Why Diets Fail Because You Re Addicted To Sugar

This revolutionary eating plan reveals definitive proof that sugar is addictive, and presents the first science-based program to cut out the sugar, stop the cravings that cause most diets to eventually fail, and lose weight--permanently. If you’re like most people, you’ve tried a few (or maybe many) different diets without success. The truth is, most diets work for a while, but there’s usually a point at which the dietary restrictions become too difficult to maintain. Why? Because whether you’re following a low-carb, paleo, gluten-free, or even an all-liquid green juice diet, the addictive nature of sugar causes cravings to take over and sabotage your diet-of-the-moment. In Why Diets Fail, Dr. Nicole M. Avena and John R. Talbott reveal definitive proof that sugar is addictive and present the first science-based program to stop the cravings and lose weight—permanently. A neuroscientist and food addiction expert, Dr. Avena has conducted groundbreaking research showing that sugar triggers the same responses in the brain as addictive drugs like cocaine, nicotine, and alcohol. And like those other substances, the more sugar you eat, the more you need to get the same pleasurable feelings. (No wonder your last diet didn’t stick.) Avena and Talbott’s eight-step plan walks you through the process of going sugar-free and surviving the make-or-break withdrawal period—those first few weeks when your body feels the absence of its favorite sweetener most acutely. An easy-to-use Sugar Equivalency Table developed by Talbott lists the amount of sugar in hundreds of common foods so you know precisely what to eat and what to avoid. And when it comes to what you can eat, you have a lot to choose from. In fact, you’ll probably eat more on this diet than you normally do—while continuing to lose weight. This science-based program is the diet to end all diets. It will help you break the yo-yo dieting cycle, end those maddening sugar cravings, and develop a new longing for the good food that will keep you fit, healthy, and happy.

Break free from sugar addiction and take control of your health. In Sugarless, pioneering neuroscientist Dr. Nicole Avena provides a revolutionary step-by-step plan to help readers curb sweet cravings and quit sugar once and for all. With surprising sources of hidden sugars exposed, Dr. Avena’s 7-step program empowers you to overcome sugar addiction by identifying sugar traps, taming your sweet tooth, and breaking the vicious diet cycle. Backed by over 100 studies, Dr. Avena reveals how processed foods with refined sugars can be even more addictive than illicit drugs. She dispels myths blaming lack of willpower, and proves biologically how sugar affects the brain. With a foreword by Dr. Daniel Amen and 30 sugar-free recipes, this book provides the perfect blueprint for your sugar detox. Hailed as the first to study sugar addiction, Dr. Avena is the world's foremost authority on the topic. Her blend of compelling research and actionable solutions makes embarking on your own sugar detox for beginners straightforward. Simply follow her advice to feel more in control, stop craving sugar, and start feeling healthier. Key Features: Science-backed 7-step program to reduce sugar consumption 30 delicious sugar-free recipes Foreword by Dr. Daniel Amen, 12-time New York Times bestselling author and integrative psychiatrist Surprising sources of hidden sugars revealed Tools to resist sweet cravings and manage sugar withdrawal Practical plan to break the cycle for good

What makes fad diets so appealing to so many people? How did there get to be so many different ones, often with eerily similar prescriptions? Why do people cycle on and off diets, perpetually searching for that one simple trick that will solve everything? And how did these fads become so central to conversations about food and nutrition? Anxious Eaters shows that fad diets are popular because they fulfill crucial social and psychological needs—which is also why they tend to fail. Janet Chrzan and Kima Cargill bring together anthropology, psychology, and nutrition to explore what these programs promise yet rarely fulfill for dieters. They demonstrate how fad diets help people cope with widespread anxieties and offer tantalizing glimpses of attainable self-transformation. Chrzan and Cargill emphasize the social contexts of diets, arguing that beliefs about nutrition are deeply rooted in pervasive cultural narratives. Although people choose to adopt new eating habits for individual reasons, broader forces shape why fad diets seem to make sense. Considering dietary beliefs and practices in terms of culture, nutrition, and individual psychological needs, Anxious Eaters refrains from moralizing or promoting a “right” way to eat. Instead, it offers new ways of understanding the popularity of a wide range of eating trends, including the Atkins Diet and other low- or no-carb diets; beliefs that ingredients like wheat products and sugars are toxic, allergenic, or addictive; food avoidance and “Clean Eating” practices; and paleo or primal diets. Anxious Eaters sheds new light on why people adopt such diets and why these diets remain so attractive even though they often fail.

