In the past few decades, the establishment and its foot soldiers have waged war on sugar. It has been demonized beyond imagination. As a result, many of the drinks in stores nowadays are sugar-free. Sugar substitutes like stevia, Sucralose, aspartame, and many more have taken the packaged food and drink world by storm. And nothing of value was gained.

Sugar is not the enemy. And it never was. In fact, it’s your body’s primary source of energy. Without it, the body will reluctantly pull resources from itself to create energy. And that’s not the state you’d like the body to be in.

SUGAR AND THE THYROID

Sugar is used to convert inactive thyroid hormone to active thyroid hormone. This in turn gives you a healthy metabolism. A good metabolism efficiently converts food into energy, supporting essential body functions, growth, and repair, while also helping to maintain a healthy weight by balancing energy storage and usage. While sugar is not the sole contributor to the functions of thyroid, it’s certainly a large part. You can’t just eat exclusively sugar and thus fix your thyroid, but you can’t have premium thyroid function without daily stores of sugar.

SUGAR AND STRESS

“Stress seems to be perceived as a need for sugar.” - Dr. Ray Peat

When stress is high, the body rifles through its glycogen storage faster than it normally would. This results in stress. Stress interrupts or interferes with various bodily processes, including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems, leading to issues such as muscle tension, respiratory problems, heart disease, hormonal imbalances, digestive issues. If nothing else, it can drive you nuts. Stress grinds away at the mind, quickly. 

The human liver converts sugar into glycogen to store excess glucose for later use, helping regulate blood sugar levels and providing readily available energy, or stress relief, when needed. Having a good intake of simple sugar can directly decrease the rates of stress you encounter, granted that the rest of your diet is not in total shambles. This process works much better in people who avoid seed oils, or PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids). Seed oils, in almost every vector imaginable, disrupt the necessary processes within the body.

Personally, we see the greatest health in those who eat a balanced diet of animal proteins, raw or very high quality dairy, and simple sugars. There’s nothing like a diet of steaks, milk, and some fruits, juices, etc.

SUGAR AND BACTERIAL ENDOTOXINS

“The stress response is self-sustaining on several levels. For example, stress increases the absorption of bacterial endotoxin from the intestine, which increases the estrogen level and synergizes with biliverdin and cortisol.” - Dr. Ray Peat

First, let’s explain what endotoxins are in plain English. Bacterial endotoxins are toxic substances found inside certain types of bacteria. They're basically part of the outer wall of these bacteria. When the bacteria die or break apart, these toxins are released. Think of them as the "debris" left behind by bacteria that can cause problems in our bodies.

There is an interesting relationship between sugar metabolism and the body's response to endotoxins: When the body detects bacterial endotoxins, it triggers an inflammatory response. Recent research has shown that increased glycolysis (breakdown of glucose) in immune cells plays a crucial role in mounting an effective immune response against endotoxins. The increased glucose metabolism provides the necessary energy for immune cells to function properly, produce cytokines, and carry out their defensive activities.

Additionally, a good liver means good detoxification.

SUGAR FIGHTS INFLAMMATION

Modern diets are generally rich in seed oils, high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). It’s just the way of the world today, and something we still need to fight among mainstream discourse. These oils are a significant factor in the widespread inflammation affecting millions today. But it can be fought.

First, stop consuming seed oils. That’s absolutely essential, and a topic to go into elsewhere. Second, consume good sugar.