I chat with Sweet Poison author and get answers…a video (yes!)
My first video*. Rather thrilled. Especially since it’s an interview with David Gillespie, the author of Sweet Poison, who inspired me to quit sugar almost three weeks ago. It was a stinker of a day when we did this in the garden of one of my favourite Bondi cafes, Greens.
It’s a little long. We tried to edit it. But he answers so many of the questions you’ve all been asking, such as:
What’s the deal with chocolate? Why is a glass of juice more fattening than a glass of milk (when the bottle says “fat-free”)? How long do cravings last? What to look for on packets?
Tell me what you think…
* Thank you to Jo for her handy cam work. And for those who followed my search on Twitter for the best, most elegantly simple video camera for use on a blog, all informed and passionate feedback pointed to The Flip. So that’s what I went with.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by sarah wilson, sarah wilson and Donny Galella, Jo Foster. Jo Foster said: Yay! RT @_sarahwilson_: I chat with Sweet Poison author & get sugar answers…a video (yes!) http://bit.ly/geF2tI #quitsugar [...]
I was so sad to find out that Well, Naturally chocolate isn’t the saviour I thought it was! I haven’t touched the stuff for the entirety of my FebFast since discovering that agave is full of fructose.
This interview was so interesting. I wouldn’t have minded if it were twice as long.
I’ve been searching high and low for unsweetened chocolate. I have found this product http://www.veganperfection.com.au/moredetails.php?id=114 which is sweetened only with xylitol, which, as far as my research continues to tell me, is a safe alternative sweetener.
Most “sugar free” chocolate is sweetened with maltilol, unfortunately, which is also a sugar alcohol, but causes the blood sugar to spike in much the same way as sucrose. Every “natural” chocolate I looked at in my local health food store contained maltilol. SAD FACE. I don’t blame anyone for being confused over food labelling. Often we avoid one evil only to chuck another in disguise into our trolleys.
However, I think I am beginning to approach the point where cravings for something sweet are really dropping off anyway.
At first, I had a lingering sensation of wanting to eat something, but not knowing what it was that I wanted. Now, I feel less hungry overall and the mystery craving is there less and less often, too.
Thanks for keeping me inspired, Sarah.
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February 18th, 2011 at 10:08 am
Yikes, even that product has 9g sugars per 100g.
Is this the Universe telling me to forsake chocolate altogether?
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February 18th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
I don’t know if this will help, but I have been adding a teaspoon of pure organic cacao powder to my chai tea or coffee for a cocoa hit without the sugar. I either have it unsweetened or add a tiny bit of stevia. I also put chilli in my chai, which really wakes me up! It’s all a big experiment, but having read David Gillespie’s fabulous books, I am utterly cmitted to this sugar-free lifestyle and I already feel the benefits – weightloss, clearer skin, clearer mind.
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February 18th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Love these suggestions, Lucy.
April 17th, 2013 at 1:50 am
Or make your own chocolate! Raw cacao, coconut oil , stevia, cacao butter (fairly sure those are all safe bets with quitting sugar). Can add in some nut or seed butter too
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I lovved this. So interesting. Thanks.
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After watching a few minutes, I ran to the kitchen and threw out the big container of lollies (left of from a recent party) into the bin….
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February 22nd, 2011 at 2:21 pm
here’s the test to see if you are truly addicted to sugar – do you go and fish the packet out of the bin ten mins later??
(I can almost guarantee you that’s what I would be doing…!)
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I was so inspired by his first book. The stats on the back are SHOCKING!
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Thanks very much for this interview Sarah. I’ve read both of David’s books, but it was really interesting to hear it explained by him, and in such basic terms by both of you.
Just the kind of motivation I need when facing withdrawals!
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WOW! I had no idea. For the first time in my life at 40 I now need to watch what I eat, what an eye opener!!!
