What’s Sugar Got To Do With It? (Part 1) by Joan Kent, PhD
What’s Sugar Got To Do With It? (Part 1)
By Joan Kent, PhD
It’s possible that you might not want to quit sugar. That’s okay.
But eating sugar does affect us in a number of ways. Part 1 covers how sugar can increase the consumption of junk that you might otherwise avoid.
Here’s one example. Not long ago, a participant in my weight management program asked me about cottonseed oil. She was confused because the online information she found was strongly divided between positive and negative.
So I investigated cottonseed oil and health.
Based on the research I could do in the limited time available, I can report that positive comments about cottonseed oil come primarily from companies that make or distribute it. The other sources rate it negatively.
The drawbacks of cottonseed oil fall into different categories.
• The saturated fat component.
Other saturated fats have some redeeming health value – organic coconut oil and butter, for example, both contain a healthful fat called lauric acid. But cottonseed oil has no similarly redeeming nutritional value. It’s truly junk.
• The pesticides in cottonseed oil.
Pesticides are there because they’re used in the growing of cotton – and regulations for cotton crops differ from those for food crops.
• The GMO problem.
In most cases, cotton crops are genetically modified. As you may know, considerable bad news surrounds GMO products, especially when they’re eaten, but that’s a whole post unto itself.
Suffice it to say that GMO farming is an experiment, and we’re the subjects. The long-term effects are not yet known. Many countries refuse to sell GMO foods, but the U.S. hasn’t gone in that protective direction. Besides, cotton’s not food, so they can get away with this.
• It’s used in junk foods.
Because it’s inexpensive, cottonseed oil is used in many products: potato chips, Crisco shortening, mayonnaise, margarine, breakfast cereals, salad dressings, baked goods, cake frostings, snack foods, sauces, and the like.
As you can see, most of these products are on the junky side – and the majority contain sugar. If you’re eating those sugary foods, you may be eating cottonseed oil, too.
• Cottonseed oil is high in omega-6 fats.
Omega-6s have been getting plenty of bad press for several years. In and of themselves, though, they aren’t necessarily bad. Even known Good Fats contain omega-6s – walnuts and flaxseeds are two examples.
The products that contain cottonseed oil, however – see the list above – tend to trigger lots of insulin. That’s often due to the sugar in them. Cottonseed oil itself would also be an insulin trigger. It contains saturated fat, and that triggers insulin.
What does insulin have to do with omega-6s?
Insulin can affect the body’s enzymes that have to process foods that contain cottonseed oil. The insulin/enzyme connection would, in turn, accelerate the formation of series 2 prostaglandins, as described in a previous post. Series 2 prostaglandins are hormones that are associated with inflammation and other negative health effects.
Most (if not all) disease starts with inflammation. High insulin production triggers inflammation – that’s when and how omega-6 fats become harmful. Cottonseed oil is loaded with omega-6s, and the oil itself, and the foods that it’s in, trigger high insulin.
Based on these 5 factors, I’d suggest taking a cynical view of any positive reviews of cottonseed oil. They definitely represent vested interests.
Limit foods that contain cottonseed oil whenever possible. That will help you limit sugar. And avoiding sugary junk will help you avoid cottonseed oil. A healthy cycle.
Keep in mind that this oil is just one example of junk that sugary foods contain. Quitting sugar can end that problem.
Part 2 will cover how sugar makes us eat more food – and want more junk.