Dr. OZ: What Sugar is Doing to the Public

Release Date: 11/25/19

Podcast Duration: 41 min

A Summary by Brandon Johnson, DC

5 Key Takeaways

1. High carbohydrate (sugar) diets are the least optimal for health

2. Foods that a caveman didn't have access to should be limited or avoided

3. Obese parents transfer fat enhancing epigenetics (inherited traits) to their children

4. Home cooking is the number 1 way to control the environment around food

5. Factory farmed meat and dairy often contain hormones that can cause early onset of puberty in children

Dr. Oz introduces his guest, Dr. David Ludwig. He is the co-founder of the Optimal Weight for Life Program and author of the book, "Ending the Food Fight." They begin this podcast by discussing the Low Glycemic Diet, Fake Food and how to guide your children in regards to the harmful effects of Sugar.

What is a Low Glycemic Diet?

1. Definition of Low Glycemic Diet

   1. Involves terms like Satiety and Glycemic Index

      1. Satiety is the sense of fullness after a meal

         1. How filling and how long does it last?

   2. Glycemic Index

      1. How a specific food affects blood sugar levels

2. The Low Glycemic Diet uses the glycemic index to determine which foods are less likely to impact blood sugar level

   1. Processed carbs in the Standard American Diet dramatically increase glucose in the bloodstream

      1. Usually lack good satiety

      2. Results in over consumption

A New Nutritional Paradigm

1. Glycemic index is important but no single dietary factor can define a healthy diet

   1. New research is refuting the recommended low fat, high carb diets

      1. The amount of fat we consume does not relate to body fat percentage

      2. High carb diets usually result in more body fat production

   2. There is growing consensus that natural, whole, less processed foods best support weight management

      1. Reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes and ADD

Optimal Weight for Life Program

1. Optimal weight for life is a weight management program for obese children that creates awareness

   1. Teaching them to differentiate natural food from "fake food"

      1. Children and adults have a difficult time making the distinction

2. Natural foods:

   1. Things that cavemen would consume

      1. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, meat

3. Fake Foods come out of the factory, highly processed, packaged

4. Children are instructed to keep a food diary to help identify unhealthy foods

After touching on the Weight for Life Program they begin discussing the food industry. They elaborate on how processed foods have poor quality of nutrients and high calorie load. They believe that this is destroying public health and contributing to an obesity pandemic.

Obesity and Society

1. All sugars aren't bad

   1. Sugar & fructose in fruits is good

      1. Filled with fiber

         1. Results in a lower glycemic load

2. Genetics do effect our weight

   1. Food industry is the primary cause of public obesity

   2. Obese parents pass down epigenetics that predispose children to excessive weight gain

3. Food that children consume today is prepared by profit seekers not caregivers

   1. Home cooked food is the key for creating a healthy food environment and relationship

Factory Farming and Obesity

1. Use Growth hormone in modern farming to increase animal size and profit margins

   1. This causes early puberty in children

      1. Excessive weight gain

2. The feed given to livestock today contains hormone enriched substances

   1. Meat and Dairy have the highest percentage of hormone use

3. The estrogen and progesterone in milk promotes earlier puberty in girls and decreased testosterone production in young males

   1. Factory farmed dairy consumption is directly correlated with prostate cancer in men and potentially other kinds of cancers in the youth population

4. Meat/dairy that is grass fed and organic does not contain added hormones

Key Takeaways:

1. Avoid sugar as much as possible including:

   1. Artificial sweeteners

   2. Sugary carbonated beverages

   3. Corn syrups

   4. Processed or packaged foods

2. Avoid drinking out of plastic bottles

   1. Plastic toxins (BPA) is slowly released in the food

3. Eat foods produced directly from nature or grown locally

   1. Prepared as fresh as possible

4. Age-appropriate parenting practices and modelling are important to change the home environment for healthy food choices for both parents and children

   1. Children are subjected to eat whatever their guardians provide