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Fantastic post, Sarah. It was great to see and hear David Gillespie. After reading his books, I am a disciple and feel compelled to spread the word. I just hope I am not going to bore all my friends and family stupid, but I believe the message is so vital, and we have to push against all that low-fat propaganda, too. David needs to be on every talk show and current affairs program on TV. I will share this post with as many people as I can. Thanks again. x
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Thanks so much for this Sarah – I found it so interesting. I know that I have a sugar addiction, as healthy as I think I am, chocolate can really tip me over the edge. Love my baking too, that would be a hard thing to brek.
I’ll have to read David Gillespie’s book to make a decision as to whether I could follow through with this one. It’s a massive commitment, so much greater than the Atkins-style programs where no one ever lasts very long.
So agree with shrugging off the low fat messaging too – I’ve been eating full fat (and loving it!) for quite a while now. I definitely haven’t put on any weight, but my mid morning latte (full cream, of course) stops me from snacking until lunchtime.
PS, loving the glasses – they really suit you
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Fabulous, fabulous interview Sarah, thank you for sharing!
FYI: I actually love raw cocoa nibs, I think they are just as if not more delicious than dark chocolate. It’s one of those things you just need to train your body to like! Keep a look out for them and they will definitely become a love very soon!
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I can’t help but feel there’s a new bandwagon to jump on called ‘Sweet Poison’. Sounds very much like a new guise for the old, and scientifically, debunked Atkins Diet i.e. a diet high in fat and protein and low in carbohydrates. While I appreciate the satiating effect of the former and thus the ability to lose weight when starting from a high base I am wary of the message and how it is conveyed….the process of conveying the message.
Sarah, I appreciate these articles on sugar as it has made me question my diet on many levels and my love and over consumption of sugar, and probably more importantly, consumption of fructose. Because as you said in your first blog about sugar the ‘real issue here is FRUCTOSE’.
I think we need to be wary about any extreme views on sugars without learning more about the different types of sugars, the physiological effect of sugars in the human energy cycle. Fructose is a monosaccharide and is actually needed in small doses, doses that would predominately be derived from fruit and vegetables solely. Because fructose actually helps process glucose efficiently. If we consume too much fructose in most crappy processed food and drinks, mainly manufactured in the USA using high fructose corn syrup (because yes you guessed it….it’s cheap), then the liver can’t process it and turns it into a triglyceride (FAT). So I agree with what you are writing Sarah but I am very wary of the message and most messages in fad diets or ideas on diets.
Losing weight, maintaining a healthy weight and lifelstyle is all about energy in (kilojoules or calories) versus energy out. Fat and protein may satiate you and keep you at what you might describe as a reasonable weight but it certainly won’t help your poor little arteries from clogging and it certainly won’t give you the energy you require to live a healthy and active lifestyle. I wouldn’t be able to run 10-20km every second day if I was eating predominately fat and protein and I wouldn’t be able to get put of bed at 6am every morning. There’s alot to be said about preventing spikes in sugar levels and I understand the problems associated – insulin, attention etc etc. That’s where complex carbohydrates come into the equation with a lower GI thus delivering needed glucose to the body and brain at a constant level.
My message is simple………..IT’S ALL ABOUT A BALANCED DIET AND EXERCISE and not excessive extremes in dieting. Exercise, exercise, exercise and then go out and have that muffin with your coffee once in a while and don’t feel guilty about it……
And I totally agree Sarah with the message of staying away from excessive Fructose intake, a lesson to myself and I now have some changes to make to my diet…..love high sugar content cereal but don’t need it……..it is addictive, no doubt! Having said all that and having run many endurance events and marathons, for someone who thankfully never liked Coke, there’s no better source of instant energy during a race than a cold flat coke. Circumstance allows me that………..
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February 18th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
James, I really think you need to read David’s books! His very balanced findings after exhaustive research are completely sane and not the least bit bandwagonish. He talks about the Atkins Diet in detail. This ain’t it! In fact it’s not a diet at all and certainly not a fad.
