Is all sugar bad for you? High fructose corn syrup vs fruit & honey

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Paul Saladino60m · 2023-01-24

Claims Made

128

Claims Supported

95

Support Rate

74%

Support rate

95 of 128 claims supported

95 supported33 partial / not

Claims from this content

101

Well SupportedDiabetic patients consuming high amounts of honey (up to 180+ grams/day) in a study lost weight and became more insulin sensitive, despite an increase in hemoglobin A1c.Well SupportedDiabetics who consumed 175 grams of honey per day for eight weeks lost approximately two kilograms.Well SupportedAn animal-based diet of well-raised meat, organs, and low-toxicity plant foods is believed to be powerfully beneficial.Well SupportedFasting insulin is the best test to assess insulin sensitivity, which is the most important metric for human health.Well Supported

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Bookmarking — the dossier-vs-overview split is the right call. Most of the time I want overview; sometimes I want receipts.

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Fruit is the least defended part of a plant, with lower levels of defense chemicals compared to stems and leaves, especially as it ripens.

Well SupportedInsulin plays a role in renal sodium transport, leading to sodium retention.

Well SupportedPure fructose or processed sugars like high-fructose corn syrup should not be conflated with whole-food carbohydrate sources such as fruit or honey.

Well SupportedPaul Saladino remains insulin sensitive despite significant carbohydrate consumption due to his blood work foundation and not being obese or diabetic.

Well SupportedIn metabolically unhealthy individuals, carbohydrates can be problematic and should be eliminated, but they do not cause weight gain in metabolically healthy individuals.

Well SupportedFructose causes fatty liver and metabolic syndrome in mice even without causing weight gain when food intake is controlled.

Well SupportedIncluding carbohydrates can be helpful for individuals experiencing long-term issues with electrolyte balance.

Well SupportedDiabetes and rising blood sugars are primarily caused by inappropriate gluconeogenesis from the liver being resistant to insulin's signals, not by excessive sugar intake.

Well SupportedMethylglyoxal, a harmful advanced glycation end product, is significantly raised in individuals following both low-carb and ketogenic versions of the Atkins diet.

Well SupportedCarbohydrates can lead to lower levels of advanced glycation end products like methylglyoxal, which are increased in individuals on ketogenic diets.

Partially SupportedPhysiologic insulin resistance in a low-carbohydrate state is a normal human physiological response distinct from pathological insulin resistance.

Not SupportedKetogenic diets increase advanced glycation end products, specifically methylglyoxal, which is detrimental to aging and oxidative stress.

Well SupportedDetoxified vegetables are more digestible and less problematic for humans.

Well SupportedCarbohydrates are beneficial for long-term health and do not need to be feared, including potential rises in blood sugar after consumption.

Well SupportedHoney and maple syrup are simpler, more natural sweetener options compared to artificial sweeteners or highly processed natural alternatives.

Well SupportedKetogenic diets can raise cortisol by shifting precursor enzymatic systems toward increased cortisol production.

Not SupportedStarchy foods like bread, potatoes, pasta, and rice can cause gut inflammation leading to endotoxin and downstream effects.

Well SupportedFruit, honey, maple syrup, and lactose from milk are the best sources of carbohydrates for humans.

Well SupportedFermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi promote a healthy gut microbiome.

Well SupportedMethylglyoxal promotes oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, contributing to atherosclerosis and macrovascular diabetic complications.

Not SupportedHigh fructose corn syrup may contain mercury contamination.

Well SupportedPostprandial insulin spikes from carbohydrates can lead to beneficial changes in sex hormone binding globulin and glutathione.

Not SupportedKetogenic diets may accelerate aging by increasing methylglyoxal.

Not SupportedSeed oils are a significant negative impact on health that people should focus on eliminating.

Partially SupportedCarbohydrates from sources like fruit, honey, raw dairy, and maple syrup may not be as detrimental as high fructose corn syrup and could improve quality of life.

Partially SupportedBlood sugar spikes from honey consumption are not damaging and honey is beneficial for humans, not causing insulin resistance or metabolic dysfunction.

Partially SupportedFeeding cows predominantly grains can lead to subacute ruminal acidosis, potentially compromising milk quality and increasing the likelihood of pathogenic content.

Not SupportedPlant fiber does not increase alpha diversity, and ketogenic diets for epilepsy do not decrease alpha diversity.

