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Anyone have thoughts about cane sugar that's found in diet hansen soda and cashew clusters? What about cane juice? Is this a Paleo fopaux?

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It's my understanding that cane sugar is table sugar, the ordinary white (sometimes brown) stuff. Cane juice is just slightly less processed, according to this site, but seems essentially the same as cane sugar: whfoods.com/… – Rose Aug 19 2011 at 15:57
Do you not mean to say "is this a paleo faux pas?" – foreveryoung Jul 13 at 21:29

10 Answers

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Avoid added sugar of any type. It's bad juju.

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Yeah, as Rose said it is just a little less processed. If a sweetener is added, agave or honey is ideal. – Householder Aug 19 2011 at 16:16
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 Agave is the worst possible sweetener you can use. It's 90% fructose. I'd rather use high fructose corn syrup. – mari Aug 19 2011 at 17:38
Noted :P, honey then? I do personally try to avoid all added sugar, but it is always best to know the lesser of evils. And that seems to be what this question is about. – Householder Aug 20 2011 at 15:16
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 Honey is largely fructose as well. Honestly, I'd say table sugar (50% fructose and 50% glucose, essentially) isn't as bad for you as honey, agave, or HFCS, and something like dextrose (100% glucose) even less. On the other hand, if it's just a rare, once-in-a-blue-moon cheat, none of them are likely to cause too many problems unless you have a lot at once. – ra25093 Aug 20 2011 at 22:19
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 Maple syrup has been my sweetener of choice, lately. It's higher in antioxidants than honey or sugar, and is mostly sucrose. And I put sugar in my PWO cup of heavy cream to balance the salt I also put in there, but that's just ten kinds of paleo-wrong, so don't go by me there. :P – Corbab Jul 13 at 21:40
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Just eat Whole Food. It should be the simple rule of paleo. Can you find and eat those quantities on a daily basis in that source in the wild? Then go for it. Is the source farmed, processed, or concentrated? Avoid it.

I still firmly suggest anyone with a damaged system avoid more than minimal carbs until healthy and follow a gut healing, anti inflammatory diet. Sugar of any kind has inflammatory reactions.

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Cane sugar has only one thing going for it: Manufacturers that use cane sugar care more about food quality than those using high fructose corn syrup.

It's also okay right before a workout. Sugar is metabolized very quickly and if you can burn it off, it's okay to have some.

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what about PO workout if you need to refill glycogen stores? – WaveHunter Aug 20 2011 at 12:14
I don't know. I'd only consume a large amount of sugar before a workout, personally. – Dylan Aug 20 2011 at 16:24
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Cane sugar is just regular sugar and it still has 50% fructose. However, a little bit of fructose is fine. For example, I'll have dark chocolate with 6g sugar and 3g fructose and I definitely don't think that is a problem.

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yes we have the ability to process fructose controlled and safely – WaveHunter Aug 20 2011 at 12:18
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sugar is sugar is sugar is sugar. just stop looking for some alternative. if you've decided you're going to have some sugar, then go for the cane sugar. it's better than any artificial one. just don't trick yourself into thinking it's healthy/ beneficial in any way, shape or form

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not according to some studies – WaveHunter Aug 20 2011 at 12:11
please direct me to them. if i see some compelling evidence to include sugar in my diet, i'd be open to the idea. but you have to give me more than "some studies" – mloster Aug 20 2011 at 17:56
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I would have to agree with the others. I believe can sugar is less processed, but outside of that, your body has the same negative reactions to it.

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what about when you take sucrose and combine it with nutrient dense food, do you think there are still negative reactions? – WaveHunter Aug 20 2011 at 12:16
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Sucanat seems benign in small quantities (in coffee or tea, as opposed to a cupcake). It's essentially dried cane juice from the initial pressing. Lots of minerals and nutrients are preserved, and it has a very molasses-like flavor. It's also not as sweet as refined sugar. I've had it the past with no issues.

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I'd say the "nay's" have it!

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Lol! A down-vote? Really? – FED at LiveCaveman.com Aug 20 2011 at 13:03
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For those above that are saying you would rather use HFCS over honey or agave, you should do some research. If you are looking for the lesser of two evils, why would you pick a processed item over a non-processed? Pure honey is just that. As is pure agave. They are natural. Fructose is "fruit sugar," sweetness that is produced naturally in the agave and many other plants. Your body can break down the natural stuff much easier than the processed stuff and satisfy your "sweet" craving with a lesser amount. Here is some nice info I found on pure honey:

http://www.captainjohnshoney.com/main.htm

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"processed" doesn't imply bad. "natural" doesn't imply good. I don't care the agave is "natural" it's still 90% fructose. Processing itself isn't inherently bad, it's that processing usually makes the food, not foodlike, and that's why we shouldn't eat it. It's the end result that matters, not how we got there. – miked Jul 13 at 21:36
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nope if your doing paleo no added sugar of any kind!!!

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2 
 Aye aye, Captain Paleo! – Corbab Jul 13 at 21:37

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