All articles tagged with #sugar
A Mayo Clinic cardiologist warns that common “healthy” options—ready-to-drink protein shakes/yogurts with lots of sugar, protein-fortified granola, and coconut oil—can raise cholesterol and heart-disease risk. She recommends prioritizing whole foods like legumes for protein, fiber-rich grains, nuts and fruit, and staying hydrated to curb salt cravings, helping people protect heart health over time.
Sugar isn’t uniquely harmful among carbohydrates and isn’t poison, but its hedonic appeal can drive overeating and undermine healthy eating; the evidence that sugar causes unique metabolic damage is weak, so moderation and mindful consumption help with calorie balance and forming healthier habits.
A study of over 25,000 youths followed for 25 years finds frequent childhood consumption of fruit juice, soda and other sugary beverages is tied to a higher risk of developing high blood pressure in adulthood; two or more 12-ounce servings daily raised risk by about 52% compared with fewer than three servings per week. Orange juice showed the strongest association, though misreporting with orange-flavored drinks is possible. Replacing sugary drinks with whole fruit lowers risk by roughly 19–22%, while milk or water substitutes cut risk by about 13%.
A small rodent study found that a strict zero-sugar diet did not cause weight loss but impaired metabolic health by altering gut microbes and weakening the gut barrier, leading to poorer glucose clearance. The researchers caution that the findings in mice with a very small sample size may not translate to humans, and emphasize that extreme sugar elimination could backfire. The piece recommends a balanced, varied diet (including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fermented foods) to support gut health and metabolic function, rather than an all-or-nothing approach to sugar.
Decider’s take on Sugar Season 2 on Apple TV finds John Sugar, now isolated on Earth, continuing his search for sister Djen while investigating a missing-boxer case in Koreatown, meeting new allies, and re-anchoring the show in a darker, lonelier noir vibe after Season 1’s alien twist. Farrell anchors the mood with a haunted performance and the LA atmosphere remains striking, but the season will need more than a single mystery to justify its return.
Colin Farrell says Sugar season 2 deepens John Sugar’s humanity as he tackles a new LA case, navigates loneliness and love, and learns more about his alien origins, with a notable jeans moment signaling his growth.
Season 2 of Sugar, Apple TV’s neo-noir mystery, moves its alien-detective back to Los Angeles after Henry’s death as he hunts for Ji through the city’s underworld, using immigrant stories and Hollywood’s seductive costs to drive the drama. The show leans into mood, shadows, and moral questions over sci-fi spectacle, making L.A. and the mythos of Hollywood its true terrain.
Sugar season 2 on Apple TV+ pivots from its twisty premise to a confident, noir-tinged sci‑fi mystery, with Colin Farrell delivering a charismatic, world-weary detective performance as Sugar navigates alien origins, a Chinatown-inspired conspiracy, and a dawning tension about his two-world identity.
A mouse study suggests zero-sugar diets can impair metabolic health by disrupting the gut microbiome and breaking down the gut barrier, even when the animals stay slim. Given the tiny sample size and the strictly low-fat diet used, human relevance is uncertain, but the research cautions against extreme elimination diets and advocates a balanced approach that supports gut diversity with a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and fermented foods, while avoiding highly processed sugars.
A mouse study presented at ENDO 2026 found that removing sucrose from a low-fat diet did not improve metabolic health but disrupted the gut microbiome, caused intestinal and liver inflammation, and worsened glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, despite similar weight to controls, suggesting that completely eliminating sugar may be counterproductive and that balanced carbohydrate intake supports gut and metabolic health.
An overview of why sugar is so pervasive, revealing that there are over 50 names for sugar and that free/added sugars hide in drinks, snacks and sauces. While sugar in whole foods is fine, guidelines urge limiting free sugars to about 5–10% of daily calories (UK/WHO), though many people exceed this, especially via soft drinks. Sugar is linked to tooth decay, obesity, and potential cognitive and gut health effects. Practical tips include gradual reductions, swaps to fruit, dairy and water, and using sweeteners as a transitional aid rather than a cure-all. The piece also notes the UK sugar tax has driven reformulation and highlights broader environmental concerns tied to sugar production.
A health-focused piece lists the ten so-called unhealthiest store‑bought protein bars of 2026, arguing that marketing terms like “high‑protein” or “plant‑based” mask inflammatory, overly refined ingredients. It flags bars such as Gatorade Protein Bars (29g added sugar), Think! High Protein Bars (maltitol sugar alcohol and high saturated fat), MET‑Rx Big 100 Bars (about 30% of daily saturated fat), Pure Protein Bars (long ingredient lists and ~23% saturated fat), and others for factors like palm oil use, sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners, and additives. The article emphasizes that despite their protein content, these bars may lack fiber, antioxidants, and whole-food ingredients, and can hinder health goals; it recommends choosing bars with fiber and antioxidants or obtaining protein from whole foods instead.
A nutritionist ranks monk fruit as the healthiest among common sweeteners due to zero calories and zero glycemic impact, with stevia close behind; sugar and jaggery have high glycemic indices and spike blood sugar, while honey raises blood glucose more modestly but is not sugar-free. Swapping to monk fruit or stevia lets you enjoy sweetness without blood-sugar spikes, though taste (like stevia’s aftertaste) may vary.
A systematic review of 27 rodent studies finds that switching from unhealthy high-fat, high-sugar diets to healthier foods can improve hippocampus-dependent memory, but recovery is incomplete and sugar may limit full restoration compared with never-exposed controls.
Drinking soda every day delivers a short-lived caffeine-and-sugar energy boost but can cause gut discomfort and, in the long term, belly fat and higher risks of heart disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, kidney problems and brain inflammation; even diet soda isn’t risk-free due to artificial sweeteners—consider replacing it with sparkling water or infused drinks and taper caffeine gradually while staying hydrated.