Is sugar toxic?

(CBS News) If you are what you eat, then what does it mean that the average American consumes 130 pounds of sugar a year? Sanjay Gupta reports on new research showing that beyond weight gain, sugar can take a serious toll on your health, worsening conditions ranging from heart disease to cancer. Some physicians go so far as to call sugar a toxin.

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The following script is from "Sugar" which aired on April 1, 2012. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is the correspondent. Denise Schrier Cetta and Sumi Aggarwal, producers.

The chances are good that sugar is a bigger part of your daily diet than you may realize which is why our story tonight is so important. New research coming out of some of America's most respected institutions is starting to find that sugar, the way many people are eating it today, is a toxin and could be a driving force behind some of this country's leading killers, including heart disease.

60 Minutes Overtime

Sugar and kids: The toxic truth »

As a result of these findings, an anti-sugar campaign has sprung up, led by Dr. Robert Lustig, a California endocrinologist, who believes the consumption of added sugars has plunged America into a public health crisis.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Is sugar toxic?

Dr. Robert Lustig: I believe it is.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Do you ever worry that that's-- it just sounds a little bit over the top?

Dr. Robert Lustig: Sure. All the time. But it's the truth.

Dr. Robert Lustig is a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco and a pioneer in what is becoming a war against sugar.

Motivated by his own patients -- too many sick and obese children - Dr. Lustig has concluded that sugar, more than any other substance, is to blame.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta: What are all these various diseases that you say are linked to sugar?

Dr. Robert Lustig: Obesity, type II diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease itself.

Lustig says the American lifestyle is killing us.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta: And most of it you say is preventable?

Dr. Robert Lustig: Seventy-five percent of it is preventable.

While Dr. Lustig has published a dozen scientific articles on the evils of sugar, it was his lecture on YouTube, called "Sugar: The Bitter Truth," that brought his message to the masses.

[YouTube Video: I'm standing here today to recruit you in the war against bad food.]

By "bad food" Dr. Lustig means the obvious things such as table sugar, honey, syrup, sugary drinks and desserts, but also just about every processed food you can imagine, where sugar is often hidden: yogurts and sauces, bread, and even peanut butter. And what about the man-made, often vilified sweetener, high fructose corn syrup?

Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Is it worse than just table sugar?

Dr. Robert Lustig: No. 'Cause it's the exact same. They are basically equivalent. The problem is they're both bad. They're both equally toxic.

Since the 1970s, sugar consumption has gone down nearly 40 percent, but high fructose corn syrup has more than made up the difference. Dr. Lustig says they are both toxic because they both contain fructose -- that's what makes them sweet and irresistible.

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[HesidB]

Excess sugar consumption is a major problem. Let's try to do something about it!!!!

Please sign my petition to get the FDA to determine a percent daily value for sugar and mandate its inclusion on nutrition labels. It is not a solution in itself, but it is a start.

https://www.change.org/petitions/food-and-drug-administration-determine-a-dv-for-sugar-and-mandate-its-inclusion-on-nutrition-labels

[Vibradiant]

Studies show that HFCS causes liver scarring and significantly greater weight gain than just sucrose. Stop believing the corn "sugar" poisoners. And prosecute them.

[catgirl2125]

We need to mainly cut down on REFINED sugar. This includes full-calorie sodas, cookies, doughnuts, cakes, pies, ice cream, fruit juices, candy, sweetended cereals, etc. This is where the majority of our sugar comes from-not "hidden" in pasta sauces and frozen dinners! I became a convert 6 years ago when I caught a cold. (Sugar has been scientifically proven to cause inflammation and lower the immune system.) Ever since then I cut WAY down on sugar, and I haven't had a single cold! Eating sugar is the absolute worst thing you can do to your body, other than doing drugs or drinking alcohol. It has absolutely no nutritional value, and keeps your blood sugar raised so that insulin will store any extra calories you consume as fat. But it does taste good, and I truly believe that humans will always have some craving for it, no matter what. It's just a matter of re-training your taste buds to be satisfied with less of it. It can be done; I'm living proof. I used to be a binge eater, but by concentrating on whole grains and fruits and vegetables, I was able to eliminate unhealthy cravings for sugar. Now I'll allow myself a little treat right before I go to bed (4 or 5 spoonfuls of Ben and Jerry's ice cream). In this way, I can consume sugar absolutely guilt-free, and not have to deny my cravings. Also, once your insulin levels are reduced, any extra fat (especially abdominal fat) will melt right off of you. And you'll no longer be a slave to your sugar cravings. I'm IMPLORING all Americans to really look at what they're eating and they'll see it's not impossible to eat very healthy and still have treats.

[loverofyahshua]

I have this, sounds good. I feel the ice cream thingy happening. Would like to hear more about this,
Thanks, dj

[lovethebeach392]

This story on the alleged dangers of sugar fails to point out that the average human lifespan in developed nations like the U.S. has nearly doubled within a century, which coincides with the increase of fructose sugar consumption!

