Dr Oz: Robert Lustig Toxic Sugar Lecture
Dr Sanjay Gupta reported that professor Robert Lustig at the University of California San Francisco gave a lecture that has now been viewed nearly three million times online. His main message in the lecture: sugar is toxic, at least in the amounts that Americans tend to consume it. The average American consumes 130 pounds of sugar in one year, which includes sugar as we know it, as well as high fructose corn syrup. Lustig argues that which type you’re consuming, for most people, makes no difference.
The sugar and corn growers both argue that sugar, just like anything else, is fine in moderation.
Dr Oz: What Happens When You Quit Sugar
Dr Oz, with Keri Glassman, shared healthier alternatives to regular sugar, that actually provide some health benefits. (markoknuutila / Fkickr)
Dr Gupta explained that a recent study, which looked primarily at children, wanted to see what would happen if sugar was withheld for just ten days. They replaced the calories and simply took away the added sugars. After just ten days, triglycerides (fats in the blood) dropped 36 points. LDL cholesterol dropped 5 points and blood pressure dropped 5 points.
Dr Oz then explained that there’s actually a loophole that lets you enjoy sweet food, without the damaging affects of sugar. So what is it? Fresh fruit. Your body treats fruit and natural sugars differently than sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
He further explained that added sugar rapidly travels into your body, traveling to your liver, and then to your hips, artieries, brain and everywhere else you don’t want. The sugar in real fruit also has fiber with it, so when you chew it up, the sugar is absorbed much slower. The rate of absorption is what’s most important. That’s the healthier way of satisfying your sweet tooth.
Dr Oz: Healthier Way To Satisfy Sweet Tooth
If you’re really craving some sweets, you can enjoy dark chocolate covered strawberries or mangoes dipped in cayenne pepper. You don’t have to eat much to become satisfied, and it’s a much better way to get your sweet fix, without consuming junk food that your body doesn’t handle as well.
Have you found a healthier way to satisfy your sweet tooth?
Dr Oz: Natural Sweeteners
Next, he shared three natural sweeteners that he wanted everyone to know about. He brought up three taste-testers, to share their honest opinions about the sweeteners. When Keri Glassman, a nutritionist, looks for a natural way to sweeten her food or drinks, she looks for something that comes from a plant, has a low glycemic index, and that tastes good.
Dr Oz: Coconut Sugar
Keri enjoys coconut sugar, which Dr Oz used to sweeten coffee and tea. It actually has the same amount of calories as regular sugar, but is great for using in coffee, tea, or for baking. You can use it just like you would regular sugar, and it contain prebiotic fiber. It’s sometimes called coconut palm sugar, and contains fiber and calcium.
The taste-testers thought it wasn’t sweet enough.
Dr Oz: Stevia & Date Sugar
Dr Oz then took a closer look at stevia and date sugar. Stevia has zero calories and is a zero on the glycemic index which means it won’t raise your blood sugar. It also enhances the flavor of food. It could even lower blood and blood pressure. You’re really only supposed to use it where you would normally use sugar, and not just start including it in your diet.
Date sugar is high is calcium and fiber, and can be used the same way sugar is used. It also contains iron. Keri said it’s a real, whole food. The taste-testers loved them both, but stevia is actually sweeter than regular sugar so you need less of it.
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