1. Health Risks of the Sugar Busters Diet
Initially self-published in 1998 by three doctors and a former CEO, the "Sugar Busters Diet" asks dieters to avoid all refined foods made from white flour, white sugar and other foods such as beets, corn, honey, corn syrup, molasses, potatoes, sugary colas, raisins and bananas.
2. Diet Blames Sugary Foods for Insulin Overload
The theory behind this diet is that when we eat these foods, the pancreas is forced to produce high levels of insulin to remove this sugar from the blood. Over time, this can cause the pancreas to stop producing adequate insulin, leading to insulin resistance and possibly to Type 2 diabetes and weight gain. The authors, which include H. Leighton Steward, a former CEO; Morrison C. Bethea, a cardiothoracic surgeon; Samuel S. Andrews, an endrocrinologist; and Wis A. Balart, a gastroenterologist, state that by consuming a high protein diet will cause the pancreas to release glucagon, thereby prompting the body to burn off fat.
3. Low-glycemic Foods Preferred
Sugar Busters is high in fiber and heavy on vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish and fruits. Three meals and snacks of fruit or nuts are recommended. Daily calories may come to about 1200.
Consuming low-glycemic foods is advised. The glycemic index was created in 1981 by scientists under Dr. David Jenkins at the University of Toronto. It measures the affects of different food on blood sugar levels. Potatoes are high on the gylcemic index, which almonds and other nuts are not.
4. Critics Point To Diet's Excessive Protein, Fat
This diet advocates a 40 percent fat, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent carb formula that some health experts state is too high in fat. Eating a high-fat diet can raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk for heart disease. A high protein diet may lead to calcium being excreted from the bones and have additional negative effects on the kidneys. This can bring about irritability, fatigue and weakness.
In a study published in The Journal of the American College of Nutrition, U.K. professor of medicine and clinical nutrition, James Anderson, states that this diet, among other things recommends "almost double the recommended daily allowance" of protein, which could "lead to kidney damage."
5. Variety Is The Spice Of Life
Any diet that eliminates certain food groups may be hard to sustain. Many health organizations still advise most people to eat from a wide spectrum of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat proteins, non-saturated fats, nuts and legumes. By eating in this way, one is most likely to attain a larger number of vitamins, minerals and high fiber needed to maintain a healthy weight.
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