Sugar Free? Why?

HamuChan · 05-26-2005, 04:04 PM

Ok, I have read here that people recommend sugar-free Jello and sugar-free popsicles. If you are on the liquid diet stage and your body is already getting very few calories from just water, juice, and broth; why cut calories in popsicles and Jello? You don't want to starve to death. Your body will shut down if you don't get enough calories. I never bothered to get anything sugar-free during clear liquid phase. It just didn't seem to make sense to me. What do you guys think? :ermm

DeLarla · 05-26-2005, 06:57 PM

There are tons of reasons:

- Sugar is nothing but empty calories
- Sugar is addicting
- Sugar contributes to obesity

Boy, I'd have to write a novel to continue this one! I'm a sugar junkie, LOVE the crap. However, I'm really addicted to it, so I can't have just a little. I personally don't think there's anything wrong with having a little sugar, but if you are like me, you'll just want more and more and more. Ask yourself why you got the band. Probably to lose weight and live a healthier life, right? Well, sugar doesn't have any health benefits - quite the opposite, actually.

HamuChan · 05-26-2005, 07:06 PM

I am still on my liquids phase. I did get the LAP-BAND^® to lose weight but I don't want to hurt my body by starving it either. I thought liquids was a healing phase, not weight loss phase. That's why I'm confused. If someone drinks broth and water all only, with no calories, their metabolism will ker-plunk. That why I was thinking that sugars would be ok.

I am definately not an expert by any means, that's why I asked. Thanks for the input! :cheeky
Anyone else afraid of zero calories on their clear liquids phase?

nygrl · 05-26-2005, 07:22 PM

i didnt do sugar free anything and still lost 16 pounds during my 2 week liquid stage.. i did do fat frr but i hate the taste of anything sugar free so i had the full sugar yogurt and icepops and pudding!

**Jack** · 05-26-2005, 08:01 PM

"since you asked" WHY SUGAR?

let's consider for a moment the source of most sugar in the US....from 'sugar beets'....and the processing removes all but the tiniest percentage so concentrated it becomes the addictive portion of what started as a complex carbohydrate....sucrose does horrible things to the body's energy regulators, especially for those with diabetes....

A comparable reduction of volume that produces increasing bodily dysfunction is to consider the steps in alcohol: fermented into beer, it takes a relatively large volume to produce drunkeness...as the concentration of the active ingredient is still low; 3-4%

ferment the grape, it increases the percentage of alcohol, and less wine to produce a similar effect, 6-10%; take corn, barley, spuds, etc...and DISTILL the spirit, and you have a much higher test fluid. 20~45%, which still produces the same results as 'lowly' beer....but a lot smaller volume to do such...

Now, lets consider the opium poppy...it takes a relatively larger amount to turn the nervous system down a few notches....take that same substance, refine it a bit into morphine...and you have an entire generation back around WWI who were most suprized to become addicted to pain meds...then there was the attempt to produce an antidote to morphine addiction...and they called that one 'heroin'....not too much and you have a zombie on your hands...

Now the cocoa leaf requires you chew quite a wad, it numbs the cheek, and gives a mild euphoria....process it a step or two into powered form and you have cocaine....we don't need to discuss the ramification of that much....and the next step is 'crack cocaine'....where the method of ingestion is modified such that the body defenses are overwhelmed....

addiction is the point where the absence of the substance produces unpleasant effects....and I know I was a sugar junkie in spite of my best efforts to the contrary....

Sugar is metabolized very rapidly in one step by the body, raising the levels of glucogon in the liver and subsequent storage as fat if the insulin pathway is working properly...research is demonstrating blood glucose levels above about 160 or below 80 decreases brain functional capacity and homeostatic organ response...and the large amount of sugar in a 'regular' soda pop decreases the white blood cell count by over 50%...thereby decreasing the immune function for several hours...so put together several dozen kids in a class room around halloween or holiday time, all on high doses of sugar, and wonder why they all get sick???

I don't want to dwell too long on this subject. So that's the short story, and I'm sticking to it....

HamuChan · 05-26-2005, 08:16 PM

Wow Jack! You know your sugar! I will remember that. I didn't know that there was so much to it.

**Alexandra** · 05-27-2005, 09:14 AM

HamuChan, I'm with you. Too much sugar is evil, no doubt about that, but sugar substitutes have their own problems. I mix it up, using sugar substitute in coffee and tea but generally going for the regular-sugar versions of other things.

DeLarla · 05-27-2005, 11:58 AM

I'm with Alex. I said sugar was bad, but I never said I avoid it! I love the crap! I'm also an Equal & Sweet n' Low junkie so I mix them all the time.

vinesqueen · 05-27-2005, 12:28 PM

I don't avoid sugar, but when I use sugar, I try to use something like a turbinado or a muscovado sugar. Muscovado is one of the earliest stages of sugar, so there are still huge quantities of molasis still in it. It is sooo good in my beloved Kenyan coffee...

DeLarla · 05-27-2005, 12:56 PM

Vine, you are killing me here! That Kenyan coffee & turbonado sounds Heavenly right now. Next you'll tell me you've got fresh, thick cream. Stop it.

vinesqueen · 05-27-2005, 02:55 PM

uhm, no. Not gonna stop it.

Kenyan served via French Press, with turbinado and heavy cream. But we'll serve Jack a cup of naked coffee...

guitarman · 05-30-2005, 06:54 PM

Anyone ever use Stevia as a sweetener?

**Jack** · 05-30-2005, 07:00 PM

yes.....my favorite form is a clear liquid product the DW buys from a catalog...a few drops goes a very long way...do a 'stevia' search....there was quite a bit about it a few months ago....

La_madam · 05-30-2005, 07:21 PM

I was never told sugar free during the liquid phase.

KarenB · 05-30-2005, 10:16 PM

Yes, I use stevia. I get it in packets & a plastic bottle that's sold in health food stores. It also has insulin fiber in it, which is supposed to be a good thing. I use it in my tea & it tastes like sugar/splenda, whatever.

Regarding the sugar-free question, I think it's a matter of balance. Dr's encourage gatorade/powerade until you start protien shakes; they both have sugar & electrolites. They just don't want you do drink a gallon of it a day! I was told regular jello is fine, too. I was never told sugar-free, but I think you have to use your head.