zlacker

I see your point, although some of the symptoms are quite subtle. Most people with sleep apnea don't know they have it until they get tested. Same for other symptoms.

What's really normalized is metabolic syndrome. 88% of adult americans have some degree of metabolic dysfunction. High blood pressure, obesity and other ailments are very often a direct result of that. So much so, that the 'normal' range of indicators such as uric acid has been revised and adjusted over the years, because "normal" people had higher levels and still appeared to be fine. Thankfully, we are starting to question that (eg. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24867507/)

First order of business for anyone watching their blood pressure creeping up over the years (even more so if A1C, triglycerides, liver enzymes and uric acid are rising too): cut sugar in all forms. Not just the sugar you personally add to food, not only what's specified as 'added sugar', but all food containing sugar - which is basically all ultra processed foods. It does include sliced bread which is easily broken down into sugar( and is often laced with additional sugar, check ingredients). Leave your sugar 'allowance' to be used by a reasonable amount of fruits.

That may not reverse the problem (although, in my case, it did) but should help tremendously.

>>outwor+(OP)
What makes sugar different from other carbohydrates?

>>mr_toa+sf
It's really quick fuel that leads to an insulin spike that triggers more fat storage and eventually leads to insulin resistance.

>>outwor+(OP)
>First order of business for anyone watching their blood pressure creeping up over the years: cut sugar in all forms.

No, first order of business is consulting your doctor and/or a nutritionist and otherwise adhering to common sense of having a reasonably balanced nutritional diet.

If your first order of business is taking random advice from the intertubez, you have bigger problems than high blood pressure.

>>Dalewy+DE
I mean I get what you're saying. But most doctors have normalized refined sugar intake. Cutting out refined sugar and simple carbs is not harmful at all and carries not risk whatsoever. So I don't see how listening to some modern wisdom in a HN comment is dangerous. Our understanding of nutrition in the western medical theatre is woefully incomplete and outdated.

>>Dalewy+DE
> a nutritionist

In most places, any bozo can claim to be a nutritionist. From what I can tell, a large proportion of them are deranged crackpots.

So, no. Absolutely do not consult a self-described nutritionist.

>>mr_toa+sf
Sugar is 50% fructose and 50% glucose. The user you mention advocates for a higher amount of fruit which has mostly fructose so my take on this is that he prefers his pancreas over his liver.

>>TurboH+KA1
Eating whole fruit means you consume fiber at the same time as the sugar, so the latter is metabolized more safely.

>>incone+sS1
Eating whole cake means you consume fat at the same time as the sugar, so the latter is metabolized more safely.

>>TurboH+fb2
Could you liquidize the cake and still get that benefit?