Sugar Busters Diet Review

Sugar Busters Diet - Overview

Published in 1995 and recently modified and re-published, Sugar Busters diet is based on the idea that sugar produces insulin which stops us losing weight, despite strict dieting and exercise. Thus, added sugar is restricted (it was banned) and mostly it recommends foods which are low on the Glycemic Index (GI).

Sugar Busters diet plan is based broadly on 30 percent protein, 40 percent fat and 30 percent carbohydrates.

The diet allows red meat, poultry, fish, olive oil, dairy foods, nuts and a selection of fruit and vegetables. Potatoes are banned, as are white bread, pasta, white rice, and most sugar. However, small amounts of whole grain bread, wholewheat pasta and oats are permitted.

Sugar Busters diet now recommends portion control.

Sugar Busters diet is easy to follow and, if you follow their 14-day diet exactly, you should lose weight.

That said, the success of the diet is almost certainly due to the fact that restricting sugar helps to reduce calories, not because of anything to do with insulin.

The idea that insulin causes weight gain is highly controversial. There can be no weight gain in the absence of a calorie surplus caused by eating too many or burning too few. It's true that high insulin levels increase the risk of heart disease, but there is little if any evidence that insulin causes extra fat storage.

Interestingly, a UK study of weight loss published in the International Journal of Obesity (2001), found that the elimination of sugar from weight loss diets made very little difference. Two sets of dieters who followed (a) sugar-free and (b) 10 percent sugar diets, respectively, lost similar amounts of weight.

In addition, other clinical studies show that diets with zero sugar have lower compliance rates.

Sugar Busters Diet - Claims

• Sugar - not fat - is the cause of excess weight.
• For best weight loss, eat according to the Glycemic Index.

Sugar Busters Diet - Drawbacks

• Based on a false premise. Sugar is not toxic and insulin does not lead to weight gain.
• Bans some healthy foods, like potatoes and bananas.
• Difficult to follow for vegetarians.
• Downplays the idea that calorie-intake causes weight gain or weight loss.
• Unnecessarily complicates the refined-sugar-is-bad issue.

Sugar Busters Diet - Summary

• Recommended. Despite the above drawbacks, Sugar Busters diet still promotes enough healthy eating to justify a recommendation.
• But losing weight on Sugar Busters diet will be much easier if you pay attention to the calories-in/ calories-out principle. This (and not insulin) is the determining weight loss/gain factor.

88X31 Button

88X31 Button

88X31 Button

Not all exercises or diets are suitable for everyone. The instructions and advice presented on this site are in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling. The creators, producers, participants and distributors of this site disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the information and advice provided here.  

Site Updated