Why Excess Added Sugar is Driving Modern Diseases and How to Take Back Our Metabolic Health and Overcome a Sedentary Lifestyle

Jun 2, 2025

Guest

Robert Lustig

Guest

Richard Johnson

In this engaging discussion, Richard Johnson, a Professor of Medicine known for his research on fructose, and Robert Lustig, a neuroendocrinologist specializing in metabolism, reveal the hidden dangers of sugar in our diets. They examine how added sugars can lead to conditions like insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease. Johnson introduces his hypothesis linking fructose to chronic illnesses, while Lustig discusses the importance of metabolic health beyond just calorie counting. Together, they advocate for more mindful eating practices to reclaim our well-being.

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INSIGHT

Sugar Drives Insulin Resistance

Excess sugar causes insulin resistance, which disrupts leptin signaling in the brain.
Fixing sugar intake corrects insulin resistance and reduces excess calorie intake naturally.

INSIGHT

Thin Outside, Fat Inside (TOFI)

Thin people can be metabolically unhealthy and obese people can be healthy.
Fat distribution, not just total fat, determines metabolic disease risk.

INSIGHT

Visceral Fat and Stress Link

Visceral fat drains into the liver and causes higher metabolic risk than subcutaneous fat.
Stress drives visceral fat accumulation even without increased food intake.

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This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth and Ollie.

Sugar is everywhere in the modern diet, and it's silently driving a massive wave of chronic illness. From insulin resistance and fatty liver to cognitive decline, the overconsumption of ultra-processed, sugar-laden foods has created a health crisis hiding in plain sight. As scientists uncover deeper connections between sugar, metabolism, and brain health, one thing is clear: this isn’t just about cutting calories—it’s about changing the way we eat to protect our long-term well-being.

Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, we’re bringing you a special compilation episode featuring Dhru’s conversations with top experts on the connection between insulin resistance, fatty liver, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Robert Lustig shares the impact of added sugar on mitochondrial health and metabolism. He also discusses what you can expect when significantly reducing the amount of added sugar in your diet, why the quality of your calories matters, and the fascinating ways our bodies store fat.

Dr. Richard Johnson discusses his revolutionary new hypothesis on the link between fructose consumption and Alzheimer’s disease. Dhru and Dr. Johnson discuss the evolutionary mechanism behind fructose metabolism, insulin resistance, and weight gain, which has backfired due to its overconsumption.

In this episode, Dhru and his guests dive into:

What is leptin resistance (2:11)
Thin on the outside, fat on the inside (TOFI) (5:55)
The three sites of fat deposition in the body (6:47)
Key findings from the SHINE study (17:03)
The Metabolic Matrix: feed the gut, protect the liver, and support the brain (21:35)
Dr. Johnson’s hypothesis on the link between Alzheimer’s and fructose consumption (25:05)
The origins of Alzheimer’s: what’s happening in the brain (33:28)
Uric acid as a driver of fat accumulation, and its connection to gout, obesity, and other diseases (31:13)
The relationship between salt, dehydration, and fructose production (45:51)
How fructose increases our cravings for sugar (50:01)
The role of fructose in Alzheimer’s disease (56:56)

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This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth and Ollie.

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