Sugar: Madness Over a Macronutrient – MPR.
This article is interesting to me for a few reasons. One is that the current fad of calling refined sugar ‘evil’ (as well the fad of considering high fructose corn syrup as even worse than Satan) is something that has come and gone. This is something that the article does point out repeatedly.
The other is that, as with many things dietary and lifestyle related, perhaps caution with somethings is warranted but that for many things (like sugar), a moderate approach is better. It’s perhaps wiser to avoid refined sugar as much as possible (no two liter bottles of regular soda, have candy only occasionally, etc), but not get upset if one does have a can of soda or a piece of candy on occasion. If having something with a lot of refined sugar once in a while helps someone eat in a healthy manner, it’s better than going overboard with too much refined sugar. A can of soda or a piece of cake isn’t going to undo one month, or one week for that matter, of eating a healthy diet.
I would no more suggest that people don’t exercise because they might get injured than I’d say cut out sugar entirely. Better you do both (exercise and have sugar) moderately. That way if you do have something “bad” for you then won’t beat yourself over the head when you do so.