Something just heard a doctor say.

[Stroppymoo]

Watching GP's behind closed doors and one of the doctors said sugar plays havoc with your immune system. Interesting.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Sugar is also pro-inflammatory. As good a reason to not eat it as any when you have PMR.

[markbenjamin57 in reply to PMRpro]

Interesting, very interesting, stroppymoo - thanks for the under-cover work.

But what constitutes 'sugar' in the diet: and how, exactly, are some 'sugars' defined as pre-inflammatory (as opposed to anti-inflammatory) - and on what scientific basis?

One for you as usual, PMRpro?!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to markbenjamin57]

Added sugar - the stuff manufacturers add to fool your taste buds into believing the removal of fat and use of cheap ingredients doesn't make any difference to the quality of their products.

The sugars naturally found in foods like fruit and root veg are less of a problem - but too much of even those sugars is not good. Simple carbs are simple carbs - and all add up when it comes to weight gain.

Probably the healthiest diet the UK has eaten was the one based on the allowances on ration during the war which took the amount of sugar down to Victorian levels. Since the end of the 50s the amount of sugar has climbed steadily. I just noticed a claim from British Sugar that the amount of sugar has fallen 12% in the last decade so it can't be that that is making us obese - that is a claim that parallels the gubmint telling us the rate of inflation is falling! It had climbed massively before - so even 12% less is still far too much sugar!

[markbenjamin57 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro, interesting stuff.

I'm fortunate, never had a sweet tooth and avoid convenience foods. Mediterranean diet for me, and it doesn't cost more (although it involves a bit more prep - but that's part of the enjoyment!).

That said, convenience foods are easy to prep and not all bad for some people. My 95 year old uncle lives on them and he does pretty well.

What about sugar in alcohol?.. the dry red stuff suits me although it's easy to get through quite a bit if it

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to markbenjamin57]

Depends what you drink doesn't it? Some have very little residual sugar - the Germans usually list it on the label and say if it is recommended for diabetics Usually bone-dry whites though...

[markbenjamin57 in reply to PMRpro]

Yep. I find the sugar in some of the sweeter / heavier reds / whites give me more of a 'head' than the alcohol itself!