On the balmy evening of May 26, we welcomed acclaimed author and academic, Robert H Lustig, MD, MSL, to present to our President’s Circle as part of the 2016 Living Well Lecture Series. Dr. Lustig is Professor of Pediatrics in the division of Endocrinology, and Member of the Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California, San Francisco.
Dr. Lustig became an overnight sensation when his 90-minute lecture entitled “Sugar: The Bitter Truth” went viral on YouTube in what the Financial Times referred to as “sugar’s tobacco moment.” Through his subsequent books, he led the charge against the food industry by exposing fructose in sugar as the real cause of obesity worldwide.
Dr. Lustig made a passionate and erudite presentation to the President Circle members, discussing processed food consumption in America and looking at the research results through the lens of consumption, health, environment, and cash flow. A lively question and answer session followed the presentation and members had the opportunity to meet and greet the presenter at the reception following.
The President’s Circle recognizes those who support Collabria Care with financial contributions of $2,500 a year, or more. The generosity of the Circle members enables us to serve those who need it most – people in our community facing the transitions of ageing, advanced serious illness, and end of life.
We would like to thank Domain Carneros for hosting the event at the Carriage House at their beautiful facility.
Take-Aways from Dr. Lustig’s Lecture
- Cutting sugar and refined carbohydrates, not calories, is the key to reducing the risk of heart disease and obesity.
- “Sugar is uniquely metabolized to fat in the liver, which leads to fat accumulation in the bloodstream, driving heart disease. As long as we focus on total calories rather than on what those calories are and how they are metabolized, the obesity, diabetes and heart disease epidemics will continue.”
- Three quarters of Americans are either overweight or obese. Junk foods such as cakes, cookies, donuts, pies and pizza, are the largest source of calories in the American diet. Many of these foods are derived from tax-subsidized crops corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, and sorghum. “Taxpayers are paying for the privilege of making our country sick.”