The addiction to sugar is widespread and more difficult to kick than harmful substances and drugs, according to sugar expert Nicole Avena, MD. Avena serves as associate professor of neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and visiting professor of health psychology, Princeton University. She was the first to study sugar addiction and has published more than 100 scholarly articles on the dangers of sugar, especially on metabolic health.
Vitamin Retailer interviewed Avena about why she wrote Sugarless, her latest book.
Q: Why did you write Sugarless?
A: My whole career has been dedicated to showing, through laboratory research and my books, how nutrition influences our brain, and Sugarless just came naturally. As a product of my research, we have learned how addictive sugar truly can be, and that it is found abundantly in the standard American diet. I think the goal of Sugarless was to show readers how influential giving up sugar can be, and the applicable ways to do so. The neuroscience behind consuming sugar is extensive, and the book is meant to be a great resource that breaks it down into digestible information.
Q: With all the new “better for you” “plant-based” (stevia, non-sugar sweeteners), why are folks still having sugar issues?
A: Sugar replacements are tricky because our tastebuds continue to tell our brains we are eating something “sweet,” even if it’s not real sugar and this makes it harder to combat cravings. I think sugar substitutes are a great way to wean off sugar, but the ultimate goal is to have limited artificially sweet items in the diet.
Q: What can people do to turn their pre-diabetes habits around that won’t intimidate them?
A: Start small—I think recognizing how much sugar we are eating daily from food (which can include things like salad dressings and frozen pizza) is the first step. Then, we can actively avoid products that include added sugar which ultimately will benefit blood sugar balancing.
Q: Please add anything my questions did not cover that you feel are pertinent to the book and to natural product/health food retailers.
A: Sugarless is a no-nonsense guide to quitting sugar. It walks readers step by step through recognizing they have a problem, expanding on the neuroscience behind sugar addiction, and further including an abundance of easy recipes containing no added sugar.
Q: Where can retailers obtain your book?
A: The book is available now wherever you buy your books. And the paperback will be released in December 2024!