The conclusions in Sweet Poison can be a bit confronting and fly in the face of most so-called traditional nutritional ‘wisdom’, but if you give it a proper hearing, I think you’d be hard pressed not to be convinced. And you really need to re-assess your ideas about exercise and muffins! But, whatever works for you. You sound like a fit, healthy guy. But we can all learn some new tricks! I’m just saying…
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February 18th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
For call and for that reason I did purchase the book this morning to give it a read in the name of keeping an open mind. It’s easy to fall into the mindset of contempt prior to investigation, for that reason I did purchase the book. And from what i’ve heard and read as well I don’t disagree with alot of what’s being said. It’s more about how it’s being said or portrayed.
To tell yo the truth i’m not really a muffin fan….i was just an example. I go for bircher mueseli each Saturday morning when I have breakfast with friends after a run. I’m sure it’s full of sugar because it tastes so nice and has lovely fruit all over the top and yoghurt (probably laced with sugar). Point is, i’ve exercised, burnt energy (sugar) and now i’m enjoying myself with as little guily as possible. Ever been to brekky, lunch or dinner with someone who watches and counts every calorie they eat or says something about everything on the menu. It’s frustrating to the point of annoying. Life’s short, it requires awareness and less obsessiveness, exercise and my mantra in terms of nutrition/diet is BALANCE……energy in versus energy out.
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February 18th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
that should be ‘fair call’
February 18th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
I think it is important to mention though, everyone’s idea of BALANCE is different. My auto-immune diseased body and I could certainly benefit from a completely sugar-free diet, and while that may not work for some people or be too radical (or make me boring dinner guest!) that’s fine by me. To each their own.
Also one other point that bears mentioning is that there IS no balance with something you are addicted to. It causes more pain and health problems than its worth. You wouldn’t walk into an Alcoholics Annonymous meeting with a beer in hand and try to convince them that a little is fine. Some people can handle a few drinks and others definitely cant… I think the same should apply with sugar. I dont consider a sugar free diet to be excessive in the least!
February 18th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
I have to agree with James.
Also with all do respect Lucy, I think James sounds incredibly balanced in his diet. I don’t think anyone needs to rethink their diet for having a muffin once a month or so! It’s extremities like that that get us obsessive over “failing” to be healthy 100% of the time.
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February 18th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
All due respect right back at you, TC, but the beauty of this whole fructose avoidance is that it doesn’t have to be obsessive. You only have to avoid one thing and that is relatively easy once past the withdrawal stage. And it is so freeing to have that sugar monkey off your back! It’s like giving up smoking. It feels so good to be in control, in a good, gentle, dare I say, balanced way. No extremeties. No failing. No 100% of the time. Just a move towards the body’s natural inclinations and processes which have been disturbed and damaged my whole life without my ever knowing. My goodness, this has been a lively debate. Wonderful stuff!
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February 19th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
James, I’ve lost 6 kilos following David Gillespie’s suggestions having read both his books, but I don’t know where you got the idea that it is similar to the Atkin’s Diet. I have not found any suggestion that you need to curb carbohydrates (except for sugar, of course). I have kept (low sugar) cereal, bread, pasta and rice in my diet, along with lots of healthy vegetables, protein of all kinds and 2 pieces of fruit per day.
I have never felt better and as I mentioned in an earlier post, the only problem I have found is other people giving me a hard time when they ask why I look so well. I certainly don’t preach the message, but merely say that I feel better without eating sugar. I don’t see why eliminating empty calories from one’s diet is seen as a fad!
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February 19th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
Yes, Trish, I agree. I think people think you are somehow faddish when you become one of those people who checks the ingredients of everything they buy. But really, this should just be called sensible, not faddish, because so much of what we eat is just processed crap, even when we think it is healthy, that full-on ingredient-reading is the only way to keep the crap from the door.
I don’t think following a diet which completely elimates empty calories is at all faddish, either, and I can’t see any sign of this being a call to the Aitkins diet. I think it is just a simple return to what we once ate as omnivores, before everything became so refined and cost of production became more important than quality.
