Happy Sunday Folks:

Last week I heard one of the most erroneous comments ever made by someone in the gym.  Believe it or not, it was made by a trainer.  I won’t mention who it was.  Not here, not there, so don’t even ask.  I bring it up however, because it got me thinking that if a trainer believes what I am about to debunk as truth, maybe some of you do too.

Now, we all have heard the expression, “if it’s white, don’t eat it”.  And, that’s usually true.  I always recommend choosing whole grain or wheat breads and pastas over white, sweet potatoes or yams (especially the former) over “baked” and, of course, brown rice over white (Unless you’re eating sushi of course – just kidding!).

So does the same hold true for sugar?  Well, I am sure you figured out by now it doesn’t.  But wanna know why?  Even more importantly, wanna know why it potentially be even worse for you?  Then continue on.

Believe it or not, brown sugar that so many of you so desperately want to put on your oatmeal (slow cooked, steel-cut of course, right?) is just plan table sugar that has been “recolored” brown by the manufacturers reintroducing molasses.  Yes my friends, all white sugar was initially brown until the molasses was separated from it during the refining process.

According to the Department of Agriculture, brown and white sugar contain about the same amount of kilocalories per teaspoon.  In fact, brown contains 17 compared to white’s 16.  Now, many believe that because molasses contains some nutrients like minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium, brown is a better choice than white.  However, since the amounts are tinier than sugar grains themselves, there is no health benefit derived choosing “raw” sugar.  But, as we all know, the real difference in the two is taste.  And ya know what?  Because brown sugar tastes “better” than white sugar, at least in most people’s opinion, studies show that those who use it tend to use more, therefore increasing their risk of sugar-related health issues, than if they were to ordinary table sugar.

So, what do I suggest.  What I always do.  When at all possible, avoid all added sugars.  But if you must, remember it’s “ok” to use six teaspoons of added sugar a day if you are a woman and nine if you are a man.

But, as far as I am concerned, real men and women don’t use sugar!

This day (April 7) in 1969, is the Internet’s symbolic birth date: publication of RFC 1.  Hmm..I thought Al Gore created the Internet.  Guess not!