquid candy because of a steady stream of customers who buy it! For a different perspective and a good laugh,…
Read MoreLowering Sugar Increases HDL Cholesterol in Youth
Sugar, sugar, sugar...we all love it in almost everything! High consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, fruit juice, and sweetened teas is associated in children with higher triglyceride levels. Researchers found in a group of 600 young people that as sugary drink consumption decreased over 12 months their HDL (good) cholesterol increased. Reducing just one or more servings…
Read MoreAre Food Industry Fingers in Dietary Recommendations?
The British Medical Journal, in a series of four articles traces, how food industry funding of research may influence biases in dietary recommendations.
Read MoreSoda and the Aging Process
Researchers studied white blood cell telomeres (the caps at the end of chromosomes in every cell). Shorter telomeres are associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, stress and a shorter lifespan. People who drank more sugary soda tended to have shorter telomeres. One 8-oz serving daily was found to be equal to 1.9 years of additional aging; a…
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