Am I Doing It Wrong? Unpacking the Truth About Sugar
Apr 2, 2026
Maya Feller, a registered dietitian and cookbook author, breaks down what sugar is and how the body uses it. She covers recommended limits, why we crave sugar, and how excess sugar affects metabolism. Practical tips include reading labels, timing and pairing foods, small habit changes, and the pros and cons of artificial sweeteners.
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College Smoothie Surprise
- Noah recalls college smoothies that were essentially milkshakes with frozen yogurt, delivering days' worth of sugar in one drink.
- Discovering a single smoothie contained about 12 days of his recommended sugar intake shocked him into awareness.
Too Much Fast Sugar Drives Metabolic Harm
- Excessive rapid sugar intake forces repeated insulin spikes leading to insulin resistance and diabetes risk.
- Flooding the bloodstream repeatedly also raises circulating fats and can promote fatty liver and clogged arteries.
Eat Treats With Protein And Fiber
- If you have a genetic diabetes risk, eat sugary foods with a protein- and fiber-rich meal to slow absorption.
- Example: have cake after a balanced meal rather than alone to blunt blood sugar spikes.