Regulating Sugar - Your Thoughts?

1. 81

   GmaGoldieposted 12 years ago

   The latest news is some regulator wishes to regulate sugar in the same manner alcohol is regulated.
   
   I can understand the cry for greater health but should we first be mandating prescriptions for exercise before we regulate food?
   
   Is sugar and butter really bad IF used in moderate quantities? Isn't the greatest harm done by lack of exercise?
   
   What are your thoughts on this subject?

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   1. 73

      Jeff Berndtposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      What? Silly.
      
      I'm all for clear labeling, but to regulate its sale as if it were alcohol is just silly.

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2. 60

   knolyourselfposted 12 years ago

   My rule has always been if I crave sweets/sugar I have not the right diet. Having the right diet correspondent to my system, I have almost never craved sweets.

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3. 88

   TheMagicianposted 12 years ago

   Just reading this post is making my mouth water for a jar of Nutella and a spoon.
   Off to the store I go!

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4. 64

   breakfastpopposted 12 years ago

   I think we already have enough government intrusion in our lives. In some school districts, lunches sent from home are confiscated if they are deemed to be lacking in nutrition.  I think it is up to the individual to regulate his or her diet.

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5. 60

   ib radmastersposted 12 years ago

   does FDA really stand for
   For Dumb Americans

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6. 60

   Disturbiaposted 12 years ago

   I have never had a sweet-tooth so I don't think much about refined sugar, however, sugar is still sugar and there is sugar in all sorts of things, including dairy products.  Exactly what will be regulated?  Only sugar, things containing sugar, things that turn into sugar in the body?  Will chocolate chip cookies and milk become the new meth?  Does fruit also get regulated?  Fruit is supposed to be good for you, isn't it?  Seriously, where does it end?  And what are the alternataives, cancer causing sugar substitutes?  Regulating sugar has more to do with CREATING REVENUE than health, and is just another blow to our personal freedom.

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7. 85

   livelongerposted 12 years ago

   Part of the "regulation" could mean getting rid of subsidies to sugar and corn lobbies.
   
   Maybe the FDA could also stop promoting junk science that fat is what kills you, and instead reinforce that sugar & sugarlike products are bad. That way fewer sugary foods could claim that they're part of a "heart-healthy diet" and other nonsense I've seen on supermarket shelves.

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8. 77

   Joelipooposted 12 years ago

   More governemnt regulation is the last thing we need.  Along with sugar, there is talk of wanting to ban fast food commercials as well.  Do they really think fast food and sugar are the reasons that America is in such poor shape?  I will agree that these things are not the greatest to put in our bodies, but almost anything is fine in moderation.  The bigger problem is the lack of exercise.  People are far too caught up in technology.  Society has become lazy and content with sitting around being entertained by technology instead of physical activity.

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   1. 73

      Jeff Berndtposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      "Do they really think fast food and sugar are the reasons that America is in such poor shape?"
      They kind of are, but not in the way we're meant to think.
      
      Livelonger got it right re: the subsidies going to the corn industry. We eat so much fast food because it's (apparently) cheap, and it's cheap because of subsidies to the corn factories. (You can't really call them 'farms.') A fast food value meal is mostly made of commodity corn, after all.
      
      Read Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" for a great explanation of where our food comes from and why most of it has become so bad for us.
      
      "The bigger problem is the lack of exercise."
      This, too, is a problem, but not one made by government subsidies.

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      1. 84

         rebekahELLEposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I think reading 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' should be on everyone's 'must read' list. He also has numerous other books on the subject, plus a children's edition of The Omnivore's Dilemma. http://michaelpollan.com/books/the-omnivores-dilemma/
         
         I read it a number of years ago and it helped me understand the food industry much more clearly. Basically the food companies run our country.
         
         As far as regulating what we eat, it would just be nice to know what the h.. we're really eating. If you want to cut down on sugar, replace it with whole grains and healthy proteins.

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9. 57

   Dame Scribeposted 12 years ago

   I think some govt officials have too much idle time especially when they start interfering in the daily lives of the public probably best for the people to consider having that official removed

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      vespawoolfposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think controlling sugar intake is an individual decision. If a diet is balanced, one doesn't crave sugar which means it isn't a potentially addictive substance like alcohol.

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      1. 60

         jimmylesaintposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         It's not just about how many sugars you put in your tea or how many are in pop drinks. There is tons of sugar used as preservatives in literally anything canned and anything fast food. Do a search on how many people have diabetes- you'll find it is an epidemic without any one flinching an eyelid(remember bird flu/swine flu was deemed to become an epidemic--everyone ran screaming for the hills) Here the sugar added to everything you buy almost from the supermarkets is going to be responsible for many more deaths that alcohol cause and cost trillions of dollars to treat a diabetic chronically for decades--up goes the cost of medicare!

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10. 60

    tirelesstravelerposted 12 years ago

    Government begone-Actually after grocery shopping today I believe the government has already started controlling sugar. My grocery bill is 20% higher than it was 3 months ago-  I'm not going to be able to afford the sweet stuff.
    Usually crave sugar when I am getting sick.  It feeds cancer so I increase my water intake and up the vitamin C when the cravings start.

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