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February 21st, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Trish,
No-one from what I can see, and certainly not me, is making the connection that ‘eliminating empty calories from one’s diet is seen as a fad.’ All I am suggesting is that there seems to be a misconception about the use of the word ‘sugar’ and that eliminating sugar from one’s diet would be close, if not, akin to what was being suggested in the Aitkin’s Diet. Sugar is carbohydrate and carboydrate is sugar, possibly with the exception of fibre. I couldn’t see people supplementing there bodies with only fibre as a source of carbohydrate…..that would be interesting and I wouldn’t want to be in teh vaccinity to see, hear or smell the result. That leaves starch which is strings of glucose (sugar) and sugar (mono, di or poly). Watch out for excessive intake of fructose which certainly turns into fat because the liver can’t break it down.
In terms of the fad thing maybe I didn’t explain myslef very well:
Red wine is good for you, red wine is bad for you, coffee is good for you, coffee is bad for you, tea is good for you, tea is bad for you, sugar is good for you, sugar is bad for you………
Are you understanding my drift? We have all heard, whether through valid research or not, these messages before. Swings and roundabouts. It’s usually when moving around the circle of the roundabout, and in the initial swing of that circle, when we are really really passionate about something because we believe we have found the answer that a little time, life experience and the movement of that circle further around that we get better perspective. I would suggest that the people making claims, particularly David Gillespie, about losing large amounts of weight were ‘excessively’ overweight because of an inactive lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits, certainly excessive sugar intake – crap like coke, MacDonalds, most take away for thaty matter and most processed tinned food. He lost 40kg……sorry but he was a fat bastard with (more than likely) a food addiction (possibly sugar) problem.
So we do a full circle and I come back to my main message, like most things in life, nutrition/diet comes down to BALANCE. And yes, people have different perceptions and beliefs pertaining to balance and that’s fine. There is no right and wrong in this concept of balance. But I would suggest that if anyone has any problems with weight or lifestyle that they firstly consult there GP and then a nutritionist rather than thinking that they have the answer from reading a book about sugar.
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May 18th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
James,
GPs, nutritionists and the government are very slow at embracing what they’ve been taught in regards to eating. The “eat less fat and exercise more” mantra is deeply entrenched in our society. One would think that if we are doing what our doctors tell us to do that we would all be examples of health, and not a country heading towards 80% (that’s right, 80%!!!) overweight by the year 2020. Do all of those people have a control or impulse problem? No, I think not.
Sugar is crazily addictive. Your idea of “balance” is different from everyone else’s. You really cannot have too much sugar per day (no more than 10 grams fructose) or else it’s easy to slip into the addictive state again. During our hunter gatherer days we only ever came across fructose/sugar in the form of in season fruits (fructose, but in its natural packaging along with fibre) but now we can easily exceed the amount of fructose by 10x the amount in one glass of juice, without even thinking about it and have room for more (and with an appetite to match).
So you are welcome to your opinion, but eating the amount of sugar that we do today is not natural, and has never been natural (obesity correlates with the introduction of sugar), it’s addictive and it’s making fat, sick and poor.
I found this really interesting as I have ready the book and am weaning myself off sugar so thank you for posting this. I hope you don’t think I’m rude though, but I have to tell you that I did find the background noise in the film a bit distracting and annoying as I was trying to listen to the interview but kept having to turn the volume up to hear what was being said. Just thought you’d like the feedback!
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[...] all know the sugar is a terribly addictive drug by now – if you want to know more check out Sarah Wilson’s blog series on giving up sugar, it’s inspirational) and water, water, water. I plan on sticking to this for 2 months, until [...]
OMG! No more sultanas! 1 kg of grapes in a small packet. I feel sick……
Great post. I have the book and am inspired to read it now.
Thanks.
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So… I get the full-fat VS not-fat/lite yoghurt (fat is replaced by sugar)… but what about something like philadelphia cream cheese?
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February 19th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
I had a look at the tub of (normal full fat) philly in my fridge – it has 2.7g sugar per 100g so based on what David says that makes it fine. Not sure about the low fat version though, I imagine that would have more sugars to replace some of the fats.
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I cannot WAIT to get home from work to watch this now!!!
Thanks Sarah for your continued interest in this topic, I find this all absolutely fascinating.
