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That sounds intuitively right, but that this might not be the main cause. Fried potatoes (french fries and chips) are causing obesity, which in turn causes diab

That sounds intuitively right, but that this might not be the main cause. Fried potatoes (french fries and chips) are causing obesity, which in turn causes diabetes. They also are high in carbs, though not sugar.

EpicEng 7y ago
Where does that statement come from? I'm not saying it's wrong, but it's not exactly an opinion. The problem with (refined) sugar is that it's in damn near everything (processed foods anyway).
- strict9 7y ago
  It goes even further. An experiment: go to the pet food aisle of a grocery store, and try finding a dog treat/biscuit that doesn't have added sugar. Treats labeled as "chicken" or "bacon and cheese" have sugar as the second, third, or fourth ingredient. Sugar is omnipresent even in pet food.
- benatkin 7y ago
  French fries top this list, are processed, and contain no sugar. https://www.ibtimes.com/what-causes-obesity-10-food-items-can-cause-excessive-weight-gain-2554744 https://www.ibtimes.com/what-causes-obesity-10-food-items-ca... It is strange that bread has sugar in it now but it's typically a small amount like one gram per serving: https://saraleebread.com/our-breads/classic-100-whole-wheat-bread https://saraleebread.com/our-breads/classic-100-whole-wheat-... It does make snacking more harmful though, as a blood sugar spike can be added where not expected.
  - anaphor 7y ago
    French fries contain no sugar? What? What do you think starch is?
    - maxerickson 7y ago
      This sort of context ignorant pedantry is extremely tiresome. The comment they replied to literally says "(refined) sugar". They are talking about added sugar, not the constituent molecules of the food.
      - anaphor 7y ago
        Okay, but lots of people don't realize the effect things can have on your blood sugar. Potatoes can raise your blood sugar just as quickly as white bread, or even sugary drinks depending on how you cook them (i.e. baked potatoes get processed differently than french fries). It isn't just added sugar, it's also how you cook it, and the other things you eat with it.
  - snazz 7y ago
    Potatoes are starchy and have a high glycemic index (like sugar) as well as fats (potentially saturated) from the oil. They’re not good for you, but I’d argue they’re not as much of an issue because you can avoid fried potato products much more easily than sugar.
moneil971 7y ago
I’d argue it has more to do with the fat/salt/fried factor than just the carbs. Foods with a combo of fat, salt and certain textures make you both thirsty and more likely to crave more.
anaphor 7y ago
Could you explain what you think the difference is between "carbs" and "sugar"? Fried potatoes have a very high glycemic index, making them pretty much no different from eating candy IMO.
Ididntdothis 7y ago
I think it's a distraction to try to find the main cause and argue whether it's sugar for fried potatoes and other junk food. Both are very bad and need to be reduced. Arguing about sugar vs. fat gives the food industry an opening to say "the science not in yet" and do nothing. Spearing this kind of uncertainty is their favorite PR strategy.
Gibbon1 7y ago
Sugar is like processed carbs with more badness.

EpicEng 7y ago

Where does that statement come from? I'm not saying it's wrong, but it's not exactly an opinion. The problem with (refined) sugar is that it's in damn near everything (processed foods anyway).

strict9 7y ago
It goes even further. An experiment: go to the pet food aisle of a grocery store, and try finding a dog treat/biscuit that doesn't have added sugar. Treats labeled as "chicken" or "bacon and cheese" have sugar as the second, third, or fourth ingredient. Sugar is omnipresent even in pet food.
benatkin 7y ago
French fries top this list, are processed, and contain no sugar. https://www.ibtimes.com/what-causes-obesity-10-food-items-can-cause-excessive-weight-gain-2554744 https://www.ibtimes.com/what-causes-obesity-10-food-items-ca... It is strange that bread has sugar in it now but it's typically a small amount like one gram per serving: https://saraleebread.com/our-breads/classic-100-whole-wheat-bread https://saraleebread.com/our-breads/classic-100-whole-wheat-... It does make snacking more harmful though, as a blood sugar spike can be added where not expected.
- anaphor 7y ago
  French fries contain no sugar? What? What do you think starch is?
  - maxerickson 7y ago
    This sort of context ignorant pedantry is extremely tiresome. The comment they replied to literally says "(refined) sugar". They are talking about added sugar, not the constituent molecules of the food.
    - anaphor 7y ago
      Okay, but lots of people don't realize the effect things can have on your blood sugar. Potatoes can raise your blood sugar just as quickly as white bread, or even sugary drinks depending on how you cook them (i.e. baked potatoes get processed differently than french fries). It isn't just added sugar, it's also how you cook it, and the other things you eat with it.
- snazz 7y ago
  Potatoes are starchy and have a high glycemic index (like sugar) as well as fats (potentially saturated) from the oil. They’re not good for you, but I’d argue they’re not as much of an issue because you can avoid fried potato products much more easily than sugar.

moneil971 7y ago

I’d argue it has more to do with the fat/salt/fried factor than just the carbs. Foods with a combo of fat, salt and certain textures make you both thirsty and more likely to crave more.

anaphor 7y ago

Could you explain what you think the difference is between "carbs" and "sugar"? Fried potatoes have a very high glycemic index, making them pretty much no different from eating candy IMO.

Ididntdothis 7y ago

I think it's a distraction to try to find the main cause and argue whether it's sugar for fried potatoes and other junk food. Both are very bad and need to be reduced. Arguing about sugar vs. fat gives the food industry an opening to say "the science not in yet" and do nothing. Spearing this kind of uncertainty is their favorite PR strategy.

Gibbon1 7y ago

Sugar is like processed carbs with more badness.