How to Cut Sugar by 78% in 30 Days.

Sugar is hijacking your brain — but you can take control back faster than you think.Most people want to quit sugar… but at 3 p.m., stressed and tired, the biscuits in the break room somehow win.

In this episode, addiction specialist and lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr. Fergal Armstrong reveals why your willpower isn’t the problem — and how a simple, research-backed strategy can help you cut sugar by up to 78% in just 30 days.

You’ll discover:Why the average person is unknowingly consuming around 400 teaspoons of sugar per weekThe massive gap between intention and action when trying to quit sugarHow implementation planning (a powerful psychology tool) rewires your brain for better choices

The three-step system: clear daily sugar goals, if-then action plans, and relapse-proof coping strategiesReal-world examples you can copy today to reduce sugar cravings, emotional eating, and mindless snackingThis isn’t another “just use willpower” video.

You’ll learn a science-based approach used in clinical research to:

Bring your intake in line with World Health Organisation sugar guidelinesImprove your confidence in managing cravings, stress, and social pressure

Build sustainable healthy habits around food, energy, and moodIf you’ve tried to reduce sugar before and felt like you failed, this episode will show you what was missing — and how to finally create a realistic, compassionate plan that works with your brain, not against it.

👉 Watch now to learn the 3-step formula to break free from sugar — for good.

And if you find this helpful, subscribe for more evidence-based insights on addiction, nutrition, and metabolic health.

Chapters00:00 – The shocking truth: 400 teaspoons of sugar a week

00:19 – The 78% reduction study and why willpower isn’t enough

00:47 – Step 1: Setting clear sugar goals using WHO guidelines

01:15 – Hidden sugars in “healthy” foods you eat every day

01:19 – Step 2: Implementation plans – the power of if-then thinking

01:55 – Real-life if-then examples for cravings and supermarket traps

02:00 – Step 3: Coping plans and why relapse is part of the cycle

02:20 – Identifying your personal triggers: stress, boredom, social pressure

02:34 – How this method cut cravings by 60% and doubled confidence

02:57 – Sugar, the brain, and rewiring your neural pathways

03:21 – Your 3-day action challenge to break free from sugar

What Happens to Teen Brains After Cannabis?

What if one long-term study could completely reshape how we view teenage cannabis use? T

his jaw-dropping video unpacks a landmark 38-year study from Dunedin, New Zealand, where scientists tracked over 1,000 children from birth into adulthood—and what they discovered could change everything. Spoiler: it's not your typical “just say no” narrative. It’s raw, data-driven neuroscience.

Through extensive IQ testing and life tracking, researchers found that those who started using cannabis regularly before age 18 lost up to eight IQ points—a decline that never fully recovered, even if they quit. Meanwhile, adult users showed almost no cognitive impact. Why? It’s all about neuroplasticity.

During adolescence, the brain is undergoing massive rewiring. THC from cannabis disrupts this critical developmental phase, leading to lasting damage in memory, focus, and decision-making skills.This isn’t anti-drug propaganda—it’s real science that exposes how early cannabis use hijacks your brain's natural cannabinoid system.

If you’re under 18 or care about someone who is, this video is a must-watch.

Discover why protecting the teen brain could be the key to unlocking lifelong success. Perfect for educators, parents, and curious minds alike, this is a wake-up call we can't afford to ignore.

Millions unknowingly store a lethal cocktail in their medicine cabinets—and it’s not from illicit drugs. In this gripping episode,

Dr. Ferghal Armstrong reveals a hidden danger in modern medicine: the deadly combination of opioids, benzodiazepines, and gabapentinoids.

Backed by alarming research from North Carolina and Australia, he highlights how these commonly prescribed medications, meant to relieve pain, anxiety, and nerve discomfort, can create a perfect storm of respiratory depression and overdose—even when taken as directed.You’ll learn how taking opioids with benzos increases overdose risk tenfold, and how adding drugs like pregabalin can raise it even higher.

Shockingly, 80% of opioid patients are also prescribed benzodiazepines—making this a widespread issue, not an anomaly. Dr. Armstrong dives into the science behind these drug interactions, explains why naloxone isn’t always enough, and shares crucial steps for patients and caregivers to stay safe.This is a must-watch for anyone prescribed these medications or caring for someone who is. Discover life-saving insights, actionable tips, and the importance of medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence. If you thought your prescribed meds were safe, think again.

