‘Study Questions Sugar Limits, but There’s a Big Catch’

A study questioning the wisdom of limiting sugary foods had funding with ties to those who sell such items:

Study Questions Sugar Limits, but There’s a Big Catch

Guess who funded it?

December 20, 2016

(Newser) – A new study about sugar is good news for companies that make sugar-laden products. The problem is that the study itself was funded by those very same companies. As Time reports, the research newly published in the Annals of Internal Medicine looks specifically at guidelines, including those in the US, advising people to limit added sugars to less than 10% of their daily calories. That’s about the equivalent of a large soda. The researchers concluded that those guidelines are “not trustworthy” and “based on low-quality evidence.” Study author Bradley Johnston also accuses scientists of using sugar as “the scapegoat for the rise in obesity and diabetes” when “it’s one factor among many,” per NPR. The review was funded by the International Life Science Institute, whose board members include reps from McDonald’s, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Nestle, and Hershey.

That’s a major red flag, says a nutrition professor at New York University, who calls the study a “shameful” move by food and beverage companies “right out of the tobacco industry’s playbook,” per Reuters. http://www.newser.com/story/235724/study-questions-sugar-limits-but-theres-a-big-catch.html

The latest study is industry-funded

The link between sugar and chronic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes is well established, but even though many public health groups recommend limiting sugar intake, they differ widely on the recommended daily limits.

The most recent U.S. dietary guidelines recommend Americans get less than 10% of their daily calories from added sugars—which is roughly the equivalent of a 16-ounce soda. The World Health Organization has issued similar guidelines …

Complicating things is a new study published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, where researchers looked at the evidence used to support daily sugar limits of less than 10% of a person’s total calories. Ultimately, they concluded that those public health recommendations were based on low-quality science. …

Still, some researchers expressed concern about the trustworthiness of the new findings since the research was funded by the North American branch of the International Life Sciences Institute (ISLI), a trade group whose board is made up of scientists as well as representatives for major food and beverage companies. ISLI members include Coca-Cola Company, The Hershey Company, Dupont, Mars, Inc., Monster Energy Company, Nestlé USA, PepsiCo and more. 12/19/16 http://time.com/4606331/sugar-daily-limit/

Although there can be debates about nutrition, the reality is that a lot of ‘nutritional advice’ is based on information from those with ties to various aspects of the food processing and agricultural industries.

Various diseases, like diabetes and Alzheimer’s, as well as obesity, can be affected by too many sweets. All of those problems have increased in the USA as American consumption of sugars and artificial sweeteners has rose.

But those with financial interests in selling questionable ‘foods’ do not want people to pay attention to that.

This is not new phenomena.

Decades ago, I recall reading a scientific paper where the author (correctly) stated that there was a lot more money being spent by companies who sold caffeinated products to publish pro-caffeine studies than by those who were not in favor of caffeine.

Furthermore, about 22 years ago, I was a member of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). As a member, I attended its annual convention once in 1994. It was only once, and afterwards I did not renew my membership. I saw that McDonald’s and other fast-food companies had booths at the convention. Furthermore, I noticed that I could have gotten continuing education credit if I would have attended a lecture/seminar at the conference titled something to the affect of Nutritive vs. Non-Nutritive Sweeteners–that was put on by Monsanto.

While I had my doubts about the ADA before I attended, having seen first hand how I felt that group sold-out made it clear that financial interests were ahead of health and nutrition.

Now, people will here ‘studies’ and other reports that will seem to make something not healthy, seem healthy. Many will grasp for that as an excuse to do what they know that they should not do.

This seems to be warned about in the Bible. Notice the contrast:

14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. (Revelation 22:14-15)

Many seemingly wish to love a lie.

Artificial sweeteners are also a lie. They should not be consumed by almost everyone.

Notice something from the German press about artificial sweeteners:

Sugar-free products stop us getting slimmer

Many people believe that synthetic sweeteners will help them lose weight. But it turns out that one common substitute for sugar actually blocks the function of an enzyme that is essential for preventing obesity. …

Subsequently, the researchers took four groups of mice. Two of them received a normal diet, the other two a high-fat diet. One of each of them received water to drink and the other an aspartame solution.

The amount of sweetener solution given to the normal diet group was equivalent to a human drinking three-and-a-half cans of soda a day. For the high-fat group it amounted to the equivalent of two cans.

In the end, there were hardly any noticeable differences between the two groups of mice that were fed a normal diet. But among the groups that received a high-fat diet, the mice that drank the sweetener solution became considerably heavier than those who drank plain water.

