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Today, Explained

Sugar crash

Today, Explained

Vox

News, Daily News, Politics

4.310.3K Ratings

🗓️ 15 March 2026

⏱️ 34 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

We’re obsessed with sugar. And Big Sugar is obsessed with us. How do we make a break? This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Image courtesy of Jenny Lawton. If you have a question, give us a call at 1-800-618-8545 or email askvox@vox.com. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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1:10.5

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1:24.3

I crave sweet foods when I wake up. I crave dessert after every meal, and I usually like sweet snacks instead of salty.

1:32.1

I'm a server, and I eat sugar packets throughout the chef.

1:35.8

I'll reach for a sweet treat to make me feel better emotionally, even if it physically makes me feel worse.

1:43.3

I don't think I realized how much sugar was in my life until I gave up sweets for Lent.

1:51.1

I go on a walk and outside the grocery store, I see the Girl Scouts pushing their product.

1:57.1

I go to a friend's birthday party, and the cake just stares at me from across the room.

2:02.4

I head to the coffee shop, but that macho latte just doesn't hit the same without a little simple syrup.

2:09.1

Sugar is a boogeyman, ready to leap out behind every corner.

2:14.1

But is it really as bad for us as we've been led to believe?

2:19.8

I'm John Glyn Hill, and today on Explain It to Me from Vox, we're going to find out. I'm David Singerman. I'm an assistant

2:26.8

professor of history and American studies at the University of Virginia, and I'm the author of a book

...

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