Did you know that there are more than 260 names for sweeteners? The next time you’re searching for a sugar-free snack in the grocery aisle or your kitchen pantry, just remember that a “low sugar” or “no sugar added” label isn’t the whole story. You have to look closer.
Luckily, Dr. Michael Goran is an expert at reading the (sugar) labels. Trained as a biochemist, Dr. Goran transformed into a pediatric nutrition research powerhouse on a mission to help families reduce their sugar intake. His ah-hah moment? Years ago, Dr. Goran began a study tracking the onset and development of chronic diseases. Throughout his research, one data point remained consistent: diet. Particularly, sugar intake.
Taking a hard look at kids’ diets, sugar is time and time again the primary problem. Unfortunately, going sugar-free isn’t easy. With hundreds of deceptive codenames, the food industry has snuck sugars into almost everything.
Today, Dr. Goran talks with Jen about avoiding sugar-stuffed kids’ brands, why weight gain isn’t the only telltale sign of a sugar high, how to manage your kids’ blood sugar when it spikes, sugar and sweetener myths damaging health-conscious consumers, and how to truly shop sugar-free at your local grocery store.
Key Takeaways
- [00:39] – A brief introduction to Dr. Michael Goran.
- [01:24] – How Dr. Goran became interested in sugar content.
- [07:17] – The biggest culprit for chronic disease.
- [08:29] – Why Dr. Goran’s book focuses primarily on children.
- [09:29] – How a pregnant mother’s food intake impacts her developing child.
- [11:27] – How to know if you’re consuming too much sugar.
- [13:41] – The foods kids consume with the highest sugar count.
- [15:02] – What dextrose really is.
- [18:48] – How to spot misleading labels.
- [19:43] – Is monk fruit a clean sweetener alternative?
- [22:30] – What Dr. Goran’s guilty pleasures are.
- [24:52] – The sweeteners Dr. Goran uses.
- [25:39] – Why coconut sugar is a great (albeit expensive) sweetener alternative.
- [26:43] – Why there are so many different names for sweeteners.
- [30:24] – Dr. Goran’s Wake Up moment.
Quotes
[16:58] – “You or I probably know when our glucoses are high and when they’re low – your kids might not. But as a parent, if your kids are bouncing off the walls, they’ve probably just had something that’s very high in glucose, syrupy sugar.” ~ @michaelgoran
[18:37] – “The order in which you eat food, making sure there’s fiber on top of it, and activity, too, can all make a difference on better flattening of those blood sugar levels.” ~ @michaelgoran
[22:12] – “Studies show that you can end up eating more calories and more sugar throughout the rest of the day if you’re habitually consuming sweetener.” ~ @michaelgoran
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