Before we start, we’re going to ask you to do something simple: Picture one of those 5-pound bags of sugar, the kind you find in your average grocery store. Got it? Now picture fifteen of them. Hang on to that image—we’ll get back to it in a minute.
Ah, sugar—the sweet stuff we dash (or dump) in our coffee, sprinkle on our oatmeal, and caramelize on our crème brûlée. In this book, we’re not just talking about the sweeteners we know we add to our foods to give it a little kick. We’re also talking about all the hidden sugars—the ones you may not know about—that are in many of the most popular foods we consume. In fact, sugar consumption is at an all-time high, and it’s making us unhealthy—so much so that a group of scientists from the University of California at San Francisco have recently recommended that the use of sugar be regulated the same way alcohol and tobacco are in the United States. Yep, sugar as a controlled substance!
Some people might find the government monitoring of sugar a bit much, but here’s the scoop: A diet high in sugar, such as the one found right here in the USA, leads to everything from weight gain to heart disease and even type 2 diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control has projected that one in three Americans will have diabetes by 2050. The vast majority of these cases could probably be prevented if we just kept our weight under control, exercised more—and lowered our consumption of sugar.
Remember those fifteen bags of sugar you visualized? That’s how much sugar the average American consumes each year. More than 70 pounds of it. And diabetes isn’t the only problem caused by our overconsumption of sugar. Diets high in sugar also increase the risk for atherosclerosis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and even cataracts. We’ll get into the exact science a bit more later, but basically this is because sugars left unchecked in the bloodstream have to go somewhere, so they grab on to protein molecules throughout the body. These protein-sugar complexes, called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, can be found in virtually all organ systems. AGEs trigger massive inflammation in the body, causing further tissue damage—and premature aging. So suffice it to say that these nasty little sugarcoated proteins are not our friends.
AGEs are unfortunately very aptly named: The collagen and elastin molecules that help your face defy gravity are extremely susceptible to being attacked by sugar. When these molecules are turned into AGEs, their soft and supple fibers become more rigid and can no longer do the heavy lifting needed to keep things in place. This whole sugary mess leaves skin saggy, baggy, and wrinkled.
In short, sugar is compromising our health, making us fat, lazy, and ugly. Maybe you’ve picked up this book because you’re tired of feeling tired all the time, or maybe you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic condition that requires you to change your eating habits and lose weight. Regardless of your reason, our Sugar Detox program will help you become healthier, leaner, and, yes, younger looking. It has been designed specifically to stop sugar cravings and target and eliminate foods that cause weight gain, fatigue, and premature aging, while replacing them with foods that will give you energy, help you lose weight, and make you look younger. What’s not to love?
What’s unique about the Sugar Detox is that you’re getting the combined expertise of a nutritionist and dermatologist. Every day, both of us see women complaining of weight gain, premature aging, and lack of energy. We created the Sugar Detox to help our patients reach their goals. It is a unique multidiscipline approach that will allow you to look and feel better from the inside out and the outside in.
Brooke R. Alpert, MS, RD, CDN, is the founder of B Nutritious, a private nutrition counseling practice in New York City. Brooke and her team at B Nutritious have been working with hundreds of women, men, and teenagers over the years to help change their diet to achieve weight loss, boost energy levels, and benefit overall health and wellness. It wasn’t long into her practice that Brooke realized that sugar was the key player in how her patients felt. By reducing the amount of sugar they were eating and eliminating artificial sugars from their diet, Brooke’s patients were able to get results so much quicker for losing weight, feeling more energized, and seeing their skin start to change. Now, all Brooke’s patients follow a low-sugar diet and are incredibly successful with their weight loss and nutritional goals.
