On Food and Cooking

“Empty Calories” In one sense, sugars are
highly nourishing. Pure sugars are pure
energy. After fats and oils, they’re the most
concentrated source of calories we have. The
problem is that most people in the developed
world consume more energy than they need to
fuel their activity, and less than they need of
hundreds of other nutrients and plant
substances that contribute to long-term health
(p. 253). To the extent that sugar-rich foods
displace more broadly nourishing foods from
our diet, they are detrimental to human health,
a source of calories “empty” of any other
nutritional value, and a major contributor to
the modern epidemic of obesity and
associated health problems, including diabetes
(p. 659).
People in the developed world, particularly
in the United States, consume large amounts
of refined sugars. Adults in the United States
get about 20% of their calories from refined
sugars, children between 20% and 40%. Most