The Energy Balance Podcast

EB. 132: You've Been Lied to About Fructose

May 13, 2025
Dive into the debate around fructose as a potential poison. Unpack claims by Robert Lustig and discover what's really behind the metabolic impacts of fructose compared to glucose and alcohol. Explore whether a high-carb diet leads to fatty liver and learn about the true effects of fruit juice and honey on health. The hosts challenge popular misconceptions, advocate for a balanced view of sugars, and suggest that critical factors like existing liver conditions often influence outcomes more than fructose itself.
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INSIGHT

Lustig's Fructose Toxicity Claim

  • Robert Lustig claims fructose is a poison that acts like alcohol.
  • He distinguishes glucose as a 'good carbohydrate' and fructose as toxic mainly via liver effects.
INSIGHT

Glucose Metabolism in Liver

  • Only about 20% of glucose reaches the liver, mostly stored as glycogen.
  • The liver uses glucose for energy and some excess can be converted to fat.
INSIGHT

Alcohol's Unique Liver Toxicity

  • Alcohol is fully metabolized by the liver, bypassing glycogen storage.
  • Acetaldehyde from alcohol causes oxidative stress, liver inflammation, and mitochondrial damage.
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