The
Basic Premise
Recommends eliminating sugar from the diet. No established guidelines
on fat, protein, or carbohydrate are provided. Approved snacks are
allowed.
How
A Person Can Lose Weight On This Diet
Calories eaten must be below calories needed to maintain weight (i.e.,
low calorie).
The higher protein level of Sugar Busters can provide more satiety
with meals and snacks.
High carbohydrate food portions and sweets are restricted, so blood
sugar surges after a high carbohydrate meal or sweet do not occur.
This also helps control appetite.
Special Concerns
- People living
with diabetes, if taking insulin, are at risk of becoming
hypoglycemic if they do not eat appropriate carbohydrates throughout
the day.
-
People who
exercise regularly are at risk for poor energy levels and muscle
fatigue due to an inadequate carbohydrate intake.
Alcohol
If you do drink alcohol do so on a full stomach and a dry red wine is
the preferred alcoholic beverage. People should avoid beer and all
after-dinner type drinks and liquors due to their high sugar content.
Allows alcohol in moderation but cautions dieters about harmful
effects of excessive consumption.
Claims
-
Sugar increases
the release of insulin, which promotes fat storage and obesity.
-
Calories don't
count, however, an analysis shows the diet averages 1200 calories
a day.
-
Regardless of
what you eat as long as you reduce sugar intake you will lose body
fat and weight.
-
You can get
slimmer simply by avoiding foods requiring high insulin secretion.
-
Diet is
anti-carbohydrate with an emphasis on eliminating refined
carbohydrates.
-
The authors
say, "Let's get to the point. SUGAR IS TOXIC! Sugar? Some
sugar? Most sugar? All sugar? Toxic? Well, we will say that
refined sugar in any significant quantity is toxic to many human
bodies, and it certainly helps make many bodies fat".
Pros
None
Cons
- Book downplays
importance of exercise and the authors admit they do not exercise.
-
Too low in
fruits and vegetables.
-
Excessive
sodium, cholesterol, and fat (especially saturated fat).
-
Eliminates high
glycemic index foods like white rice, potatoes, carrots, white
bread and corn.
-
Recommends
drinking small amounts of water with meals since "excess
fluid with meals also dilutes the digestive juices…which may
result in partially digested food."
-
Validity is
based on anecdotal claims and testimonials, not proven science.
Truth
-
"All foods
can fit" into a healthy diet.
-
A report
written by the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture
Organization has confirmed the importance of carbohydrates in the
diet. Carbohydrates have been found to be protective of
nutrition-related diseases.
-
Fluids are very
important for maintaining fluid balance and preventing
dehydration. Sedentary individuals need a minimum of eight glasses
of water a day while active people need at least ten.
-
The authors
have oversimplified the role of insulin in the body. Insulin only
promotes excess, cumulative fat storage, when too many calories
are also being consumed. There is absolutely no scientific
evidence to back the Sugar Busters! Insulin weight-loss theory.
|