In a stunning breakthrough, Stanford researchers have unveiled a potential game-changer in the fight against PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

This episode dives deep into the science and promise behind Ibogaine therapy, a powerful plant-based treatment showing an astonishing 86% remission rate for PTSD after just one session. T

he study focused on 30 special forces veterans, exploring a groundbreaking approach known as the MISTIC protocol—Magnesium Ibogaine Therapy for Traumatic Injury to the Central Nervous System.Ibogaine, derived from the African Tabernanthe iboga shrub, interacts with multiple neurotransmitter systems and boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor, helping the brain to repair itself.

What’s even more compelling? These veterans didn’t just feel better emotionally—they demonstrated significant cognitive improvements, including sharper memory, problem-solving, and focus.

The treatment also showed remarkable safety when paired with magnesium, alleviating concerns about past cardiac risks. While the trial wasn’t placebo-controlled, the neuropsychological improvements were objective and hard to dismiss.

With additional holistic care like breathwork and coaching, this integrative method represents a promising frontier for treating PTSD, depression, and anxiety. It's not yet available in the U.S., but this research could ignite the change.

Addiction isn't just about choices—it's also in your genes.New research reveals that your risk for alcohol, opioid, and cannabis addiction might be genetically linked—even if you've never touched a substance in your life. In this episode, we break down a study of over 1 million people that uncovered a powerful genetic factor tied to addiction, impulse control, ADHD, and even emotional regulation.🎯 Why does this matter?Because understanding your genetic makeup could change how we screen, prescribe, and prevent addiction—before it even starts.Whether you're in healthcare, recovery, or just curious about how your brain works—this one's a game-changer.Watch now to learn how your DNA might be shaping your relationship with risk, substances, and self-control.#AddictionScience #GeneticsExplained #MedHeads

Cannabis and Psychosis: What 66,000 People RevealedCannabis and Psychosis: What Science REALLY Says Is cannabis as harmless as many believe? A groundbreaking study of over 66,000 people says… not quite. In our latest video, we break down the science linking cannabis use—especially daily and high-potency strains—to a significantly increased risk of developing psychosis. This isn’t just paranoia or temporary effects. We're talking diagnosable psychotic disorders.Key highlights:4x risk with daily useRisk increases with frequencyNo “safe” usage thresholdImplications for those with a family history of mental illnessWhether you’re a casual smoker, regular user, or just curious about cannabis and mental health, this video gives you the facts—straight from peer-reviewed science.Watch now and let’s talk about what this means for the future of cannabis use.#CannabisPsychosis #MentalHealthAwareness #CannabisTruth

Does Cannabis Really Help with Anxiety? | The Science Explained

For years, many have turned to weed for anxiety relief, but new research suggests the truth might be more complex. In this video, we uncover what 20 years of scientific studies reveal about how THC and CBD actually affect your mental health and anxiety levels.

You’ll learn:

The real science behind cannabis and anxietyHow THC vs. CBD impacts your brain differentlyWhy some people feel calmer while others get more anxious

The truth about short-term relief vs. long-term effectsWhat recent studies say about cannabis and depression risk

Whether you’re a regular user, medical patient, or just curious, this video will help you understand what’s really happening in your brain when you use cannabis for stress or anxiety.

Don’t trust influencer hype — get evidence-based facts backed by real science.

Watch till the end to discover how different cannabis strains may affect your anxiety in unpredictable ways.

#CannabisAndAnxiety #CannabisScience #THCandCBD #WeedForAnxiety #MentalHealthMatters #AnxietyRelief #CBDResearch #THCEffects #MarijuanaFacts #BrainHealth

The Drug Landscape Has Changed—Are You Ready? Australia is now facing one of the deadliest evolutions in synthetic opioids—nitazenes. With potency levels up to 20 times higher than fentanyl, these hidden killers are showing up in fake pills, club drugs, and even "safe" prescriptions. Most users don’t even know they’ve taken them… until it’s too late.In this week’s Cracking Addiction episode, Dr. Fergal Armstrong dives deep into the pharmacology, clinical signs, and harm reduction strategies practitioners need to know—plus, why current toxicology screens are leaving clinicians in the dark.

This episode of Cracking Addiction delivers a powerful, evidence-packed message on how smoking profoundly impacts reproductive health, pregnancy, and the lifelong wellbeing of children.