I fear that propaganda pieces like this one are setting the stage for a calorie tax, which will place a heavy financial burden on the working poor in the U.S. They aren't trying to do us any favors - they just want our money!

[santadog9]

Let's break this down. You say, "Human lifespan increase = increase in fructose sugar consumption.
HFC was invented in the late 50s, and came to public in 1967 (the year that I was born) and was being produced industrially by the 1970, and became the standard for soda pop in the 80s. Since then, it has been put in just about every bit of mainstream food on your grocery shelves. Now, to me, it sounds like there is an increase in HFC consumption because everything from Pasta Sauce to pre-made lunches has had it added to the ingredients over the last 44 years. It's hard to stay away from it. Open your eyes and look.

[lilprincessred]

It's NOT sugar that is killing people. It is HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP ! I wish these quacks would get with the program and quit take money from the CORN REFINERS ASSOCIATION...........

[NoGMOs]

Isn't it interesting that none of these so-called scientists is bringing Genetically Modified corn or sugar beets into the conversation? If they analyzed the poison content of the sugars, they may conclude that the poisons are toxic to our bodies, and that the diseases mentioned increased with increased consumption of Bt toxin and RoundUp residuals. But until we label foods containing GMOs, just avoid consuming anything with corn syrup or "sugar" in the center aisles of the grocery store. Yes, about 90% of our food contains toxic GMOs. That is why Monsanto et al are trying to keep us from knowing which foods to avoid by labeling them. You folks in California need to set the precedent and make labeling GMOs mandatory. Please don't back down like Vermont and Connecticut. Your state is much bigger and more powerful. And you scientists and news companies need to get off the Big Ag payroll.

[lovethebeach392]

It is interesting that you mention these toxins that are being used on these corporate farms. Because of "free trade" policies that opened the gates for large importations of foreign-produced goods, we are still allowing the American consumer to purchase fruits and vegetables that have been treated with poisons such as DDT, as it is still legal in many third-world countries to use these products! Which companies still produce these toxic chemicals that were banned in the U.S.? The U.S. consumer truly has no idea what they are eating! Countries like Mexico and Costa Rica use this crap all of the time, and no one from our medical establishment has a single word to say about it! How convenient.

[santadog9]

They aren't bringing those topics up because the study was on table sugar and HFCS. If the study was about Sugar, HFCS, AND GMO Corn and Sugar Beets.. they would have talked about it. Maybe someone else is on that study.

[TheJakeyl88]

This is more fear mongering by "health" professionals. Just like butter is bad and we needed all these no or low fat products. Good ol' BUTTERY spray. Not only does butter help transport nutrients, but the fats are needed by the body and the brain. Butter has been used for 8000 years, isn't it funny how we are introduced to all these life saving new food products over the last 20 years and ever since then we've had more and more health problems. More disease, more cancer and far more obesity! These people are bought off, sugar is subsidized and someone is out to hurt em' where it counts. The old piggy bank. These companies come out with poison, buy off the FDA, put their people in office with $$$$ and rake in the dough while we suffer. Then they are there to rescue us with all the prescription drugs. Right up there with OIL COMPANY profits. Unreal. Death being one of the most profitable sides to the health industry, shouldn't surprise anyone that they couldn't care less about our health. Nothing is done unless is makes more profits. The brain needs sugar. Certainly doesn't need all these alternative sweeteners. Aspartame was Rumsfeld's little child. He nurtured that right through the FDA. Fluoride? Protects your teeth? Wow. Hook line and sinker.

[jdubbs86]

You have demonstrated that it is not hard to be a mongerer in your reaction. Yes certain fats are needed and glucose is needed. But the way that some people have gotten both has been in unnatural ways and is thus harmful. In nature sugar is accompanied by fiber and can thus be utilized correctly and not become a TOXIN. Thats right the dr. went through the science of how its metabolized in the liver. not mongering. SO, disease has gone up over the last couple decades as you have astutely pointed out. And despite us looking to cut down bad fats over that time, sugar consumption has gone up. Thus the stat you brought up to try to prove mongering is occuring proves that sugar is actually a likely culprit

[justcurious52404]

I am joining the comments late and haven't read them all so I apologize if my question has already been answered.

The Dr. featured recommended women consume under 100 calories from sugar a day and men under 150.

My question is: does this include sugars from fruits/veggies as well or just processed foods?

[habroms]

Please elaborate on the pros and cons of all three artificial sweeteners.
Thanks,
H. Abroms, M.D>

[Ericwvb]

I thought the article made it clear -- it's the overload of easily absorbed sugar that is the problem. If you eat a piece of fruit, you absorb the sugar slowly due to the fiber. If you eat honey, maple syrup, a candy bar, a can of coke, etc., your body gets bludgeoned with massive doses of glucose at once and deals with it poorly. I assume I interpreted the comments made by the researchers correctly. Too bad, I love sugary stuff :)