A step-by-step guide to kicking the sugar habit and living a healthier, happier life With many Australians and New Zealanders drawing as much as a third of their total caloric intake from sugar and enriched flour, sugar addiction is a rapidly growing problem. Global sugar consumption has tripled in just the last 50 years and the result has been increasing levels of obesity, diabetes, and other health problems. Even worse, the more sugar we eat, the more sugar our bodies want, leading to a dangerous cycle of sugar addiction. Beating Sugar Addiction For Dummies, Australian and New Zealand Edition, presents a simple, step-based program that gradually weans you off sugar in large amounts to let you live a healthier and fitter life. The book explains the hidden sources of sugar we consume, the effect that eating too much of it has on us, and how to cut down on sugar without sacrificing the foods we love. Plus, you'll find healthy, simple meal plans and recipes that include little or no sugar. Features practical guidance and a simple plan for cutting down on unhealthy levels of sugar consumption Includes simple meal plans and 50 great-tasting recipes with little or no sugar Offers tips on dealing with sugar cravings and what to stock in a low-sugar pantry No one wants to give up the sweet things in life, but too much sugar is a recipe for ill health and addiction. Beating Sugar Addiction For Dummies gives you the information and advice you need to break the cycle and find a healthy balance.

Impact of Addictive Substances and Behaviours on Individual and Societal Well-being outlines an innovative and fascinating new framework for understanding the harm that addictive substances and behaviours can cause. Taking a holistic approach and with well-being as a central tenet, it demonstrates how using different methods can lead to a more just and evidence-based approach to dealing with addictions. Presenting the latest and most comprehensive research, the expert team of authors examines the harm caused by addictive substances and behaviour, factors that contribute to addictions, and current European approaches to governing addictive substances and behaviours. It is both legal and illegal drugs, and behaviour that cause harm. For the world as a whole, cigarettes were the second largest cause of ill health and early death in 2010, alcohol the fifth, and illegal drugs the eighteenth. Regular and sustained heavy engagement in addictive substances and behaviour also impacts on quality of life and material living conditions. The well-being framework outlined here for understanding this impact places particular emphasis on the reciprocal relationship between well-being and drug use: well-being can be a driver of the heavy use of addictive substances and behaviours, and also compounds the harm done. Furthermore, the response of society can increase the harm caused by drug use, and stigma, social exclusion, and the actions of the criminal justice system can impair individual and societal well-being considerably. Impact of Addictive Substances and Behaviours on Individual and Societal Well-being is based on the research from ALICE RAP, a multidisciplinary European study of addictive substances and behaviours in contemporary society. A timely addition to the field, this book is essential reading for those wanting to make a real impact in the field of addiction prevention policy, including public managers, practitioners, public health professionals, and stakeholders influencing policy for addictive substances and behaviours, as well as academics.

Overeating and obesity are on the rise. Despite public health warnings, availability of diet books and programs, and the stigma associated with obesity, many people find it difficult to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. While there are many books on the topic of caloric or need-based eating, obesity and overeating can also result from eating that is not driven by hunger. Recent research found that excess food intake is largely driven by the palatability of food and the pleasure derived from eating. Hedonic Eating: How the Pleasure of Food Affects Our Brains and Behavior discusses the pleasurable aspects of food intake that may cause and perpetuate overconsumption. Broad in its scope, this book examines the various behavioral, biological, and social rewards of food. The comprehensive chapters cover topics ranging from the neurochemistry of food reward to the hotly debated concept of 'food addiction,' while providing relevant and up-to-date information from the current body of scientific literature regarding food reward.

Drawing on her experience in addictions treatment, and on many personal stories of addiction and recovery, Dr. Vera Tarman offers practical advice for people struggling with problems of overeating, binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia. Food Junkies is a friendly and informative guide on the road to food serenity.