75. What Is Sugar Really Doing to You?

In the newest show from the Freakonomics Radio Network, host Zachary Crockett explores the hidden side of the things around us. This week: One creature’s trash is another’s cash. (Or, how one man found profit in pee.) 

A sneak peek at Bapu's new book, Random Acts of Medicine, available now from Doubleday, and an announcement about the show. 

Couples get divorced for all kinds of reasons. Is having kids one of them? Bapu talks about research that investigates what happens to parents who unexpectedly have twins. Plus, an announcement about the future of the show. 

Everyone knows sugar in excessive amounts can have damaging effects on your health -- but just how bad is it, and why do people in the US still consume so much? Join the guys as they delve into the strange story of the decades-long sugar conspiracy. Learn more about your ad-choic ... Show More

We all know by now that sugar can lead to weight gain and cavities. But there is a lot about how sugar operates that we may not have realized before. The truth is that it ages us on the inside and out (causing wrinkles, for example). It shortens our lifespan. It leads to many mod ... Show More

Don’t you hate it when you put on a mask to go out in public and your glasses get all fogged up? This episode begins with a few tips to keep your glasses clear as a bell while you are wearing a face mask. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-keep-your-glasses-fog-free-while- ... Show More

Dr Esther Gonzalez-Padilla asks what is sugar? Why should we study it? And how much sugar should we be eating? 

Notre alimentation moderne est souvent riche, très riche, trop riche par rapport à nos réels besoins énergétiques. Ainsi, il n’est pas rare de trouver dans notre nourriture ou nos boissons une teneur notamment en sucre excessivement élevée. Mais cette surabondance de sucre n’est- ... Show More

They say life is sweet. Well that’s certainly the case for CrowdScience listener Trevor in Poland who wonders why he can’t stop reaching for the cookie jar. He grew up drinking fruit juice with added sugar but wonders whether his genes could be as important as his environment whe ... Show More

Ever wonder how industries impact dietary and health guidelines? We start with the influence of Big Sugar. This episode features audio from How Big Sugar Undermines Dietary Guidelines and How Big Sugar Manipulated the Science for Dietary Guidelines. Visit the video pages for all ... Show More

Ultra-processed food makes up 60 percent of the American diet. Though to call it food is a stretch. Because it is not, strictly speaking, food at all. It is an industrially produced edible substance. And it’s killing us. That is the nauseating conclusion Chris van Tulleken reache ... Show More

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Episode Description: David Allison is an award-winning scientific writer who has been at the forefront of obesity research for the last 20 years. Currently the Dean of the Indiana University Sc ... Show More

Why was VitaminWater sued over the 33g of sugar in each bottle? How do our bodies work with artificial sweeteners? Why do diet sodas taste different to regular ones? Are artificial sweeteners a good way to lose weight? Do they cause cancer? Why nutrition labels for TicTacs list z ... Show More