Re: Is Sugar Sometimes a GOOD Thing?

[Guest guest]

Al and Suz: Fruit does not do it. In her books, Wurtman says that fructose

is released much too slowly to give the seratonin " boost " . I also made that

connection and error.....

Al's abstract also is not exactly in agreement with Wurtman. In her

opinion, based on laboratory tests, protein is supposed to give the sharp

" mental " edge, not carbs. Carbs give you the seratonin release which is the

calming, sedating effect. She proposes eating more protein during the day,

when most folks need the higher mental sharpness, and less in the evening

when you want to relax and utimately go to slee.

on 11/5/2002 12:24 PM, Suzanne Cart at massuz@... wrote:

> Al, interesting attachment. Thanks. Tell me (in your enlightened opinion)

> wouldn't more fruit do the trick? I know some CRONies who never eat fruit,

> and many of us think we're supposed to limit it. It has the sugar, it's

> filling, it's nutritious. Given all that, it's a pretty good calorie bargain.

> No? I realize it can be way high on the glycemic index, but it should work as

> well as a " confectionary treat " as described in the abstract you posted. Am I

> thinking straight?

>

> Suz

[Guest guest]

I don't understand protein giving a "sharp mental edge". I ate 2 eggs in a glass of milk with 0.5 oz sucrose for years when doing manual labor. The protein and fat converts slowly and kept me from running out of gas before 2:00 PM. A pint of chocolate milk at lunch carried me to 4:30PM. I was in the best shape ever, 185# 46 inch chest, 32 inch waist and I could easily lift 200# over my head in one motion. That was 1973. I was 38 yo.

At 66 I've gotten back to that weight primarily with a low fat - lacto veg diet, which of course is mostly carbs. I don't think mental sharpness is a factor except in getting to the point where you can drop blood pressure medications. My wife eating the same diet dropped from 180# to a beautiful 145#. No osteoporosis. Maybe not a good diet for diabetics - I don't know.

I believe the article Alan posted, but notice it compared sugar to NO SUGAR. Maybe there are others that compare different foods, but that's got to be an individual thing, I think.

Regards.

----- Original Message -----

From: Francesca Skelton

Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 11:29 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] Is Sugar Sometimes a GOOD Thing?

Al and Suz: Fruit does not do it. In her books, Wurtman says that fructoseis released much too slowly to give the seratonin "boost". I also made thatconnection and error.....Al's abstract also is not exactly in agreement with Wurtman. In heropinion, based on laboratory tests, protein is supposed to give the sharp"mental" edge, not carbs. Carbs give you the seratonin release which is thecalming, sedating effect. She proposes eating more protein during the day,when most folks need the higher mental sharpness, and less in the eveningwhen you want to relax and utimately go to slee.on 11/5/2002 12:24 PM, Suzanne Cart at massuz@... wrote:> Al, interesting attachment. Thanks. Tell me (in your enlightened opinion)> wouldn't more fruit do the trick? I know some CRONies who never eat fruit,> and many of us think we're supposed to limit it. It has the sugar, it's> filling, it's nutritious. Given all that, it's a pretty good calorie bargain.> No? I realize it can be way high on the glycemic index, but it should work as> well as a "confectionary treat" as described in the abstract you posted. Am I> thinking straight?> > Suz