Both are awful, especially in large quantity and/or eaten regularly.

But you have made a bit of a mistake in your example of skittles vs donut.

There are LOTS of things wrong with skittles. The ingredients are disgusting. Sugar is one of them.

Also, the donut has LOTS of sugar too, so it's not just the grain dough that is the problem with the donut.

I think a better comparison would be...

What's worse... regularly eating bread and multigrain crackers or regularly consuming high sugar drinks?

If I was doomed to a life or one or the other, I would be quite vexed. If I was gluten intolerant or had bad reactions to it, I would be forced to choose the daily gulping of high sugar drinks. But if not, I might opt for the bread and crackers. I know grain gluten is no good (hence my vexed-ness) but eating loads of sugar will jack you up in many ways as well, and at least the grain has some potential contributing nutrients. The sugar, has virtually zero. The only good it would provide would be the energy your body gets from the glucose.

This is a tough one. I'll repeat my first point. Both are awful.

Out of curiosity, are you being held at gun point or something? That might be the real question here. Is this question code for a cry for help? If yes, update your avatar to blink twice...

The sugar. If you're diabetic. The gluten. If you're allergic to it.

But if you don't fall into either category, why obsess? Go for a walk. It'll kill cravings and will do your body some good.

hmmmm, bring your own snack? 8)

In my experience, having the skittles or the donuts just leads me to having more bad decisions. I have to refrain completely.

If, however, I HAD to decide, I would go with skittles because I know the donut will give me a raging headache and put me in a stupor for the rest of the day. Currently, though, I don't know if I could make it through an entire bag of skittles without similar results...

For me it was gluten flour. If I had some dim sum - especially those yummy gooey things stuffed with a mango custard - I'd be desperate for a nap within 15 minutes. I'm talking about a pull-over-while-on-the-freeway-on-the-way-home-from-work-and-doze kind of desperation and my blood glucose was spiking. I'm pretty sure I am (was) prediabetic, though don't know why sugar by itself wasn't quite as bad - maybe it was the fructose slowing things down?

Anyway this wouldn't be universal of course - people have different and 'personalized' reactions to different foods.

Strangely, I've heard that drug dealers don't use their own products. Imagine buying drugs from someone who was shaking, emaciated, twitching, and talking to people that aren't there? My approach with the office pusher is to look at them and decide whether you want their belly, three chins, and their pharmaceutical habit. Sadly, the office pusher indulges in their own product and the results often speak for themselves.

Ask them if they would like a nice glass of heavy whipping cream. They should leave you alone after that.

" Thanks, but I don't do sugar" takes care of both choices quite neatly...;)

I have to say they are BOTH total poison to me...but then I've already been down the road of being very "broken" and the long road back to enjoying basically perfect health today...so, no allure there.

Erik, you wrote in a comment: "A better question is how do I get through the my sugar withdrawals while trying to lose weight?"

GAH, my problem totally! I'm a hopeless sugar addict. My answer: fruit. Particularly citrus and berries. You will read posts where fruit is discouraged if one is trying to lose weight, but if you are choosing cupcakes or donuts over an orange, you've got bigger problems. (I'm not offending- just being honest with you!)

I have problems with sugar cravings in mid-morning and mid-afternoon. In the morning, I make sure to load up with fat, fat, fat, and that does help me cut the cravings. And I tell myself to get through lunch and then I can eat my fruit. :) Everyday I pack an orange, grapefruit, or a small container of berries for mid-afternoon. I tell myself I MUST eat my healthy sweet snack before I can eat a crappy one. I eat it slowly and try to really enjoy it. 19 times out of 20, it works, because I'm not really hungry- it's just a craving. By the time I feel the urge to eat something sweet again, it's almost time to leave work and hit the gym, so it's easier to cope with and ignore. (I personally stay away from bananas and apples as snacks, higher sugar and carbs gets me wonky and wanting more.)

I also eat a small "paleo" treat, square of dark chocolate at night, or small glass of sweet red wine after supper if the sugar craving kicks up.

This doesn't mean you won't goof up, but it will be easier to deal with if you give yourself the right choices. Given the effects of gluten on a person's digestive system + total body, and how long it can affect a person after ingestion, I tend to think gluten is worse than sugar. But of course, natural sugars and sweeteners are better than white granulated sugar, and everything in minimal amounts is key. You are not perfect; you will never be; but you can minimize the damage and still feel good if you keep working at it. :)

Some people are allergic to gluten (about 1-10% based on different reports) but everyone is adversely affected by directly ingesting the primary signaling molecule for metabolism and appetite control - glucose. Let's not forget dental carries also.

From an both an epidemiological and metabolically disruptive perspective sugar is worse by far.

are you people insane? there's nothing wrong with gluten unless your gluten intolerant. And Skittles.....much less calories. Nobody answers his questions.....obviously he knows they're both bad so dont answer and say neither because it doesnt help anyone