Friday, September 3, 2010

Review: Suicide by Sugar

Author: Nancy Appleton, Ph.D.

Genre: Non-fiction (2009)

About: "A Startling look at our #1 National Addiction" and "why our sweet tooth may be killing us"

Did you know that...1) The average person consumes 23 teaspoons of added sugar every day, which is 460 calories that supply no additional nutrients and upset the body's chemistry? 2) There are 10 teaspoons of sugar in a 12-ounce soda? 3) Sugar can lead to ovarian cancer and alcoholism and can cause varicose veins and juvenile delinquency, among 136 other cancers and diagnoses listed by the author.

Overall: It was eye-opening but just okay. Too scientific at times.  I skipped to the parts I was interested in.

Liked...The inside scoop (hehe) on sugar and the awareness I gained as to the amount of sugar I eat and what it does to me. I'm hypoglycemic and shouldn't eat sugar anyway, but I love gummy worms, Skittles and ice cream. According to the book, I'm addicted and need a 12-step program (yes, they really have them for sugar addicts). My new found awareness is keeping my candy-loving self in check, but I will not give up my occasional glass of wine or my caffeine every morning as recommended by the author. Man, this book is hard core.

Didn't like...how scientific and extreme the book is in it's advice to avoid sugar. Give up ketchup? Uh...not going to happen.

Source: Library

Why I chose: Hi, I'm Lynne and I'm an addict.

Recommend? Yes if you have a problem with sugar addiction, want to lose weight (because there really are only empty calories in sugar), or you are curious to know what sugar does to the body. It's not pretty.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Addendum:   Since reading the book a few days ago, I took the time to read food labels at the grocery store, and WOW.  It's amazing how much sugar is added to food.  Some yogurts have as much as 25 grams of sugar, which is a little over 6 teaspoons.  I couldn't find any yogurt that had under 10 grams of sugar (2 1/2 teaspoons). Aaaaand I've lost two pounds since watching my sugar intake.  That's worth half a star :)
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Jeanne C.'s avatar

Jeanne C. · 761 weeks ago

Hmmm... seems to me ignorance is bliss. :(
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Lynne · 761 weeks ago

Exactly!!!
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Marce · 761 weeks ago

Wow, I should read this, I know i'm addicted to sugar and its only in my tea, I don't eat candy etc but I have a minimum of 3 large cups of tea a day with 'to much sugar'

Sounds like an interesting read.
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1 reply · active 761 weeks ago
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Lynne's avatar

Lynne · 761 weeks ago

You'd probably be surprised if you read labels, too, as to how much added sugar is in normal, everyday food.

Thanks for stopping by, Marce!
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Nise' · 761 weeks ago

I know I am a sugar addict too, chocolate is my downfall, although I eat dark, so it's okay, right? ;o) I am surprised at the sugar content in yogurt and am going to keep my eye on that!!
1 reply · active 761 weeks ago
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Lynne · 761 weeks ago

Dark chocolate is definitely considered health food :) But yeah, read labels for a bit; you'll be surprised.
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Jenners · 761 weeks ago

Hi.. I'm Jenners and I'm a sugar addict too.

Yikes. My mom actually started doing this Flat Belly Diet, which asks you to limit your sugar (maybe 8 g a day or something?) and your carbs and she is losing weight like crazy. I tried it ... but I just could not use something like 4 g of sugar just to eat corn or something. I am trying to limit my sugar intake but it is hard. Good that the book created awareness for you about the sugar in your diet ... some of which is probably "hidden" to so many of us!
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1 reply · active 761 weeks ago
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Lynne · 761 weeks ago

I've heard of the Flat Belly Diet. I don't think I could limit carbs AND sugar. Life wouldn't be worth living...lol!
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Staciajo 53p · 760 weeks ago

If you need a 12-step then I'm sure I would need a 22-step program! I honestly had to clue that there was that much sugar added to yogurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for opening my eyes!
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tootooroo 36p · 760 weeks ago

oh no.. i think i need to read this. my sweet tooth is absolutely insane and out of control.
1 reply · active 760 weeks ago
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Lynne · 759 weeks ago

Me too toothy (say that out loud, it sounds really funny..."me too toothy." Oh my gosh, I'm losin' it :)

I'm just trying to cut back. That's about all I can do. I would have withdrawals if I went cold turkey :)
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diane's avatar

diane · 759 weeks ago

Yikes, this book sounds a bit frightening. I don't add sugar to anything I eat, but I am sure I overdose on it daily anyways.
1 reply · active 759 weeks ago
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Lynne's avatar

Lynne · 759 weeks ago

Diane, since reading the book and now reading food labels, it really is scary how much sugar is in everyday foods. I figure if I can at least cut back then I'm doing pretty good. No more Milk Duds at the movies for me...lol.
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sari's avatar

sari · 759 weeks ago

I jumped when I saw your post. Just yesterday someone sent me this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM about the evils of sugar. We do need to know what we are putting in our bodies, but oh how to give up my coffee creamer and summer ice cream.
I will look for this book. Even if we cut down we will be doing our bodies a lot of good.
2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
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Lynne's avatar

Lynne · 759 weeks ago

Sari, thanks for that video link, that was awesome! And coffee creamer and ice cream?? Oh my gosh, those are the exact same things I can't give up. I've been really good about giving up candy since I read the book, but that's it :)

Thanks for stopping by.
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Lynne2525 63p · 758 weeks ago

Sari, thanks for the video link. That was sooo good! And like you, I would have such a hard time giving up coffee creamer and ice cream - two of my absolute favorites.

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diane's avatar

diane · 757 weeks ago

Sugar By Suicide.....I keep thinking about my recent read: We Have Always Lived in a Castle, where the family was poisoned by arsenic in the sugar bowl....LOL
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Lynne2525 63p · 757 weeks ago

Ha ha...see, another reason not to eat sugar! You never know if someone might be poisoning the sugar bowl :)

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