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I’m really interested in this and can’t wauit to read the books… I usually have fruit and cottage cheese for breakfast (on the advice of my nutritionist as a way to get more protein) and am always starving come lunchtime. The fruit was the main sugar in my life – I don’t like sweets or chocolates, drink juice or softdrink, and don’t usually eat the sorts of dressings/sauces that contain lots of sugar (just gimme a lug of good olive oil with salt + pepper, yum!)
The past fortnight logistics have meant I’ve been without the fruit, so have been having toast with the cottage cheese and vegemite, and have definitely noticed what David mentions about feeling fuller sooner. It’s a pretty amazing feeling – hey two weeks ago I would have smashed this entire lunch but now I just can’t get through it.
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Hi Sarah…very informative discussion with David. Thanks
On the technical side, I found the background noise very distracting and I think someone else said agreed that the volume faded in and out. Perhaps next time you could record indoors or in a quieter setting.
Jen
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Thanks Sarah for a most interesting discussion with David, I have passed it on to lots of people, I love your blog and content. Some feedback on production: the sound was not good, I needed earphones to listen properly, but thought it so worthwhile I sent it on.
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LOved it, thanks Sarah!!!!! i am so inspired by this vid… but have to agree about the volume: it was a bit hard to hear at times…..
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Thanks so much for posting this interview Sarah. This is fascinating stuff. I can’t wait to read the books! I am pregnant and craving chocolate so badly but will start thinking twice before I give in to the sugar cravings from now on.
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[...] original post here: I chat with Sweet Poison author and get answers…a video (yes … Tags: 114-which, completely-sugar-free, diseased-body, mention-though, not-work, product, [...]
[...] here to see the original: I chat with Sweet Poison author and get answers…a video (yes … Tags: 114-which, boring-dinner, completely-sugar-free, diseased-body, mention-though, not-work, [...]
After reading David’s book I gave up sugar for a couple on months when I put on weight breastfeeding. The weight melted off and in 2 months I had lost 15 kg. Now that I am back to fitting in my clothes, I sneak in sugar now and then but everything tastes so sweet that I cannot eat anywhere near the amount of sugar I used to.
Its frightening when you are actively cutting out sugar just how much food in the supermarket is on the blacklist.
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I read Sweet Poison by chance and I’m so glad I did, it’s changed the way I think about what I’m putting in my body.
I didn’t realise there was so much sugar in Thai food. When eating Thai cuisine, what are the best dishes to go for, would vegies and tofu in oyster sauce be acceptable?
Also what is best to use for salad dressings, I realised there is 43g/100ml of sugar in my balsamic vinegar?
…. er maybe I should just get The Sweet Poison Quit Plan.
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February 19th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
The Sweet Poison Quit Plan gives you all the answers you are likely to need to make it work!
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Great interview. Not being a scientific person, can someone tell me when reading a food label, under the “carbohydrates” there is always a subheading of “sugars” – is this the bad SUGAR or something different?
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Good job Sarah (and Jo as videographer!)…
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Great work Sarah (and Jo). I read David’s Quit Plan the day before and then watched this video, expecting to not learn anything new – but it was awesome to hear him discuss this stuff in person, he articulates his arguments extremely well. I was already convinced, and am at Day Six of sugar free, but now I’m inspired!
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I gotta say, David Gillespie doesn’t look to trim to me! He may be healthy but he is testament to the fact that just because you eliminate sugar from your diet, you ain’t going to be pencil thin. Sugar is just a part of your diet, not the whole answer to your weight problems.
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February 19th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
The guy lost 40 kilos! He may just have a bit of excess skin, I think. And he confessed he’s not an exercise fan. Skin can only snap back so far, but I think more importantly, David would be a whole lot haelthier on the inside where it counts. His inner man is a lot skinnier – no more ‘porridge’ accumulating in his arteries. We shouldn’t be so fixated on the externals. This is more than just a weight-loss plan. It’s a life-saving plan!
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February 19th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Lucy, I would say that exercise is a far better life plan than cutting out sugar.
