Dr. Robert Lustig: How Sugar & Processed Foods Impact Your Health

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Robert Lustig, M.D., neuroendocrinologist, professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and a bestselling author on nutrition and metabolic health. We address the “calories in- calories out” (CICO) model of metabolism and weight regulation and how specific macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrates), fiber and sugar can modify the CICO equation. We cover how different types of sugars, specifically fructose, sugars found in liquid form, taste intensity, and other factors impact insulin levels, liver, kidney, and metabolic health. We also explore how fructose in non-fruit sources can be addictive (acting similarly to drugs of abuse) and how sugar alters brain circuits related to food cravings and satisfaction. We discuss the role of sugar in childhood and adult obesity, gut health and disease and mental health. We also discuss how the food industry uses refined sugars to create pseudo foods and what these do to the brain and body. This episode is replete with actionable information about sugar and metabolism, weight control, brain health and body composition. It ought to be of interest to anyone seeking to understand how specific food choices impact the immediate and long-term health of the brain and body.

For the show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-robert-lustig-how-sugar-processed-foods-impact-your-health

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Dr. Robert Lustig
Website: https://robertlustig.com
Books: https://robertlustig.com/books
Publications: https://robertlustig.com/publications
Blog: https://robertlustig.com/blog
UCSF academic profile: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/robert.lustig
Metabolical (book): https://amzn.to/48mNhOE
SugarScience: http://sugarscience.ucsf.edu
X: https://twitter.com/RobertLustigMD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrRobertLustig
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-lustig-8904245
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertlustigmd
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@robertlustigmd

Timestamps
00:00:00 Dr. Robert Lustig
00:02:02 Sponsors: Eight Sleep, Levels & AeroPress
00:06:41 Calories, Fiber
00:12:15 Calories, Protein & Fat, Trans Fats
00:18:23 Carbohydrate Calories, Glucose vs. Fructose, Fruit, Processed Foods
00:26:43 Fructose, Mitochondria & Metabolic Health
00:31:54 Trans Fats; Food Industry & Language
00:35:33 Sponsor: AG1
00:37:04 Glucose, Insulin, Muscle
00:42:31 Insulin & Cell Growth vs. Burn; Oxygen & Cell Growth, Cancer
00:51:14 Glucose vs. Fructose, Uric Acid; “Leaky Gut” & Inflammation
01:00:51 Supporting the Gut Microbiome, Fasting
01:04:13 Highly Processed Foods, Sugars; “Price Elasticity” & Food Industry
01:10:28 Sponsor: LMNT
01:11:51 Processed Foods & Added Sugars
01:14:19 Sugars, High-Fructose Corn Syrup
01:18:16 Food Industry & Added Sugar, Personal Responsibility, Public Health
01:30:04 Obesity, Diabetes, “Hidden” Sugars
01:34:57 Diet, Insulin & Sugars
01:38:20 Tools: NOVA Food Classification; Perfact Recommendations
01:43:46 Meat & Metabolic Health, Eggs, Fish
01:46:44 Sources of Omega-3s; Vitamin C & Vitamin D
01:52:37 Tool: Reduce Inflammation; Sugars, Cortisol & Stress
01:59:12 Food Industry, Big Pharma & Government; Statins
02:06:55 Public Health Shifts, Rebellion, Sugar Tax, Hidden Sugars
02:12:58 Real Food Movement, Public School Lunches & Processed Foods
02:18:25 3 Fat Types & Metabolic Health; Sugar, Alcohol & Stress
02:26:40 Artificial & Non-Caloric Sweeteners, Insulin & Weight Gain
02:34:32 Re-Engineering Ultra-Processed Food
02:38:45 Sugar & Addiction, Caffeine
02:45:18 GLP-1, Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Tirzepatide), Risks; Big Pharma
02:57:39 Obesity & Sugar Addiction; Brain Re-Mapping, Insulin & Leptin Resistance
03:03:31 Fructose & Addiction, Personal Responsibility & Tobacco
03:07:27 Food Choices: Fruit, Rice, Tomato Sauce, Bread, Meats, Fermented Foods
03:12:54 Intermittent Fasting, Diet Soda, Food Combinations, Fiber, Food Labels
03:19:14 Improving Health, Advocacy, School Lunches, Hidden Sugars
03:26:55 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

#HubermanLab #Science #Nutrition

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac – https://www.blabacphoto.com

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