Dr. Ferghal Armstrong takes viewers beyond the commonly known risks of cancer and lung disease, diving deep into the lesser-discussed but critically important topic of tobacco’s effects on fertility, fetal development, and transgenerational health.

Through compelling research and clinical insight, the video outlines how smoking reduces fertility in both men and women, accelerates ovarian aging, and increases the risk of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and birth defects.

Listeners will learn about the dangerous chemicals—like nicotine and carbon monoxide—that cross the placenta, causing fetal hypoxia, impaired growth, and even structural abnormalities like cleft palate or limb defects.

The episode doesn’t stop at birth. It highlights how prenatal tobacco exposure can alter brain development, leading to ADHD, behavioural issues, and poor academic outcomes. It even shows how smoking can reprogram genes epigenetically, raising the risk for diabetes, hypertension, and obesity in adulthood.

Importantly, this video is a call to action for healthcare providers and families alike. It emphasises that quitting smoking—especially early in pregnancy—can dramatically reduce these risks.

You’ll also get key clinical strategies for effective smoking cessation, secondhand smoke management, and partner involvement.If you’re a parent, healthcare provider, or planning a family, this video is a must-watch.

Share it with anyone who needs to hear the truth about smoking and pregnancy.

Chapters:

00:00 – Smoking harms babies even before pregnancy begins

00:37 – Smoking’s impact on female fertility and conception

01:05 – Effects of smoking on male reproductive health

01:30 – The dangers of smoking during pregnancy

02:10 – How smoking leads to low birth weight and placenta damage02:34 – Birth defects linked to maternal smoking02:49 – Nicotine’s effects on fetal brain development

03:14 – Smoking and risk of SIDS

03:37 – Secondhand smoke and infant health

04:00 – Long-term epigenetic consequences of smoking

04:22 – Smoking cessation during pregnancy: why it works

04:48 – Key clinical tips for healthcare providers

05:17 – Don’t forget the partner and postnatal phase

05:33 – Counseling even before pregnancy is crucial

05:50 – Final takeaway: smoking is a transgenerational risk

Every puff of cigarette smoke delivers toxic chemicals deep into your lungs—triggering a cascade of damage that most people don’t realise until it’s too late. Dr. Ferghal Armstrong dives into the devastating effects of smoking on lung health, from early symptoms like chronic cough to advanced stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema.You'll learn how cigarette smoke impacts the respiratory system, destroying protective cilia, paralysing the mucociliary escalator, and overwhelming the lungs' ability to repair themselves. Discover the difference between chronic bronchitis and emphysema, how they contribute to irreversible lung damage, and why many patients don’t get diagnosed until their breathlessness is severe.This video also explains the clinical side: how spirometry detects obstructive patterns, how CT scans reveal emphysematous changes, and why smoking cessation is the only proven way to slow disease progression. We cover genetic risk factors like alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, the dangers of secondhand and thirdhand smoke, and how smoking during pregnancy affects fetal lung development.Whether you're a healthcare student, medical professional, or someone affected by smoking, this is your complete guide to understanding the long-term respiratory complications of smoking—and how to protect yourself and others.Chapters00:00 – How Cigarette Smoke First Damages the Lungs00:28 – Lungs: The Organ Most Exposed to Smoking00:51 – The Respiratory Defense System and Cilia Destruction01:10 – Chronic Bronchitis: A Structural Disease01:33 – COPD Explained: Chronic Bronchitis + Emphysema01:52 – Emphysema: Alveolar Breakdown from Smoke02:24 – Symptoms and Clinical Progression of COPD02:47 – Asthma and the Smoking Connection03:04 – Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS)03:14 – Smoking and Respiratory Infections03:32 – Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Smoking03:44 – Cellular and Inflammatory Pathways of Damage04:15 – Genetic Susceptibility and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency04:38 – A Typical COPD Patient Case05:02 – Diagnostic Tools: Spirometry, Imaging, and Blood Gases05:15 – Why Smoking Cessation Matters Most05:26 – Secondhand and Thirdhand Smoke Effects05:58 – Impact of Smoking During Pregnancy06:15 – Clinical Advice for Early Detection and Prevention06:59 – Patient Awareness: Link Smoking with Breathlessness07:09 – Teaser for the Next Episode: Smoking and Reproduction