Well said. Many do not know that cancer is a result of DNA mutation. Thanks for the insight.

-Ryan

“all food we eat is converted to sugar”

If we talking about carbohydrates, then yes, those are all broken down into simple sugars. As far as all foods are concerned, not true. Fats and proteins are broken down into both fatty acids and amino acids. In this day in age the majority of our energy does come from glucose, because large amounts of grains, sugars and carbs in general are consumed. However, just because glucose is our primary energy source does not mean that we cannot obtain our energy from other sources.

“Fruit Juices are sugar therefore they are energy”

Yes they CAN be used as energy. But if our energy requirements are already met, which is often the case, sugar is then digested by the liver and re-released as fat and cholesterol in the blood. Which end up as fat in our bodies.

I just want to clear up my position on fruit and fruit juices. In moderation I have no problem with fruits. Although they contain lots of sugar, no matter how “natural”, but they also contain fiber and are a whole food. I could never bash a whole food that has never been processed.

Fruit juice is completely different though. Their is no fiber or any girth to slow down the absorption of the sugars found in these beverages. It just shoots right through the body and if our body does not utilize it as energy, turns to fat.

“Most Americans have a diet lacking in vitamins so it’s probably beneficial that they take supplements”

Those were my same thoughts until I read an article in the Science Times section the NY Times a while back.

“Researchers in the Women’s Health Initiative study tracked eight years of multivitamin use among more than 161,000 older women. Despite earlier findings suggesting that MVs might lower the risk of heart disease and certain cancers, the study, published in the The Archives of Internal Medicine, found no such benefit.”

Also, the article noted a study that tracked 15,000 male physicians for a decade. The study reported no differences in cancer or heart disease rates among those who used a vitamin E and C supplement and those who took a placebo.

The article is really interesting as it also points out that in test tubes cancer “gobbles up” vitamin C.

This kind of strays away from the DNA and RNA aspect (which you are correct in saying), but it is compelling none the less. I tried to find the article online and could not. If your interested I have the hard copy you could borrow.

As far as vitamins go, you hit the nail on the head as to why we feel the need to take a MV. The majority of Americans eat a nutritionally poor diet and look to MVs as a scape goat to eating whole, natural foods. This belief is slowly losing its weight.

And yes this is a great discussion. Houli, you bring up valid points that I know many other people are thinking. Thank you for making them public.

-Ryan

Hmmm. Crystal light is much, much better than soda. The little packets do not contain any where near the amount of sugar that soda and sports drinks do. I’m pretty sure that many drinks like Crystal Light contain artificial sweeteners as well. Although their is no link between AS and health, I personally shy away from any and all chemically made substances.

If you have to decide between soda or CL, choose the CL every time. If you need flavor in your water, I recommend taking some fruit and squeezing the juice into your water. Fresh and natural water flavoring for a fraction of the price. I personally love taking a few slices of lemon or lime and squeezing the juice in my water. This can be done with most citrus fruits. Not sure if it would work with fruits like apples or grapes, but it is worth a shot.

Thanks for reading and commenting Chris,

Ryan

“Carbonation which is probably the largest difference between sports drinks and sodas.”

Yes I did leave this fact out of my article. The main reason was because carbonation is really not that big of deal. Other than the fact that carbonation prevents vitamins and minerals from existing it is not that bad. How vitamins and minerals are actually found in soda pre-carbonation? Carbon is actually a stomach stabilizer. Which is why mommy always gives us Sprite or 7-up when we are sick.

Yes fruit juices do provide people with vitamins that sodas do not have. However the juices that are found in these drinks are far from the same juice that is squeezed out of a fresh piece of fruit. Juices that are found in bottles are heated up to kill all of the bacteria and other natural substances that are found in fruit. This is done to kill any ingredient that may spoil the juice.

Many health enthusiasts have probably come across the term “phytonutrients”. These are nutrients that are found in living things. The jury is still out on all the benefits of these, but many believe that they are the sole reason as to why whole, fresh fruits and vegetables are so beneficial for the human body. When juices or any fresh vegetable are heated or cooked, the phytonutrients are destroyed.

I would also like to mention that we as a society put way to much weight in the vitamin basket. Vitamins are not a bad thing, I am not saying that we should all stop eating foods with vitamins. I am simply stating that vitamins receive much more attention than they deserve (other than Vitamin D). We can get all of the vitamins we need by eating a balanced diet. The juices found in fruits are present along with lots of fiber. Fiber slows the digestion and absorption of the fruit it self.

For moment, think how much juice is actually found in a piece of fruit. Not much. This is not by mistake. If it takes six apples to make a 12oz bottle of apple juice, would you be able to eat six apples in one sitting? Of course not, you would be full far before you got to six. The fiber found in these fruits acts as a mediator. To reinforce my point even further, fruit juices contain absolutely no fiber in them. They are pure sugar with some vitamins. The trade off of obtaining vitamins while consuming huge amounts of sugar is far from fair.

“Sugar in fruit drinks is energy; it isn’t going to kill you or make you fat, and you need energy to live and function.”

Are you serious? Yes it will make us fat and all food is energy so I have no idea how you can claim that fruit drinks are energy. Can we not get energy from other foods?

Houli, sugar is sugar is sugar. At the molecular level, our bodies digest sugar the same no matter where is came from. Whether it be from an apple or from sugar cane. Do not let the popular belief that all fruits, no matter what kind, sit beside the thrown of God. Yes we need glucose (the sugar found in fruits) to survive, but not in the form or quantities that we consume them.

Thanks for the thought provoking comment. Even though I still do not understand your fruit is energy claim. Maybe you can explain it more clearly.

-Ryan

The vast majority of people do not drink unsweetened teas. Unsweetened bottled teas taste like dirt. I am speaking to those that drink sweetened teas, which actually taste good.

Thanks for the comment bro

Ryan