I read a lot of books around the subject of healthy eating and lifestyle and as my knowledge gains I become increasingly frustrated with the utter crap that manages to get published and fills the bookshelves of our favourite shops.
One area that particularly interests me is natural nutrition and I search for information on subjects such as Paleolithic or ‘Cave Man Diet’ i.e. what we ate before agriculture brought in mass use of grains and dairy consumption. This topic has been very fashionable recently with January’s explosion of diet books either focussing on this subject or very unsuccessfully trying to steer the public view back on to the ‘carb wagon’. I feel it might be a long time before the average dieter is no longer scared of eating carbs!
The problem with the information regarding carbohydrates is mixed messaging and half truths. I’ve had clients tell me they can’t possibly eat bread but then can’t resist the temptation of a chocolate bar after eating only a chicken salad for lunch. I know this feeling only too well having experienced the bumpy roller-coaster-ride of carbohydrate deprivation myself.
My Mum is always cutting out excerpts from the Sunday magazines she reads and handing them to me with great enthusiasm in the hope of providing me with some useful insights in the area she knows I hold close to my heart. I normally skim read and discard and have done ever since James Duigan’s ‘Clean and Lean Diet’ caught my eye back in 2001 but then my dear Mum handed me the latest ‘I quit sugar’ by Sarah Wilson which prompted me to buy the book. 
What I like about Sarah’s book is the way she presents her information which is really a ‘sugar coated’ (excuse the pun) way of getting us to eat much like our ancestors ate – The Paleo or ‘cave man diet’ theory at least initially in her 8 week plan with the allowance of dairy as some modified Paleo diets do.
I think people can be put off following certain regime’s such as The Paleo Diet for fear of being seen as eating in a way that doesn’t fit with what’s considered our ‘normal’ diet. By focussing on quitting sugar which everyone knows is pretty bad stuff it opens awareness in a wider circle. As far as I’m concerned the more people that are aware of the devastating effects of sugar the healthier our population will be, so well done to Sarah Wilson for getting this information published.
The only criticisms I have are in the suggestion of continuing artificially sweetened drinks such as diet coke in week 1 of her plan. Sarah points out this is by no means something to be continued but an interim measure for people who are highly addicted to the full sugar versions of these soft drinks. My feeling is there is no place, not even temporarily due to the horrendous links with ADD and other personality disturbances. The FDA are banning more and more of these artificial substances as the ever growing destructive effects are being discovered.
The second is in the exclusion of low sugar fruits such as berries during the 8 week plan. Berries contain the potent antioxidant ‘anthocyanin’ which lowers cholesterol, stimulates immunity and helps fight cancer amongst being a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals. Raspberries in particular are lower in sugar than root vegetables such as beetroot, carrots and parsnips.
As Sarah points out her information is one of personal experience and what works for one person may not be the same for another. If you are serious about giving up sugar and committing to a healthy eating plan then after a thorough assessment of your needs I can tailor a meal plan for you that takes into account any exercise you may do and your particular like and dislikes.
Just drop me an email via the contact page and I’ll contact you for a free consultation by phone or email.
