569. The Father of Modern Medicine’s Take on Sugar

A recent headline from the FDA recommends the daily dose of sugar is 50 grams. One teaspoon of sugar is 4 grams, so that’s over 12 teaspoons of sugar! Any sugar in our bloodstream is toxic and our bodies know this. Dr. Martin connects this headline to the father of modern medicine, Canadian physician Sir William Osler (1849-1919). Osler revolutionized the way in which medical education was taught during his tenure at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He was the first physician to identify the cause of gout as that of high absorption of sugar and fructose, not because of red meat. Even in the 1800s, doctors knew that sugar played a role in many of our diseases! Dr. Martin also discusses a second headline, “Stop Eating After Sunset.” The benefits of not eating after dinner include decreases in fat mass, blood pressure, triglycerides, and oxidative damage, as well as a decline of inflammation. Start a good habit, and stop eating at night!