Sugar Busters! Review
Review At A Glance
Rather than a diet, the creators of Sugar Busters! describe it as a "nutritional lifestyle" that involves knowing what and how to eat, as well as incorporating moderate exercise. As the name implies, Sugar Busters! encourages cutting back or eliminating refined sugar and processed grains and concentrating on high fiber vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fruit, and reduced fat dairy products.How Does It Work?
There is no weighing or measuring of food in this program; rather it is based around cutting back or cutting out sugar and refined grains, as well as some other high- glycemic foods. Portion control, eating smaller meals more frequently, and regular exercise are the other key components of the plan. The authors also recommend not eating after 8 p.m., and eating fruit by itself rather than with other foods.Who Is It Good For?
Anyone who wants to lose weight sensibly without "dieting" per se, and/or has health issues or concerns around sugar (hypoglycemia, diabetes) will benefit from the focus on eating regular, nutritious meals and cutting out sugar, white pasta, white bread, white rice etc.Keys: Sugar Busters! Lifestyle Program
- Severely limits or eliminates refined sugar, process grain foods
- Encourages low-fat choices in meat and dairy
- Fruits are allowed as snacks
- No late night eating
- Attention to portion sizes, rather than measuring/counting foods
- Exercise at least twenty minutes a day, four times a week
Pros
- Encourages a permanent lifestyle change
- Created by physicians
- Sugar Busters! food products (e.g. whole grain pasta, sugar free cookies, etc.) are available for purchase through the Web site
- Moderate exercise included as part of the lifestyle plan
- Support forum and message board provided for free through Web site
- No extra stuff to buy – the program is contained in the Sugar Busters! book, which is $7.99 and an optional shopper's guide for $4.99
- Specific recommendations for addressing childhood sugar consumption and obesity issues
Cons
- Avoiding refined sugar and white flour products is a challenge and requires reading food labels carefully.
- There is some debate about whether a low-glycemic carbohydrate diet is better for weight loss than other reduced calorie or reduced fat diets.
- Some fruits and vegetables are not allowed or restricted because of their higher glycemic index, e.g. carrots, potatoes, pineapple, ripe bananas.
- Book doesn't tell you exactly what to eat – instead it tells you how to stock your refrigerator and pantry.