Sugar...Stop the Addiction: A Biochemical Explanation and Treatment Protocol for Healing from Refined Carbohydrate

Book Review Sugar...Stop the Addiction, A Biochemical Explanation and Treatment Protocol for Healing from Refined Carbohydrate Dependency By Kelly Genzlinger, CNC, CMTA This is a great read for any Nutritional Consultant that wishes to fully understand sugar addiction and those relentless carbohydrate cravings that seem to plague so many! Written in very clear language this would make a wonderful supplement to a case study for clients caught in this trap. This informative little book of 131 pages is power-packed with clear explanations of carbohydrate metabolism and the biochemical reactions of the body and brain that make this form of addiction so difficult to overcome. The author provides references to studies and other books as well as online resources for further reading. The book begins in Chapter 1 with a narrative that defines and provides an understanding of exactly what carbohydrates are. The author clearly distinguishes the difference between healthy carbohydrates such as vegetables, whole grains and fruits, and those unhealthy carbohydrates such as sugars and refined grains. Throughout the book she provides visual references in the form of charts, and nutritional knowledge-testing quizzes to keep things interesting. I really enjoyed reading Chapter 2 in which she provides a historical perspective that debunks the low-fat diet as being anything near healthy, and discloses the faulty research presentation that led to dietary fats being seen as the main culprit behind heart disease. While low-fat foods were being promoted as healthy and consumption of dietary fats was decreasing, the author questions why the rates of diabetes, cancer, obesity and infertility were increasing, along with heart disease as one of the big killers. Kelly attributes this outcome to the increased consumption of highly refined fake-food carbohydrates loaded with additives and synthetic ingredients such as corn-based sugars, polyunsaturated oils, Trans fats, nutrient-devoid foods, pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and genetically modified ingredients. Some of the research used for this book is attributed to Weston A. Price, DDS, who studied the cultures of people whose dietary habits had not been influenced by industrialization or modernization. He found that primitive people from other cultures had optimal mind and body heath while consuming their traditional diets that were high in fats and whole food carbohydrates as typically found throughout the history of primitive man. Once industrialization arrived, bringing sugar and refined white flour with it, disease followed quickly. In Chapter 3 the shocking statistics of sugar consumption in the S.A.D. diet are cited. In 1821 sugar consumption was estimated to be 5-10 lbs per person. This has now risen to 146-170 lbs per year, an increase of 1500% in just under 200 years. Americans each consume, on the average, 300 cans of soda, 200 sticks of gum, 18 lbs of candy, 50 lbs of cake and cookies, and 20 gallo

For those of you who want to understand why you have an addiction, how you can kick the sugar habit living a healthier life style, and take better care of those you love...especially your children, this book is a "must" read. Kelly Genzlinger has taken years of research and put it into everyday language. You'll be amazed about what you learn and be energized to use this information to begin changing your life.

After all these years of "low fat" foods, has weight gain and heart disease become less common in America? In this new book, Kelly Genzlinger proposes that refined sugars and carbohydrates are the bigger culprits, contributing not only to an increase in weight gain and heart disease, but to many other bodily and mental diseases and imbalances. In addition, refined sugars and carbohydrates are highly addictive, tending to make us want to eat all the more of them. Kelly holds three professional certifications in holistic health and nutrition. In this book, she thoroughly explains the biochemical processes that happen when we eat refined sugars, and what our bodies really need (including natural fats!) in order to create the proper balance of hormones and health. She gives concrete suggestions on how to become more aware of how much sugar we take in in our sugar-saturated culture, and how to begin to reduce that amount. She proposes a goal of breaking an addiction to sugar and refined carbs, and compassionately guides the reader through a plan of how to achieve that. This is a very informative book. It includes a listing of wholesome, whole food sweeteners; a listing of which fruits have a higher sugar content than others; resources for more information; and also some sources of quality, whole foods.

Whether you have a sugar addiction or not, this book is an invaluable addition to your shelf. It's about time somebody explained our own bodies in plain English! Along with being a Nutritional Therapist, Kelly obviously has had a lot of real-life experience (including her own struggles) with sugar addiction and is passionate about helping others get sugar out of their lives. (Actually, this is a great book for understanding the mechanics of addictions in general, whether it's sugar, drugs, alcohol, gambling, you name it.) As a Food Coach myself, I'm forever researching health concerns and culinary topics, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed learning about sugar addictions from Kelly--her style is both informative and reassuring. I often recommend this easy-to-understand book to my own clients.