Latest news with #RobertLustig
CNBC
04-07-2025
- Health
- CNBC
Cardiologist: 5 foods I'll never feed my kids after 20 years of treating heart disease—'I've seen the damage' they can do
As a cardiologist who has treated heart attacks for more than 20 years, I've seen how eating habits formed in childhood can often lay the groundwork for chronic illness in adulthood. My wife and I have three daughters, now in high school. I know how hard it can be during the early years just to get through dinnertime. I remember stocking up on dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets, chips, and whatever else that was quick, easy, and appealing. It's a stage we all go through, but I've seen the damage these foods can do. Now we're more intentional about what we put on the table. Here are six foods I don't feed my kids — and what we eat instead. Yes, it's quick. But many store-bought microwave popcorn brands contain chemicals that worry me, especially as a heart doctor. The bags are often lined with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or toxic "forever chemicals" that have been linked to health issues, including immune system suppression and birth defects. Plus, the butter flavoring can contain compounds that can be harmful to the lungs. What to eat instead: Make air-popped popcorn at home and drizzle it with real melted butter or olive oil. Flavored yogurts, especially the ones marketed to kids, often look healthy thanks to their high protein claims. But look closely at the label and you'll see that they're often full of added sugars and artificial dyes. Even worse, the serving sizes may be too small for some kids that they end up eating two or three, multiplying the sugar load. What to eat instead: We serve plain Greek yogurt with a swirl of local honey and fresh berries. It's just as tasty and far healthier. I'm talking about bacon, deli lunch meats, hot dogs — the usual lunchbox suspects. These foods are often loaded with sodium, preservatives, and nitrates that raise the risk of heart disease and cancer. As a cardiologist, I'm terrified of what these compounds can do at a cellular level. They interfere with important compounds like nitric oxide, which regulates blood pressure and blood vessel health. Another worry is that they can impair a complex process called 'endothelial function,' making it more likely for cholesterol buildup in our arteries. Simply put, these foods contribute to the many diseases I've spent my career fighting against. What to eat instead: In our house, we go for lean, unprocessed proteins like grilled chicken and grass-fed beef. We also eat plenty of plant based proteins like lentils, chickpeas, and quinoa. When I was little, my friend Mark loved coming to over because I was the "lucky" kid who always had sugary cereals in the pantry. If I could go back in time, I'd have tossed all of it — and while we're at it, the sodas — in the trash. According to metabolic expert Dr. Robert Lustig, the average kid's daily breakfast consists of more sugar than their small bodies can process in three days! These kids are set up to have a blood sugar crash about an hour into their school day. How can we expect them to learn if their bodies can't focus? What to eat instead: With our daughters, we flipped the script. Breakfast is fruit, eggs with veggies, or a quick smoothie with healthy fats and tons of fiber. They drink filtered water occasionally flavored with natural fruit. Soda or fancy bottled juices are rare treats. Go to the county fair, and 'deep fried' is the process for almost anything: chicken, cheese, and even butter sticks. One of the many problems with deep fried foods is that they are fried in reused industrial oils at a high heat. These oils aren't just lacking in nutritional value — they saturate otherwise healthy foods with harmful compounds like acrylamides and advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which fuel inflammation. Even scarier: These foods train our kids' taste buds to crave that deep-fried crunch. What to eat instead: We still love crispy food in our house — we just make it differently. We use the air fryer to make roasted veggies, sweet potato fries, and veggie chips. We get our crunch without the crash! You don't have to eat perfectly all the time. And of course, before making any drastic changes to your child's diet, consult with your pediatrician or healthcare provider. It's really about making smarter choices little by little, day by day. Be aware of hidden seed oils in your foods and try to minimize them. Make breakfast a win with good fats, proteins, and good carbs. It helps to get your kids involved in the kitchen, too. Most of all, lead by example. Kids are always watching, and what they see you do matters more than what you say.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Are you settling for pleasure while chasing happiness? Doctor explains the brain chemistry behind true fulfillment