Not SupportedHigh fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is significantly worse for health than sucrose (table sugar), and should not be given to children.

Not SupportedKetosis is not a beneficial state for most humans all of the time, and the speaker feels better not being in ketosis constantly.

Partially SupportedRaw organic honey may support patients with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

Not SupportedHigh fructose corn syrup should be avoided due to negative health impacts.

Partially SupportedInsulin is not the enemy and providing the body with some insulin is beneficial.

Partially SupportedA ketogenic diet can increase cortisol, a stress hormone, which may negatively affect aging.

Partially SupportedEating sugarcane or drinking sugarcane juice may not be detrimental to humans due to micronutrients and being an unprocessed sugar.

Partially SupportedDaily honey consumption reduced serum immunoglobulin E by 34%, increased serum copper, reduced fasting blood sugar by 5%, reduced LDH by 41%, decreased creatine kinase by 33%, increased blood vitamin C by 47%, and increased glutathione reductase by 7%.

Not SupportedPure sucrose (table sugar) has no role in the human diet because it is stripped of micronutrients found in whole carbohydrate sources.

Partially SupportedHigh fructose corn syrup has a similar fructose to glucose ratio as honey.

Partially SupportedOxalates, chalkinine, solenines, and other defense chemicals found in beans, grains, nuts, seeds, and root vegetables can be problematic.

Partially SupportedPrioritizing sugars from fruit, honey, and maple syrup is beneficial for long-term health.

Partially SupportedExperimenting with cutting out starches may be beneficial for individuals who prepare their own food at home.

Partially SupportedHigh fructose corn syrup appears to be more harmful to humans than sucrose, maple syrup, honey, fruit, or lactose in dairy.

Partially SupportedWhen consuming root vegetables as a carbohydrate source, it is recommended to cut off the skin and cook them thoroughly.

Not SupportedOptimal mental functioning can be achieved through adequate sleep, stress management, moderate exercise, and good nutrition, without requiring a ketogenic diet.

Not SupportedThe ketogenic diet can increase cortisol levels, which are stress hormones with negative aging effects.

Partially SupportedImproving food quality and eating carbohydrates can lead to equivalent weight loss compared to a ketogenic diet, while avoiding negative effects like hormonal interruptions, electrolyte issues, and sleep disturbances.

Partially SupportedFeeding grains to cattle creates Subacute Ruminal Acidosis (SARA), increases lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the organism, and leads to inflammation in those cattle.

Partially SupportedGrass-fed and grass-finished beef is preferred over grain-finished beef because grain finishing is not evolutionarily consistent and can lead to inflammation in cattle.

Partially SupportedCarbohydrates are preferred from fruit, honey, maple syrup, and lactose due to concerns about gut inflammation and anti-nutrients associated with starches.

Partially SupportedFor large, active individuals, white rice may be a good carbohydrate option when traveling due to lower arsenic and lectin detoxification.

Partially SupportedResearch on high fructose corn syrup or sugar-sweetened beverages in the US may not be directly translatable to the effects of consuming honey, maple syrup, or fruit.

Not SupportedConsumption of high-fructose corn syrup is not recommended, and it is distinct from sugars found in natural sources.

Partially SupportedWhite rice is considered the least harmful carbohydrate source when individuals cannot prepare their own food.

Partially SupportedGlycemic index, glycemic load, and post-prandial blood sugar are not strong predictors of long-term cardiovascular health.

Partially SupportedPressure-cooked white potatoes without the skin are tolerable for some individuals.

Partially SupportedAfter a period of ketosis, reintroducing carbohydrates may cause a temporary increase in blood glucose as the body adjusts to utilizing carbs again.

Partially SupportedHigh fructose corn syrup affects human health differently than fructose found in fruit and honey.

Partially SupportedDecreased consumption of fructose-containing beverages leads to improvements in insulin sensitivity in children.

Partially SupportedIn diabetic or insulin-resistant individuals, elevated blood sugar after consuming carbohydrates is a symptom of underlying metabolic dysfunction, not the cause of diabetes.

Partially SupportedLow fasting insulin suggests insulin sensitivity, and a rise in postprandial insulin, triggered by protein or carbohydrates, is beneficial for humans.

Partially SupportedA Heart & Soil supplement improved irritability, anger, and mental fog during perimenopause within 10 days.

Partially SupportedPhysiological insulin resistance experienced on ketogenic or carnivore diets will reverse within 72 hours of reintroducing carbohydrates.

