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It's surprising how the general public seems to rely on research instead of first hand experience. Simply change your sugar behavior for a while, see how it aff

It's surprising how the general public seems to rely on research instead of first hand experience. Simply change your sugar behavior for a while, see how it affects you, and those are the results you need. The body is (in general) perfectly able to tell you how beneficial a certain behavior is in the long run, as long as you are able to objectively observe the results (as far as possible). For me, sugar in more then minimal quantities give huge ups and downs, cravings, nauseousness etc.

thecleaner 7y ago
Its difficult to quit sugar initially. But once you have quit for sometime, the idea of consuming sugar begins to feel disgusting.
Udik 7y ago
> It's surprising how the general public seems to rely on research instead of first hand experience. But medical research assumes that first hand experience can be deceiving, because of placebo effect. It also considers the impact self-deception on researchers, and tries to remove that effect with double-blind studies. I find it difficult to believe that dietary changes that require a consistent level of engagement, both to be mindful of what you eat and to resist temptations, can be free of placebo effects. And since you're also evaluating subjectively the effects, you are also prone to the researcher's self-deception.
- blunte 7y ago
  Just because one can experience a placebo effect does not suggest that any change in behavior may be ineffective (but appear effective a la placebo). When I finally start exercising (for a month solid) after being sedentary for 6+ months, I feel greatly energized - physically and mentally. I feel stronger too. Based on my performance in many aspects of life, I'm pretty sure that the benefits aren't imagined. The same applies to alcohol. After about three weeks of no alcohol, a kind of mental clarity, sharpness, and aggressiveness (as in _wanting_ to be mentally challenged instead of avoiding mental effort) becomes very present. This I do not believe is a placebo - although if it is, I'm still much happier with the real or perceived benefit. So with sugar, why not the same? Plenty of people have written their stories about cutting sugar and how they felt for weeks or months, so I'm likely to believe that they really experienced the benefits. Finally, placebo or not, there's little question that "empty calories" are at minimal non-beneficial, and at worst harmful.
- esquire_900 7y ago
  > But medical research assumes that first hand experience can be deceiving, because of placebo effect. Well pointed out, it is. And for "general public" kind of advice, scientific processes absolutely help and are necessary to get to the right conclusions. The thing is, when someone else benefits from you eating sugar, journalistic pieces that put try to put people on the wrong foot (like these) will come out. Probably papers sponsored by sugar industry as well. So why not go for your own experience? Like blunte mentions, many people experience the same kind of positive effects - isn't that science after all? And even if it's all just one big placebo and there ultimately is no negative effect of eating loads of sugar, whats the problem? People feel better :)
  - Udik 7y ago
    > The thing is, when someone else benefits from you eating sugar, journalistic pieces that put try to put people on the wrong foot (like these) will come out. This is conspiratorial thinking. It's not healthy to shut off every opinion different from yours as an attempt to deception. > So why not go for your own experience? As I said, individual experiences are difficult to trust. Anyway, for what it's worth, I did cut drastically my sugar intake, for months. I found no benefits.

thecleaner 7y ago

Its difficult to quit sugar initially. But once you have quit for sometime, the idea of consuming sugar begins to feel disgusting.

Udik 7y ago

> It's surprising how the general public seems to rely on research instead of first hand experience. But medical research assumes that first hand experience can be deceiving, because of placebo effect. It also considers the impact self-deception on researchers, and tries to remove that effect with double-blind studies. I find it difficult to believe that dietary changes that require a consistent level of engagement, both to be mindful of what you eat and to resist temptations, can be free of placebo effects. And since you're also evaluating subjectively the effects, you are also prone to the researcher's self-deception.

blunte 7y ago
Just because one can experience a placebo effect does not suggest that any change in behavior may be ineffective (but appear effective a la placebo). When I finally start exercising (for a month solid) after being sedentary for 6+ months, I feel greatly energized - physically and mentally. I feel stronger too. Based on my performance in many aspects of life, I'm pretty sure that the benefits aren't imagined. The same applies to alcohol. After about three weeks of no alcohol, a kind of mental clarity, sharpness, and aggressiveness (as in _wanting_ to be mentally challenged instead of avoiding mental effort) becomes very present. This I do not believe is a placebo - although if it is, I'm still much happier with the real or perceived benefit. So with sugar, why not the same? Plenty of people have written their stories about cutting sugar and how they felt for weeks or months, so I'm likely to believe that they really experienced the benefits. Finally, placebo or not, there's little question that "empty calories" are at minimal non-beneficial, and at worst harmful.
esquire_900 7y ago
> But medical research assumes that first hand experience can be deceiving, because of placebo effect. Well pointed out, it is. And for "general public" kind of advice, scientific processes absolutely help and are necessary to get to the right conclusions. The thing is, when someone else benefits from you eating sugar, journalistic pieces that put try to put people on the wrong foot (like these) will come out. Probably papers sponsored by sugar industry as well. So why not go for your own experience? Like blunte mentions, many people experience the same kind of positive effects - isn't that science after all? And even if it's all just one big placebo and there ultimately is no negative effect of eating loads of sugar, whats the problem? People feel better :)
- Udik 7y ago
  > The thing is, when someone else benefits from you eating sugar, journalistic pieces that put try to put people on the wrong foot (like these) will come out. This is conspiratorial thinking. It's not healthy to shut off every opinion different from yours as an attempt to deception. > So why not go for your own experience? As I said, individual experiences are difficult to trust. Anyway, for what it's worth, I did cut drastically my sugar intake, for months. I found no benefits.