Why older people are more negatively impacted by sugar consumption | Peter Attia and Rick Johnson

This clip is from episode 194 - How fructose drives metabolic disease with Rick Johnson, M.D.

In this clip, they discuss:

- The role of healthy mitochondria in mitigating fructose-induced oxidative stress and its decline with age.
- Increased sensitivity to fructose over time due to enhanced sugar absorption, metabolic pathway activation, and chronic sugar exposure.
- The impact of menopause on uric acid levels, fructose metabolism, and vulnerability to metabolic diseases.
- And more

--------
About:

The Peter Attia Drive is a deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing longevity, and all that goes into that from physical to cognitive to emotional health. With over 90 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including exercise, nutritional biochemistry, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more.

Peter Attia is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan.

Connect with Peter on:

Subscribe to The Drive:

[Indy]

My ability to tolerate sugar and alcohol has decreased significantly with age, to the point I rarely consume either and regret when I do so.

[Deanriley]

I’m in my 70s and the main thing I’ve noticed is getting tired much easier. I’ve been low carb for decades which is why I take no meds and can still be very active (lots of golf, weight training). I noted with each successive decade the energy has declined a bit. Guess I have tired mitochondria.

[Bercey]

I stopped eating sugar for 8 months. I exercised regularly during this period and ate healthily with calorie deficit and protein based diet. At the end of fifth month I started to see my abs. Anyway after 8 months, I got pissed at something and ate a whole damn chocolate cake then rest followed. I am back to being overweight again. Emotional sugar eating is the worst thing and I cannot stop it... not to mention I am 40 now.

[mollytheda]

How my body works and what it needs as a 55 year old female on HRT for the last 4 years is insane. Significant diet changes, exercise changes, attention to sleep, and adding red light therapy. My mental acuity is different and I address that, too.

Number one advice for my ladies, assume you have metabolic syndrome as likely you do. And, get on HRT so your skeletal system and tendons don’t turn to sand.

Am so lucky that my own mother was put on HRT 31 years ago and she is a sharp, ass-kicking 86 year old who is super active, cognitively sharp, and loving life!

WHI should be sued by millions of women in their 70’s whose vitality has been robbed from them.

[northyland]

I quit sugars and carbs. My type 2 diabetes is gone! A1c of 4.8. (no more insulin shots!) I also lost 35lbs to a heathy 170 at 5'10. I look and feel younger! I eat low carb/keto foods only.

[alcott]

The concept of health in "The 23 Former Doctor Truths" book completely explains this. I wish I read it sooner

[FitFlow_]

In postmenopausal women, estrogen levels drop, leading to an increase in uric acid levels. This increase in uric acid may contribute to the onset of metabolic conditions like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, similar to patterns seen in men.

[janeayre]

Just tell me how to break a sugar addiction. I try, but damn. I gave up soda years ago but I can’t resist sugar.

[ElectronicFlightBag]

I am 61 years, you have to eliminate if you want the healthiest life, if not you degrade each aspect.. No Sugars, No Carbs, No process foods and No Seed Oils. I intermittently wear a CGM, Stelo, not because of diabetes but to monitor my Sugar/Carbs to help identify those foods… the spikes will be enlightening.

[pobinr]

After avoiding sugar for a week. You start to find when you eat some it tastes too sweet. Because that the natural situation. We haven't evolved to eat sugar. Sugar is a recent introduction to our diet l. It's a food additive

[HSLSFirst]

As people get older, they become more sedentary. Exercise can solve the degeneration of mitochondria. I workout hard 5-6 days/week and I drink my protein/berries fruities pre-workout. It keeps me going without a problem. It seems that all the issues with sugars affect sedentary overweight people who overeat to begin with

[gabymalembe]

Gary Taubes wrote many years ago that in cultures that eat their traditional diets people don’t get obese, diabetes, or hesrt disease until they start importing sugar and flour.

[Knit]

As a 54yr young menopausel woman I definitely noticed that I could not keep eating the same way without gaining weight. And also did not like the feeling of the "need" to snack when feeling a bit faint. So I did some research and ended up following DrFungs advise of fasting and eating less sugar. No snacks. Started with not eating for 12hours after dinner. Quickly did 14hrs. Lost the extra kilos. And was finally able to maintain the same weight. Also changed my diet a bit. Less bread, more fibres (A bit of salad on the side when eating a sandwich), healthy fats (full fat milk, yoghurt, cheese, butter). When I want something sweet, yes I still do, I eat it at the end of the meal (bloodsugar is spiking anyway at that moment... is my reasoning). But I can now go on a lot longer than before, without getting that faint/hungry feeling. I eat all kinds of fruit. I do not use artificial sugars (because then I would still feel the need for sweet 😊).

[peterbedford]

I've been very athletic my entire life. Very low animal priducts in my diet. BMI of 21.
At 65, I became prediabetic. My CIMT test showed soft plaque in my arteries. My arterial age was 36 two years ago. Now its 46.
I've started eating less than 20% carbs/day.
I hope this works

[Dawna-gpzk]

Wondering how the dr. would explain me: 70 year old taking Zumba, Aerobics, Line Dancing, Waterfit classes. My history includes extensive trauma, however now I dance with energy and joy! (Yes, I do eat some sugar, primarily in fruit.)

[SteakandChains]

1:41 considering the prevalence of juvenile type two diabetes I think it’s inaccurate to say that the younger you are the healthier mitochondria you have. I think it’s more likely the younger you are the more mitochondria you have because you’re more active but the less active, you are no matter your age the less mitochondria you’re going to keep, thereby increasing the speed in which junk food related disease set into place

[AliceR]

I hated sweets and chocolate my young adult life. Once I hit my 50s, I started eating more sweets and started craving dark chocolate. I still get nauseous from any sugar/fat/flour combo like cake & cookies. It is interesting to hear someone discuss this phenomenon in scientific terms because once I understand that, I can make conscious changes.

[kimberlyf]

I keep wondering if what may be at play here is the role of deuterium on mitochondrial function. Deuterium is a heavy isotope of hydrogen and tightest in sugary foods and highly processed foods - and lowest in animal fats, followed by protein - and when ingested too high amounts can affect energy production of the mitochondria.

[aacowboy]

hi, peter I am 68 and on carnivore it changed my live amassing 1 year ago the DR said well you have to replace your hip and knees so i walk out the office and never go back well I lost 40 pounds and get back to lifting weights and i am back in the game again amassing fasting for 3 days no problem bud i just eat red meet and i sleep again no problem much more energy it is just amassing carnivore and fasting 48 hours very 14 days and 3 days ones a month have low blood pressure and water caffe every day no sugar sweets bud a Apel may ones a week you guys are my hero's

[ChairBear]

Thanks PA, love these videos!

My favorite regular guests: R. Johnson, Stephan G. & L. Norton. 🥇😘☝️