Partially SupportedMaple syrup contains nutrients like manganese and riboflavin, and honey also contains nutrients.

Partially SupportedThe Chlor Alkali procedure used in high fructose corn syrup production historically led to significant mercury contamination.

Partially SupportedSimple carbohydrates like honey are preferable to starches if carbohydrates are desired, as they do not reach the colon to increase LPS production.

Partially SupportedHoney, maple syrup, or fruit are better alternatives to lollipops or pancake syrup containing high fructose corn syrup for children.

Partially SupportedInsulin signaling is necessary for controlling electrolytes, and a lack of dietary carbohydrates can lead to electrolyte problems.

Partially SupportedBlood sugar levels of 110-150 mg/dL after consuming fruit or honey while on a ketogenic or carnivore diet are not pathological and will improve over time as the body re-adapts to processing carbohydrates.

Partially SupportedSugars found in fruit are packaged with nutrients like thiamine, which is necessary for carbohydrate processing.

Partially SupportedTable sugar (sucrose) is very different from high fructose corn syrup.

Not SupportedStarches are problematic for humans in many ways, potentially due to higher amounts of fiber which can be damaging.

Not SupportedWeight loss achieved through a ketogenic diet does not necessarily indicate that the diet is healthy long-term.

Partially SupportedA ketogenic diet can lead to electrolyte imbalances, such as cramping, which may not be fully resolved by supplementing with magnesium, potassium, or sodium.

Partially SupportedHigh fructose corn syrup consumption in rats is associated with increased body weight, body fat, triglyceride levels, and liver fat percentage.

Partially SupportedHigh fructose corn syrup consumption negatively alters the intestinal microbiota structure in mice, leading to increased body weight and fat accumulation.

Partially SupportedBeverages containing high fructose corn syrup may have 4-5 times more carbohydrates and calories than listed, potentially contributing to obesity.

Partially SupportedThe 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting consumption of all added sugars, including high fructose corn syrup and sucrose.

Partially SupportedMolasses may be beneficial for humans because it is less refined than pure table sugar.

Partially SupportedSharing blood work, including fasting insulin, fasting blood sugar, glycemic variability, hs-CRP, testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, cortisol, and prolactin, adds nuance to health discussions.

Partially SupportedBlood glucose levels of 180-220 mg/dL after eating indicate excessive carbohydrate intake.

Partially SupportedCarbohydrates, including glucose and sucrose, do not cause diabetes; studies from the 1960s and 70s showed improvements in metabolic function and reversal of diabetes with 85% carbohydrate diets.

Partially SupportedExtracting sucrose from beets or sugarcane removes accompanying nutrients.

Partially SupportedTransitioning off a ketogenic diet can lead to improved hormones, sex hormone binding globulin, sleep, mood, baseline metabolism, and electrolyte balance.

Partially SupportedKetosis can lead to electrolyte imbalances, hormonal issues related to 11 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, and sleep disturbances.

Partially SupportedHigh fructose corn syrup is found in processed foods and beverages such as Gatorade, Powerade, Coca-Cola, ketchup, salad dressings, and some energy bars.

Partially SupportedIt takes approximately 72 hours for the body to re-establish metabolic machinery to process carbohydrates after a period of carbohydrate restriction.

Partially SupportedHoney protects the vasculature from endothelial dysfunction and remodeling.

Not SupportedAvoiding high fructose corn syrup is important for children's health.

Not SupportedConsuming processed sucrose stripped of nutrients may not be detrimental if consumed occasionally.

Partially SupportedHigh fructose corn syrup may have different effects than sucrose in animals.

Partially SupportedRemoving seed oils and artificial sweeteners can lower blood sugar by correcting insulin resistance.

Partially SupportedElite athletes include carbohydrates, primarily starches, in their diet for performance.

Not SupportedA ketogenic diet is not significantly better than other weight loss methods and may negatively impact sex hormones, electrolytes, sleep, and thyroid function.

Partially SupportedHoney possesses antioxidant properties that may help reduce oxidative stress, a central mechanism in metabolic syndrome.

Partially SupportedA 5'9", 165 lb active individual can consume 300g of carbohydrates daily from sources like milk, maple syrup, honey, and fruit juice.

Not SupportedFearing carbohydrates or a rise in blood sugar after eating them is unnecessary.

Not SupportedHigh fructose corn syrup (HFCS) consumption is strongly associated with health problems in humans.