It began with a casual comment. In a striking anecdote from an old University of California lecture, Dr. Robert Lustig recounted a moment that sparked a profound realization. A woman, fresh from bariatric surgery, was asked how she stayed so slim. Her response was matter-of-fact: 'I eat only when I'm hungry.' To which another responded, 'Eating is for happiness.' #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack PM Modi-led 'Super Cabinet' reviews J&K security arrangements Pakistan's General Asim Munir is itching for a fight. Are his soldiers willing? India planning to launch military strike against Pakistan within 24 to 36 hours, claims Pak minister That reply, simple yet striking, sent Lustig down a path of inquiry. Had we, as a society, blurred the line between hunger and emotional craving? Between fleeting pleasure and sustainable happiness? The Seven Truths: Unpacking the Pleasure-Happiness Divide Lustig, professor emeritus at UCSF and a pioneer in childhood obesity research, presents a clear framework. Pleasure, he explains, is short-lived, visceral, and inherently self-centered. It's driven by dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the brain's reward system. Think sugar highs, Instagram likes, and online shopping splurges — they light us up for a moment, but leave us emptier afterward. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 Reasons to Plug This Into Your Home Today elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Happiness, by contrast, is long-lasting, ethereal, and tied to giving rather than taking. Its chemical anchor is serotonin, the neurotransmitter linked to calm, contentment, and connection. Unlike pleasure, it isn't addictive — you can't overdose on too much happiness. When Dopamine Drowns Out Serotonin The real kicker, Lustig says, is that dopamine and serotonin don't coexist peacefully. The more we chase dopamine-driven highs — through sugar, screens, status, or substances — the more we downregulate our serotonin receptors. In essence, the relentless pursuit of pleasure doesn't just fail to deliver happiness. It actively sabotages it. You Might Also Like: Passenger offers seat to elderly man on bus, walks away with a life-changing lesson This neurological seesaw is why today's hyperconnected, hyperstimulated lives leave so many feeling more anxious, lonely, and dissatisfied than ever before. The System Is Rigged — And It's Selling You Pleasure From Madison Avenue to Silicon Valley, Lustig argues, powerful industries have learned to exploit this confusion. They've hijacked our neurochemistry to sell pleasure as a stand-in for happiness. A fast-food meal becomes a comfort ritual. A social media notification mimics a hug. A shopping spree promises fulfillment. But none of these deliver the real thing. In his provocative book The Hacking of the American Mind , Lustig lays bare how corporations thrive on this neurological sleight-of-hand — and how we, unknowingly, participate in our own discontent. A Radical Prescription: The Four Cs So what's the cure? Lustig doesn't just diagnose; he offers a roadmap. His prescription for long-term happiness revolves around what he calls the Four Cs: You Might Also Like: From career to fitness, what is secret of happiness? Billionaire Harsh Goenka shares a life lesson from Gaur Gopal Das Connect – Invest in genuine relationships. Whether it's friends, family, or even pets, human connection boosts serotonin and grounds us emotionally. Contribute – Do something bigger than yourself. Volunteer, teach, share your knowledge — the act of giving nurtures purpose. Cope – Take care of your mind and body. Sleep well, practice mindfulness, and stay active. Coping is not avoidance; it's resilience. Cook – Reclaim control over what you eat. Preparing real food with real ingredients counters the chemical chaos of processed diets. You Might Also Like: Peace first or happiness first? Rs 5,000 crore man's advice will make you rethink Are You Really Happy — Or Just Numb? In a culture that equates success with speed and fulfillment with consumption, Dr. Lustig's message is a call to pause — and question. Are you truly happy, or just comfortable? Are you finding peace, or merely escaping pain? You may not be addicted to a substance, but if the difference between a 'want' and a 'need' has blurred, it might be time to recalibrate. Because pleasure will always whisper — but happiness waits for those who listen more deeply.
