Dr Kendrick's New Post

[shaws]

Interesting :-

drmalcolmkendrick.org/2018/...

[greygoose]

Brilliant article!

[jimh111]

Yes, stuff like aspartame are neurotransmitters. If they were marketed as medicines they would have to undergo stringent tests.

[overnighthearingloss]

I usually agree with Dr Kendrick but not so sure in this case.

He does have a point about the possibility of pushing people in totally the wrong direction. But the amount of sugar contained in processed food is part of the problem.

Ideally it might be better to subsidise unprocessed foods to encourage a move to healthier eating but big food lobbies are never going to allow that.

The sweetened drinks that he clings to are part of an addiction that is not good for us. I am not suggesting they would be any better sweetened with artificial sweeteners.

The real education should come from highlighting the problems that sugar causes in the diet, being of little nutrient content and potentially providing empty calories that can either displace more nutrient dense calories or lead to problems with excess weight.

[jimh111 in reply to overnighthearingloss]

I agree, my only objection to the sugar tax is that it is not accompanied by a sweetner tax also. This may come in time as the current sugar tax has nothing to do with health, just another tax through the back door. Unfortunately it may cause more ill health as a result of switching from sugar to neurotransmitters.

[SilverAvocado in reply to overnighthearingloss]

I agree with all you say as far as it goes. It would be lovely if there were no alternatives to sugar and it was possible to hound many of these cynical products off the shelves.

But I feel like you're missing the next step - there are alternatives to sugar that are not included in the tax, and have more wide ranging dangers to health (many of which are poorly understood, and the standard to prove they are safe is low). These substitutes are now being incentivised even more than they were before.

A splendid remark MK makes later in the comments:

"The scientific basis – that I like – goes like this. Do not stick artificial chemicals in your brain because it is unlikely that good things will come of it."

[overnighthearingloss in reply to SilverAvocado]

Hopefully people will get educated about the dangers of the alternatives and make healthy choices away from sodas and shop bought cordials. And pre prepared cakes and biscuits etc. If not people are going to develop some really nasty conditions and shorten their lives

[Heloise]

Enlightening and frightening about artificial sweeteners. A fat tax, oh my?

[crimple]

As usual Malcolm talks a lot of sense. Thanks for posting Marz.

[crimple]

Sorry that should have said Shaws. Must have had too much sugar in my GF cereal. lol

[Bob00752]

Dr Kendrick makes some good points. The diabetic community have had to warn people on insulin or similar medication that the reformulation of many sugary drinks means they will need more if they are having a hypo (low blood glucose) level. I would rather it be much easier to know how much protein, fat, carbs and cals are in processed food. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s recent program tackling the reluctance of huge food companies to include traffic light indications on their packaging is a great initiative and it looks as though Nestle has finally relented. The segment where children chose their own supermarket food and their preferred portion size of breakfast cereal was instructive. Some blew their daily sugar recommendation by the end of breakfast!

On the same orogram Dr Yeo’s statement that we get more calories iut of processed food than tradional home made meals was also interesting.

I was brought up on a different government food regime (rationing). My children had a controlled diet with the emphasis on good food and portion size (my wife, not me). Our holiday story of hotel breakfast where our 3 year old’s “stage whisper” of “Mummy that man’s having both butter and marmalade on his toast” sums up our family regime rather well (we relented, because we were in holiday!)

[Summer64]

Interesting article and good that a doctor has written it and dared to speak out. I don't drink sugary drinks that often but very occasionally I do. I like a coke if I go out as I don't drink alcohol and if sick coke is the only thing I fancy so why should we all suffer and pay more because of the few that can't control their consumption. It won't stop obesity. Artificial sweeteners have had a bad press in the past so I never use them.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Although we now have very heavy taxation on tobacco, for many years people suggested that the government was unwilling to increase that tax because it would result in a smaller total take.

After all, if you double the taxation on a pack of cigarettes, and more than half the smokers give up (or reduce their consumption markedly), that means less in the coffers.

Mind, I am pretty sure that tobacco taxation was introduced purely to increase income from taxation and not for health.

Anyway, my point is that the impact of this sort of tax, and the willingness of future governments to adjust rates or whatever depending on experience, are not at all clear at the point of its introduction.

[SilverAvocado]

Oh my goodness! I am too ill to follow the news much, and I'd thought this tax was just a talking point, or even a joke. Didn't realise it was really happening

I'm afraid I don't agree with Malcolm K on one point, I'm happy to have a nanny state tax harmful products

But I think he's not even strong enough about the issue that we will now get more nasty sweeteners. This tax is incentivising manufacturers to stealthily remove the sugar, but keep these products just as sweet with more dangerous chemicals - many that don't even have good quality research about safety.

[liz1952]

Amazing article....oh and I too can taste artificial sweeteners in food! Thought I was bonkers (well....maybe I am but not the only bonkers one...)

[overnighthearingloss]

Off topic as well. We all know Dr Kendricks views on cholesterol.

I have been following an online summit. foodrevolutionsumitt.org and there was a speaker yesterday that was very good.

Dr Dale Bredesen. He has similar thinking in relation to amyloid plaques and Alzheimer's as Dr Kendrick has with cholesterol. Ie that it is a repair material for the brain.

There are replays following the days talks that are available until 4pm UK time the following day. So you will be able to catch the talk until 4pm.

But there are a host of other speakers who may provide useful info if you are interested.

If you can't catch the interview he has many YouTube videos which may contain similar info.

[shaws Administrator in reply to overnighthearingloss]

Thank you very much I will attempt it now. I was unable to connect so will try later

[overnighthearingloss in reply to shaws]

Think the transfer from health unlocked site causes a timeout error. Google the summit and connect direct. That seems to work.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to overnighthearingloss]

More likely that you posted an incorrect link!

foodrevolutionsummit.org/

[overnighthearingloss in reply to helvella]

Mmmn typos and dodgy eyesight are often linked 😁

Trys to hide embarrassment