Dr. Patricia Farris is a board-certified dermatologist, clinical assistant professor at Tulane University, and internationally recognized expert on the treatment of aging skin. Dr. Farris became interested in the relationship between nutrition and aging when she realized that some of her patients seeking cosmetic procedures were aged way beyond their years. She noticed that many of these patients did not have the usual signs and symptoms of sun damage, but their skin was still excessively wrinkled with a marked loss in elasticity. The culprits? Poor nutrition and excessive sugar consumption. Frustrated by those who were willing to pay big bucks for such quick fixes as laser treatments and chemical peels but unwilling to make the diet and lifestyle changes that were really required to make them look and feel younger, she teamed up with Brooke to create an easy diet program that would help her patients achieve their goals. Dr. Farris now routinely recommends the Sugar Detox diet as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for patients who suffer from premature aging, acne, and other skin conditions. By combining our expertise for you, The Sugar Detox is a sure-fire way to help you look and feel your absolute best. Throughout the book, we share stories from our practices and patients—people just like you whom we’ve helped to break free from sugar to be healthier, happier—and who look amazing!
We’ve developed a 3-Day Sugar Fix that will help you break free immediately from your sugar dependence. Sugar truly is addictive: Your body reacts to it like a drug and craves it constantly. What we’re asking you to do is to quit—cold turkey. We won’t lie: These three days are tough, but with every bite and sip you will start to feel better and be on the road to a healthier, more beautiful life. The 3-Day Sugar Fix program starts right after this introduction, so get ready to start healthy living now. We want you to see and feel the results you want as quickly as possible, and so although the rest of the book will certainly help you stick to a committed plan (and will give you all the necessary science and rationale for why sugar is so bad and what it really does to your body), we prefer that you get to work on the program right away, and continue reading as you undergo the 3-Day Sugar Fix.
We want you to feel positive about this diet instead of deprived, so after the 3-Day Sugar Fix, you’ll find chapters that explain what foods you should be eating on a regular basis, why they are good for you, and how even your favorite foods (chocolate, cheese, wine, and more) can actually be beneficial for you. Then we move on to the foods to avoid, how to eat throughout the day, how to care for your skin, and how to tone up with an exercise program that’s specifically created to work in tandem with the diet plan. At the end of the book are recipes we created with our amazing chef, Jason Brown, which are delicious, satisfying, and all Sugar Detox approved!
The diet is broken up into four weeks and each week is slightly different. It’s hardest in the beginning, but the good news is that each week, we gradually add some more options for you choose from. We want you to be as prepared as possible before starting out, so that you’ll have an easier time staying on the plan. To that end, we include meal plans, 3-day and weekly approved-food lists, plus suggestions for the best meals to choose when dining out. Always take a look at the food lists for each week and make sure you’re fully stocked at home, so you have less to worry about when that week starts. By the end of the four weeks, you will have completed an amazing physical transformation and will feel as if you can conquer the world!
Throughout the book, you’ll hear from our patients and clients—women and men just like you who’ve kicked their sugar habits and now embrace a healthier lifestyle and years-younger looks. You’ll also find some prescriptions throughout—Rx’s that help you along the way.
So that’s the plan. We hope you’re excited for the immediate and lifelong changes that you’re about to make starting right away with the 3-Day Sugar Fix. Within no time at all, you’ll be feeling and looking better than ever and know that you’re making a healthy commitment to yourself and your body. We’re in this with you!
• If you are a diabetic or have any type of blood sugar problem including insulin resistance, it is essential to consult your physician before starting any type of diet program, including the Sugar Detox.
• If you are taking insulin or any other medication to control blood sugar and start a low sugar diet such as the Sugar Detox, consult your physician as you will probably require less than your current dose of medication.
• The Sugar Detox diet may not be appropriate for those who engage in extreme exercise programs, such as long-distance running, cycling, or other intense cardiovascular workouts.
• During the 3-Day Sugar Fix you may experience fatigue, fogginess, headaches, and intense cravings as you detox off sugar. In most cases these symptoms will resolve as you continue the program but should they persist we suggest you discontinue and consult your physician.