What Is Sugar Busters?

In an August 2010 report, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that obesity-related medical costs reached $147 billion across America. The CDC report also notes an obese person may spend $1,429 more each year in health-care costs than a person of normal weight does. To reduce the effects of obesity and its related costs, some people turn to one of the many low-carbohydrate diets on the market, such as Sugar Busters.

Description

The creators of Sugar Busters encourage you to consume about 32 percent of your calories from fat, 28 percent of your calories from protein and 40 percent of your calories from carbohydrates, notes a 2000 diet review led by James W. Anderson and published in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition." Sugar Busters emphasizes the consumption of foods with a low glycemic index -- which ranks how foods affect blood glucose and insulin levels -- including lean meats, eggs, whole grains, non-starchy vegetables, some fruits and nuts. The authors of "Sugar Busters," H. Leighton Stewart, Morrison C. Bethea, M.D., Sam S. Andrews, M.D. and Luis A. Belart, M.D., advise eating three portion-controlled meals throughout the day, in combination with regular snacking. This diet disallows the consumption of refined flour, refined sugars, white rice, many root vegetable and some fruits.

Purpose

The authors of "Sugar Busters" believe that the number of calories you consume is less important than what foods the calories come from. They claim that removing simple sugars from your diet will help you reduce your blood insulin levels and reduce your body's resistance to insulin. Control over insulin levels helps prevent your body from storing carbohydrates as fat and decreases your tendency to have cravings or overeat.

Effectiveness

No clinical studies have focused on the effectiveness of low-carbohydrate or low-glycemic index diets for longer than one year, according to research from Allen R. Last and Stephen H. Wilson, in a 2006 study published in "American Family Physician." Low carbohydrate diets and high carbohydrate diets are found to work equally well in promoting weight loss because of their caloric restriction. Sugar Busters restricts calories by eliminating foods that have high calorie content, such as sweets, soda, cereal bars and snack crackers, explains Karen Collins, a nutritionist and dietitian in Jamestown, New York. Sugar Busters also encourages exercise throughout the weight-loss program to boost weight-loss results.

Expert Opinions

Medical professionals often consider Sugar Busters a fad diet because it promises dramatic results. These diets usually do not allow for long-term weight loss success and may have negative health consequences, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Sugar Busters eliminates foods such as beets, carrots and bananas, which normally provide the body with important antioxidants and other nutrients. The other fruits and vegetables allowed on this diet, however, can provide these nutrients for your body, suggests Collins.

Considerations

Use care when following Sugar Busters. The Anderson-led review points out that Sugar Busters allows for more than double the recommended intake of protein, which may strain the liver and kidneys if followed for too long. Sugar Busters causes you to eliminate all simple sugars, which can lead to binging in moments of weakness, advises Collins.