Numbers don't lie

shadowgardener12 said:Look, sugars—glucose or fructose—they aren't all bad if you're getting them through honey (which is actually medicinal!), fruit, or veggies... or even just direct absorption into the bloodstream.

It’d be pretty mindless to say we shouldn't eat honey just because it has sugar in it. Everything our bodies need comes in different amounts and different forms... it's all about balance.

I think you're missing the forest for the trees here... maybe I'm just talking to a brick wall, but: people living a healthy lifestyle don't actually need added sugar! It’s more than that. Eating sugar carries real risks, and honestly, it brings us nothing positive. We get plenty of energy from other carbs. If you're going to have any sugar at all, better to grab it from fruit or vegetables rather than processed junk. Like I've said before... small amounts probably won't wreck your health.

Sure, if someone feels they "need" a sugar fix, honey is the way to go. It's packed with beneficial stuff—like you mentioned, it's medicinal and can help with certain ailments... like tossing a spoonful in tea when you've got a nasty cold or the flu. But let's be real, honey is still sugar. It actually has more calories than plain white sugar and it'll definitely give you cavities faster.

Unlike medicinal honey, "standard" sugars are nothing but trouble for our health. So why bother? You can't really justify it unless you just like the taste... there's no other reason. Now, you could argue for dark baking chocolate (not the milk stuff)—that's actually a great antioxidant, and it usually has less sugar than candy bars! So, in that specific case, a little bit might actually be good for you... despite the slight sugar risk. That's just a tiny handful of sugary things that might actually serve a purpose... there are probably others, I just can't think of any right now. Most sugary stuff—candy, cookies, etc.—does zero good for you. Plus, most chocolate brands pack in hydrogenated fats, which are a nightmare... they even started pulling those out of Mars and other candy bars because they were linked to heart issues.

dustycanyon6 posted me.. just endless nonsense...

>no honey is dangerous because it causes cavities...

..that's like saying "cats are dangerous because they cause colds." wind is dangerous because it causes colds. the ocean is dangerous because you might drown. honestly, any food can cause cavities if you don't brush your teeth! you're seriously out of your mind.

shadowgardener12 said:dustycanyon6 is just talking nonsense... endless babbling without any point at all...

Honey, don't listen to that... saying honey is dangerous just because it causes cavities... it's way more complicated than that...

Look, that’s not what I said. If you want to take it that way... well, that's on you...

That’s like saying "rain is dangerous because it gives you a cold." Or that the ocean is dangerous because you can drown. I mean, pretty much any food is going to give you cavities if you aren't brushing your teeth... You’re seriously tripping...

Look, just try a little experiment... don't brush your teeth for a month, eat nothing but veggies, and cut out all honey and processed sugar entirely. Then, try the opposite—don't brush for a month, but go ahead and eat plenty of honey every single day... and see how your teeth turn out. Is everything just black and white to you? Like, things are either totally dangerous or completely safe, with absolutely no middle ground? Based on what you're saying, that's exactly how it seems...

Look, everything we do carries some level of risk... some small, some big. You seem to be leaning too hard on that old saying about how "the dose makes the poison"—though if you ask me, I’d add "timing" to that equation, too. Because if you decide right now that honey isn't dangerous—and based on what you're saying, you think it's impossible for it to be harmful, so therefore it's perfectly safe—then you're basically saying you can eat it endlessly and everyone will live happily ever after. Come back down to Earth for a second... In the real world, everything we do or don't do matters. Everything we eat affects us, both physically and mentally. Some foods have such a tiny impact you won't even notice it. Some might have a slight effect that only shows up after ten or twenty years. And then there are those foods that hit you immediately... for me, that's milk, since I'm allergic... Anyway, to wrap this up, honey—just like any other sugar—isn't going to hurt you in the short term, aside from that inevitable energy crash once the sugar high wears off. But long-term? It’s bad for your teeth and plenty of other parts of your body, including your brain, from a psychological standpoint. How much that long-term impact actually hits a specific person depends entirely on their individual health and exactly how much sugar they're packing away... maybe the effects stay hidden, or maybe it leads to actual issues or illness...

Well, let me add my two cents here—not from a scientific perspective, just my own experience.

First off, I’ve always eaten for two and worked for three... okay, let's say I eat for two.
I have a massive sweet tooth. Up until I was 28, I had about 12 teeth pulled because I couldn't stop eating sugar.
Since we moved to Australia, I've managed to save all my teeth and just patch them up with amalgam fillings. It’s working out okay, considering my schedule is a total mess. I eat constantly, day and night, mostly because my sleep is erratic. Sometimes I don't sleep for 20 hours, then I crash for 12. Who knows what's next. I use a Waterpik to rinse my mouth thoroughly once or twice a day, and I always use an electric toothbrush.

My cholesterol sits around 4.5, maybe hitting 5 at most. They flagged early signs of diabetes a year ago, but I take two pills a day and it stays under control.

How am I still standing after taking nearly 40 pills? How is that even possible?

Has anyone else here tried this? Is it really this tough? Honestly, I'm glad I found a rhythm that works for me. Doctors always look at me sideways, wondering how I manage when other people struggle with just two or three medications.

Rule number one: I never, ever take pills on an empty stomach.

If it isn't mealtime, I have a few go-to snacks. They aren't exactly "health food," but they've kept me going for 30 years.

When my stomach acts up and I feel dizzy, I have to take two pills,
and usually, I pair them with something like:
1. Dried cheese—various kinds. My wife buys the low-fat versions.

2. Just some sweet biscuits... maybe up to 300 grams.
3. Jerky, but strictly lean.

That's my survival kit. Have you ever heard of someone taking anti-inflammatories continuously for 32 years?

Most people try it, stop after a couple of days because it wreaks havoc on their stomach (which happens to me too), but if I don't take them, I can't even move.

I'm a stubborn guy. If I set my mind to something, I'll see it through even if it kills me. I'm not like what some might call the "lazy" approach where you just pop pills and do nothing for your health.

I haven't been able to bend over for 32 years. I've done all my work in the attic on my knees or lying down. For the last five years, even walking has been a struggle; I was barely getting by using a cane until about six months ago.

We live in a senior living community. We have our own unit, and while I pay for repairs, I usually end up doing the work myself anyway.

Food is the only thing keeping me upright. Luckily, we have access to fresh fruit and vegetables year-round. I love apples and pears; I'll eat 6 to 10 a day.

dustycanyon6 is probably going to lose it reading this, thinking I'm doing everything wrong. But for me, food is the fuel that lets me handle all these meds and stay strong enough to stay away from anything harder.

I get endoscopies and colonoscopies every year, and everything looks mostly fine. My stomach hurts, sure, but that's just life.
The gastroenterologist is baffled that I haven't developed a stomach ulcer from all the anti-inflammatories, though he does help me manage things with six daily pills for my stomach.
In Colorado, I rely on Mebeverine hydrochloride 135 mg; I wouldn't make it without it.

It's funny—food can kill us, but so can medicine.

P.S. Just to add, for 50 years, I've cooked everything in oil. When my wife buys meat, she trims off all the fat. We have fish at least once a week, sometimes canned tuna. I'd say we eat pretty well while watching the fat, even if we aren't strictly dieting.

For instance, my wife has a very sensitive stomach and can't touch certain foods, whereas I have to eat plenty just to function.

People will talk, and then hundreds of others will talk about them.

🙂 😉 😎