The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Programme : All Natural, Simple Solutions That Build Energy, Heal Depression and Enhance Mental Focus - Softcover

Kathleen Desmaisons

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0743206738 ISBN 13: 9780743206730

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2002

Synopsis

A complete, new dietary and lifestyle regimen to help sugar sensitive people overcome their dependency. Potatoes not Prozac defined the problem of sugar sensitivity and set us on our way to freedom from it. But readers need to know more to be able to stay on the Potatoes not Prozac programme and to have specifics on how to get out of the fog of sugar-induced confusion, poor concentration, and depression and lethargy. Here's what to eat for breakfast, what to do when you slip off the plan and how to suppress sugar cravings. It includes more than 100 recipes, shopping lists, tips for coping with tough situations, and tools for dealing with stress. The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Programme is a stand-alone guide that will jump-start readers into a healthier way of living and eating. It expands upon the science underlying Potatoes not Prozac in chapters especially for men and women, which give some surprising results from research studies on the deleterious effects of sugar on the health of particular organs. Full of practical techniques for applying the theory that was outlined in Potatoes not Prozac, this is a clear, simple, but thorough guide and is cutting-edge health science.

About this title

Review

Sugar lurks in foods in more than 85 different forms. Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D., the first person to receive a doctorate in addictive nutrition, says that besides being detrimental to the immune system, the more than 100 pounds of processed sugar consumed annually by each American is responsible for "mood swings, depression, fatigue, fuzzy thinking, PMS, impulsivity ... [and] unpredictable temper." And while overdosing on the sweet stuff is a national pastime, she says her research shows indulging in sugar highs should be treated much more seriously, akin to heroin or alcohol dependency, because sugar causes spikes in the neurotransmitters serotonin and beta-dopamine just like those drugs--and can eventually wreak similar mayhem on one's health, work, and relationships.

The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program is not a quick fix; DesMaisons's plan aims to eliminate sugar cravings, requiring five days of "detox," along with building up the resolve to stick to the recommendations over time--including while out at restaurants, during social gatherings, and while traveling. Fortunately, she offers plenty of tips for those situations, and her prescription is practical and easy to follow, including seven steps as simple as making sure some protein is included with each meal. (That's not to say this is a high-protein, low-carb diet; she criticizes Dr. Robert Atkins and other fad-diet hawkers.) DesMaisons includes more than 50 recipes that cover breakfast through dinner; advice for choosing comfort foods to replace those M&Ms and sodas; and an invitation to join the support group she runs through her Web site. The Recovery Program should be of particular interest to parents and teachers, considering the way sugar-saturated foods are ruthlessly marketed to children--Coke machines are more and more commonplace in elementary schools--and that many of the behaviors DesMaisons links to sugar sensitivity are remarkably similar to those of ADHD. --Erica Jorgensen

From the Inside Flap

the science of nutrition that she outlined in her bestselling book, Potatoes Not Prozac, Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons now presents the first complete, in-depth dietary plan for living with–and healing–sugar sensitivity. She explains exactly how you can free your mind and body from the tyranny of sugar and shake off the exhaustion, mental fogginess, and mood swings that sugar dependence causes. Revealing the various ways sugar addiction affects both men and women, and the unique methods for healing it, Dr. DesMaisons encourages you to custom-tailor her simple program to fit your lifestyle and includes information on

· How to integrate a “slow-carbs not low-carbs” strategy into your diet
· Why regular protein is essential and how to get it with every meal
· What to eat when a sugar craving strikes
· How to get the nutrition you need on the run–even at fast-food restaurants
· How to find an exercise

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0743206738
• ISBN 13: 9780743206730
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224