Is sugar our enemy? Probably yes, especially added sugar. And nutrition guru Brooke Alpert, founder of B Nutritious, thinks so, too. Brooke is a registered dietitian and nutritionist, as well as co-author of the book The Sugar Detox (Da Capo, 2013).
I had the opportunity to do an email interview with Brooke. Here are my questions and her responses.
Diet Detective: Let me jump right in and ask why and how you became a foodie and/or health advocate?
Brooke: I think I've always been a foodie and, to be honest, always a bit of a jock, too. But it wasn't until I started struggling with my own health and digestive issues that I went to see a registered dietitian and realized I was in the wrong profession. I signed up for school and left my job at Vogue within a year of my first appointment.
Diet Detective: Can a person really be addicted to sugar?
Brooke: I absolutely think sugar is addicting. In fact, its hold on us is so strong that cravings and withdrawal symptoms from sugar are equal to, if not worse than from some major hard-core drugs, like cocaine. Many of my clients think they don't have a sweet tooth so sugar isn't a problem for them. They just don't realize that all the white flour and refined grains they're craving regularly are really the same as sugar.
More: How to Conquer Your Sugar Addiction
Diet Detective: Fat, ugly and old? Is that what sugar makes us?
Brooke: Sugar basically causes us to age prematurely. All the extra sugar floating around in our bloodstream from consuming too much needs to go somewhere. So it attaches to protein molecules, mainly collagen and elastin. These protein molecules are mainly responsible for keeping our skin youthful and supple, but when sugar attaches to them it begins a process called glycation. When glycation occurs it produces what are aptly known as AGEs, or advanced glycation end products. These AGEs cause the collagen and elastin molecules to become brittle and stiff, and that leads to more fine lines in our skin, more sagging and drooping. Basically, sugar causes AGEs, which make us look old.
Diet Detective: What about fruit?
Brooke: People can easily overeat fruit. We are pro-fruit on the Sugar Detox, but it needs to be the lower-sugar fruit and in proper portions. Too much fruit can affect our waistline and our skin. Obviously, we'd rather you pick up a piece of fruit (of any kind) than a piece of cake or a slice of pizza, but in our diet plan we limit the amount of fruit you have and slowly bring it back in small portions until you complete the 31 days. We say no to bananas, watermelon and pineapple on the Sugar Detox mainly because of their glycemic index and the amount of fructose (fruit sugar) they contain.
Diet Detective: What about whole wheat? There are some experts who say this is not good, either—that it also turns to sugar and is harmful.
Brooke: We bring back whole grains in Week three of the Sugar Detox. The whole-grain products we recommend have no added sugars and contain true whole grains instead of enriched or refined flour. This means they contain more fiber, which allows the sugar to be digested into the body at a slower rate. I also recommend always pairing whole grains with a protein source or a fat source to slow down the absorption of the sugar even more. That way you can have your grains without causing a sugar spike.