However, the blood sugar level was higher than normal in all of the mice that received sweetener solution. This is usually an indicator of glucose intolerance. All of these mice also experienced an increase of a protein called TNF-alpha in their blood. This protein is typically related to inflammations that are common in cases of metabolic syndrome.

What does that mean for humans? You’d be better off drinking plain water, or tea without sugar or sweetener, than grabbing a “zero-sugar” refreshment. 11/24/16 http://www.dw.com/en/sugar-free-products-stop-us-getting-slimmer/a-36504096

Phony foods are not food, but basically a form of deception.

Furthermore, the Bible warns about eating things that are not really food:

2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good (Isaiah 55:2).

Artificial sweeteners, chemical additives, excess refined sugar, and some other items commonly associated with junk foods would seem to be consistent with that warning.

The refining of sugar used to be a difficult and expensive process.

Until a few centuries ago, almost no one ever ate sugar any more refined than honey.

Although the Bible says that honey is good (Proverbs 24:13) even that should be limited according to the Bible:

6 Have you found honey?
Eat only as much as you need,
Lest you be filled with it and vomit. (Proverbs 25:16)

27 It is not good to eat much honey; (Proverbs 25:27)

Even ‘good’ sweets should be consumed sparingly.

As far as Coca-Cola specifically goes, its sponsoring of sporting events, use of celebrity endorsers , and political influence have sadly allowed people to act like it is a ‘responsible company.’ The tobacco industry also has been involved in such things.

In my view, Coca-Cola, along with many other companies, has been responsible for contributing to the harm of human health around the world.

Jesus taught:

31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. (Luke 6:31)

Who wants fake ‘scientific news’ that has been affected by greed?

Sadly, many companies have the wrong view of money:

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)

So, we will continue to see advertisements for a lot of things that are not healthy.

Do not be fooled. It normally take years, for example, before one’s diet results in diseases like diabetes. Consider this:

11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)

23 … be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7)

Do not do evil. Be careful about what you eat.

As a consumer, what should you eat? You should eat real food and be careful about your quantities.

2…Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good (Isaiah 55:2).

People should try to eat real, not artificial, foods.

The American and Anglo-Saxon descended nations are not setting the right example when it comes to diet and obesity and this does not bode well for them in the future (Proverbs 12:24; Daniel 11:39).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Obesity, processed foods, health risks, and the Bible Does the Bible warn about the consequences of being obese? Is overeating dangerous? Is gluttony condemned? What diseases are associated with eating too much refined foods?
Eating Right, Eating Too Much, and Prophecy Are there disadvantages to being overweight? Is junk food really bad for you? Does the Bible discuss overeating and/or obesity? Is overeating having an effect on the US military? What are the ramifications of personal and national health for overeating? What should you eat? This is a sermonette-length YouTubevideo.
GMOs and Bible Prophecy What are GMOs? Since they were not in the food supply until 1994, how could they possibly relate to Bible prophecy? Do GMOs put the USA and others at risk? Here is a related YouTube video GMO Risks and the Bible.
Chimeras: Has Science Crossed the Line? What are chimeras? Has science crossed the line? Does the Bible give any clues?
American foods that gross out foreigners A study done in the Fall of 2014 found out which foods that non-USA Americans considered weird or gross that Americans eat. This video discusses those foods, ingredients in some of those foods, and warns against consuming ‘that which is not bread’ (Isaiah 55:2). Dr. Thiel also warns about synthetic vitamins and some of the issues associated with them. He also discusses something promoted by the late Seventh-day Adventist, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg.
Ten Simple Rules that Lead to Health Herbert Armstrong gives his opinions on this.
Does God Heal Today? What does the Bible teach? Herbert Armstrong tries to explain this.
UK Study Supports Daniel Diet Daniel and his companions looked better eating more vegetables and avoiding strange meats. Has modern science confirmed this?
The New Testament Church, History, and Unclean Meats Are foods considered to have been unclean in the Old Testament considered to be food in the New Testament? This article discusses this from the perspective of the New Testament. It also has a list of clean and unclean animals. It also answers the question, is pork healthy or is pork dangerous? There is also a sermon-length video on this: Christians and Unclean Meats; a short video is also available: Did Jesus declare all animal flesh food?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught? For a more detailed discussion of the first four commandments, please see the video The Ten Commandments: Loving God. For a more detailed discussion of the last six commandments, please see: The Ten Commandments: Loving Your Neighbor. Here is a link to a related article in Mandarin Chinese 十条诫命显示爱，违反诫命的就是邪恶的
 Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings. A related sermon is titled: Christians and the Ten Commandments.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?