The acrimony directed at sugar, in all its forms, has taken a
particularly bitter turn of late, with the suggestion that sugar
is a poison and should be regulated as such through some
combination of taxes, product bans, and dose restrictions. Is
this rational, or maybe just a bit crazy? Let's chew on it.
Excess dietary sugar is irrefutably harmful. The calories
provided—whether from sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, or any
other variant—are empty, carrying no nutritional benefit to
offset the cost, and they contribute to weight gain and obesity.
The glycemic effect of sugar—its tendency to raise blood sugar,
and in some cases insulin—can further contribute to extra pounds
and obesity, as well as hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance,
and ultimately, diabetes. Such, by and large, is the
epidemiologic indictment of sugar. There is, as well, an
indictment based on dietary guidance: Americans eat considerably
more, on average, than the 10 percent of daily calories that
authorities such as the World Health Orga