The
Daily
Fix
Rest
Lemony Whipped Feta with Roasted Vegetables
About Sugar Addiction
A review of the neurobiological and metabolic basis of sugar dependence
Rest day
Creamy, tangy whipped feta blended with lemon and herbs, served alongside oven-roasted vegetables.
Ingredients
For the Whipped Feta:
8 oz feta cheese (block, not pre-crumbled)
½ cup full-fat Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 Tbsp fresh dill or parsley, chopped
Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Roasted Vegetables:
1 small zucchini, sliced into half-moons
1 red bell pepper, chopped into chunks
1 small red onion, cut into wedges
1 cup cherry tomatoes
2 Tbsp olive oil or melted butter
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp dried oregano
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional Garnish:
Extra lemon zest
Fresh dill or parsley
Crushed red pepper flakes
Macronutrients
(per serving, serves 4)
Protein: 11g
Fat: 25g
Carbs: 10g
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss zucchini, bell pepper, onion, and cherry tomatoes with olive oil, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Spread on a sheet pan and roast 20–25 minutes, until tender and slightly caramelized.
In a food processor, combine feta, Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, and herbs. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Spread whipped feta on a serving platter or shallow bowl. Top with roasted vegetables.
Garnish with extra lemon zest, fresh herbs, or a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes.
Serve alongside your favorite cut of meat for a complete meal.
Enjoy the recovery time, or make-up anything you missed from last week.
This narrative review brings together animal, human, and neurobiological evidence suggesting that excessive sugar consumption can meet key criteria for addiction, including cravings, loss of control, tolerance, withdrawal, and compulsive use. The authors show that high-sugar foods strongly activate the brain’s reward pathways—particularly dopamine and opioid signaling—in patterns that resemble those seen with addictive drugs, leading to altered reward sensitivity and reinforced consumption over time.
The review also links sugar addiction to broader metabolic and health consequences, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and adverse effects on brain regions involved in memory and self-regulation. Rather than framing sugar overconsumption as a simple failure of willpower, the authors argue that it reflects interacting neural, hormonal, and metabolic disruptions, implying that effective treatment requires dietary composition change, not behavioral advice.
GET THE FULL FIX AT BROKENSCIENCE.ORG/FIX
SUNDAY 260118