Sugar, not so friendly, but harmless.

[Crazy_Captain_Chris]

Sugar is a strange and wonderful food. I was told for years that sugar turned into fat, so me being the way that I am, wanted to find out why.
Turns out, that thoery was wrong. It seems that sugar is very very good for us, mind you though, our bodies make enough of it naturally, that we dont need to eat it, dont ask me, its just what I've learned about it lol.
Anyway what happens is this. we eat sugar, it goes directly to the liver and is not available to any other part of the body (until later).
Next, the sugar is converted into glycogen, and stored there (the liver can store up to about 500 grams (about a pound I think not sure).
Now what happens next is what stops a lot of people from losing weight.
When the body needs energy to move muscles, think (the brain's main food sorce is sugar) etc, it calls upon the sugar, so the glycogen (from the liver) is converted into glucose and is sent to where it is needed, such as legs when we need to walk, arms when we need to lift, the muscles in and around the heart and lungs when we need air and blood etc etc etc.
Why is sugar not so friendly you ask, well what is happening is, if your out exercising to lose weight, your body will burn off any sugar that the body has in store, before it starts to burn fat.
All this of course is really only another part of losing weight, there are many other factors such carbohydrates, the G.I factor, and many other things.
Basically though if you eat less sugar, then exercise it will greatly help in losing weight.
For the most part though stear clear of all fats and sugars.
Eat healthy foods and very very important exercise.

[Merika]

the G.I factor

That has a different meaning to me...but it CAN burn off some calories!

Seriously, thanks for the thread Chris. I enjoyed reading it and learned something.

[Luba]

http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/767

click on: "the students get put to the test"

"What are parents doing that is creating the biggest problem for kids in the morning before they go to school?" Dr. Phil inquires.

"One problem is they're feeding them sugar, and sugar is like poison to the brain," Dr. Lawlis responds. "They're feeding them these kinds of sugars that create a metabolic rollercoaster, and actually starve the brain."