Don'T Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight

by Rujuta Diwekar

the misinformation around sugar runs so deep that it’s also a sad tale of how this ancient nutrient (yep, I wrote nutrient) is now just looked down upon. We just ‘know’ that it’s harmful for ‘normal’ people and a killer for ‘diabetics’. Here’s the truth: Sugar has been celebrated as a panch amrit in our culture along with milk, honey, ghee and curd. The weight-loss industry has brainwashed us to look down upon each of them and it is the reputation of sugar that has taken the maximum beating. Sugar is not the white killer. In fact, ancient Egypt used it as a healer on wounds, way before antibiotics came into existence. What’s harmful is the way we are using sugar now—in biscuits, pastries, cakes, chocolates, etc., where, other than the fact that massive amounts of sugar is used, there is an overload of preservatives, trans fats, salts, emulsifiers and lack of essential fibre and minerals. Of course, we choose to overlook this fact and instead attach all harmful effects of these to sugar. Then, all the weight-loss industry does is to create another market for ‘diet’ foods. The preservatives, trans fats and emulsifiers stay, and sugar gets replaced with a sweetener. And we are told that this mixture will make us thin and prevent diabetes and heart disease. Really? So put that spoon of sugar into your tea or coffee; even if calories haunt you, it’s only 20 calories; you probably burnt that much by just reading this answer. One gulab jamun or peda won’t kill you either. What wi...