It is well established in mainstream nutrition the health effects of high calorie diets. It is also well established that refined sugar is not magically so much worse than any other way to eat a high calorie diet. Obviously, no one thinks drinking soda(or eating pizza etc) all day is good for you. And drinking soda is well agreed to be an easy way to significantly increase to caloric intake. The difference we tend to be able to measure is based upon behavioral nutrition. Not the actual direct consumption.
Seriously, I'm not sure why you, and others, feel compelled to yell to the hills about the secret poisons of sugar. I realize that it is difficult to see who is on the other side of these forums and it is possible that you may have a diagnosed mental health issue that causes you to obsess over something like this. If so I apologize. But if not, please think about why you are so adamant and upset about something like refined sugar.
Is anyone aware of any studies out there about people who obsess about nutrition information? Is it possible that people that get so wrapped up in this are suffering from similar issues in the brain that cause eating disorders?
I always find if fascinating that diet and nutrition discussions on HN seem to be a topic that brings out many very impassioned comments like the one I'm replying to. What is it about diet and nutrition specifically that causes it to inspire such extreme views and excitement?