The Hidden Sugar Signal That Could Be Driving Cravings, Fatigue and Belly Fat

What if the sugar affecting your metabolism isn't just the sugar you eat?

In this episode of the Biohackher Podcast, I sit down with metabolic health researcher and educator Chris Mearns to explore an emerging area of research around fructose — and why he believes we need to start thinking about it as more than simply a source of calories.

Chris explains the idea of fructose acting as an ancient "survival signal": a biological pathway designed to help us conserve energy when food was scarce, but one that may be chronically activated by our modern environment. We unpack how fructose metabolism may affect cellular energy, mitochondria, cravings, inflammation and fat storage — and why the body can actually manufacture fructose even when we aren't eating it.

We also get into a question many women will relate to: why can you be eating much the same way you always have, yet suddenly find yourself gaining more visceral fat during perimenopause and menopause? Chris explains the possible connection between declining oestrogen, uric acid clearance and metabolic health, while acknowledging that this is an area where more research is still needed.

We discuss:

• Why fructose may behave differently in the body from glucose
• How the body can manufacture its own fructose
• Why high glucose, dehydration, alcohol and other metabolic stressors may influence this pathway
• Whether fruit really deserves the bad reputation fructose sometimes gives it
• Why fruit juice and dried fruit are metabolically different from whole fruit
• The connection between fructose metabolism, ATP and mitochondrial function
• Why cravings may be driven by more than willpower
• What happens metabolically when you remove sugar
• The role fasting and ketogenic diets may play in metabolic health
• Why menopause may change the way women respond to the same diet
• Whether CGMs are genuinely useful for understanding metabolic health
• The emerging research around fructokinase — the enzyme involved in fructose metabolism
• Luteolin, a naturally occurring plant flavonoid being investigated for its potential effects on this pathway
• Why the science is interesting, but still evolving — particularly when it comes to supplementation and fructokinase inhibition.

Chris also shares a fascinating perspective on three everyday signals he believes may warrant a closer look at metabolic health: persistent cravings, low energy and feeling chronically inflamed.

This conversation challenges the simple "calories in, calories out" view of metabolism and looks deeper into what may be happening at the cellular level.

Because when your body keeps telling you it needs more energy — despite having plenty of fuel available — the question may not simply be how much you're eating, but how effectively your cells are able to use it.

CONNECT WITH CHRIS MEARNS

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefructosemodel

Website: https://liv3health.com/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/chrismearns

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris_liv3/

Find out more about metabolic health at https://liv3health.com/pages/biohackher

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This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Some of the mechanisms and interventions discussed, including fructokinase inhibition and luteolin supplementation, remain areas of emerging research.