Nutrition is Complicated, but Research Shows Sugar Enjoyed in Moderation is Part of a Healthy, Balanced Lifestyle

December 18, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to claims made by Dr. David Perlmutter in the update to his 2013 book Grain Brain, Sugar Association President and CEO Courtney Gaine PhD, RD, issued the following statement:

The fact is that nutrition is complicated, even though we want it to be simple – it isn’t. As humans we crave order we want the world to make sense. It’s easier if we know that X definitely causes Y. However, in nutrition, it’s not that simple and absolute cause-and-effect relationships are rarely seen. Foods aren’t all bad or all good. It’s complicated.

Unfortunately, people will always seek to make money or gain notoriety promoting their ideas as the key to health, and that it’s as easy as adding or eliminating one food or another. It is a disservice to oversimplify diet and disease messages whether positive or negative.

While certain people may see a benefit from quick dietary fixes, for most people a diet of balance, variety, and moderation, coupled with an active lifestyle is the healthiest path forward.

The Sugar Association believes that sugar is best enjoyed in moderation and decades of research support this fact.”

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The Sugar Association, founded in 1943, is the scientific voice of the U.S. sugar industry. The association is committed to making a difference by continuously supporting scientific research and sharing its knowledge that there’s more to sugar by increasing consumer understanding of and confidence in the role that sugar plays in a nutritious, balanced and enjoyable diet. The Sugar Association represents nearly 12,000 beet and cane sugar growers, as well as processors and refiners of sugar. The U.S. sugar industry generates 142,000 jobs in 22 states and contributes $20 billion to the economy annually. For more information, visit www.sugar.org, follow us on Twitter, and connect with us on Facebook.