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February 19th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Why not both, eh?
Well, exactly. I just don’t think people should get too carried away sugar. Every healthy person I know eats sugar. Everyone seems to reacting like we are talking about crack cocaine. If cricketer Mitchell Johnson drinks up to 5 litres a day of Gatorade (it could easily be done), that means he is consuming 700 grams of sugar a day JUST by drinking Gatorade. Thing is, you won’t find a fitter athlete in the country. If there was a bandwagon outside the houses of some of the people who have posted comments on this blog, they would be straight out and jumping on. What James said in his earlier post was correct.
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February 19th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
No Jason, I disagree with you, and my lovely Chinese herbalist would too. Look, I am immensley fit because I exercise a lot, I stretch a lot, I take care of myself. I can eat peanut butter with butter on toast dripping with honey. I can down full-milk lattes, I can eat icecream til it comes out my ears, I will still be strong and not fat because of the amount of exercise I do. So far so good. But at a different level, at a hormonal level, I would be affected by this diet, and strangely enough, when I eat a diet high in sugar, my periods go well out of whack. Blokes might not have such an immediate reminder of their hormonal systems as we chick do, but the same thing applies. My Chinese herbalist explained that sugar in = quick energy surge = large influx of insulin = change of insulin production by pancreas. From the quick energy-surge onwards, everything sle is triggered by the hormones in the body. Whether or not I use up the energy produced from my sugar-hit is not the long-term problem, it is the on-off-on thing I am doing to my pancreas and other organs. over the long-term, these high fluctuations of sugar levels and attendant high fluctuations of insulin and hormones are very damaging for the body. In my Chinese herbalist’s opinion, this is a major contributor to cancer.
I don’t care if Mitchell Johnson looks fit right at this point of his life. That’s not the test. I want to see him in 40 years time. I’ll bet you he’ll be obese and arthiritic, with attendant problems all over his body. If I can get the same results as him, but minus the gatorade, plus a very healthy endocrine and hormonal system, and in 40 years time minus the other stuff, why wouldn’t I?
And why is cutting out something that we’ve only had such gross access to for the past 200 years (and, in that time, largely thanks to the slave trade, just like tobacco), so faddish. Answer, it’s not, and if sugar had such immediate effects as cocaine, you wouldn’t be so blase. Over the long-term, the effects of sugar are worse, in my opinion. Check the diabetes stats if you want just a glimpse of the real problems that sugar causes.
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February 19th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
Hannah,
A few points..
1. I do care that Mitchell Johnson is fit. The World Cup starts Monday.
2. You honestly think Mitchell Johnson will be ‘obese and arthiritic, with attendant problems all over his body’ when he gets older because of sugar?. Mmmm.
3. I don’t need to check diabetes stats. They aren’t solely about sugar which was my first point.
Hannah, I just get the feeling that people are getting bit over excited thinking that if they cut sugar from their diet, they will suddenly experience weight loss. Not true. If you currently eat a moderate amount of sugar and decide to go sugar free for the next two weeks, you won’t lose weight. Honestly, you need to be eating a LOT of sugar for this to have any real health benefit.
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February 19th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Jason, that’s simply not true. I, and many others, are living proof. Having changed nothing in my life except cutting out fructose, I have lost weight, after struggling, exercising like a maniac, cutting out fat, you name it. Now it effortlessly falls away. I don’t care what you say, I know what’s going on in my body and I am happy and healthy as a result. Perhaps it is a mark of sugar’s tyrannical, addictive grip on us that some of you (ssems to be mostly the blokes for some reason) seem so threatened by the idea of giving it up! It’s simply a personal choice. Why do you protest so much? And what has lead you to this blog if you are not in some way curious or interested in this debate? There’s room for all opinions. What’s wrong with getting excited about something that is giving people positive life changes?
February 21st, 2011 at 10:09 am
Credibility quickly diminished when Chinese Herbalists are used as some sort of support for an argument, particularly using cancer to support an argument. I wonder when diagnosed with cancer whether we go to see a Chinese Herbalist or an Oncologist.
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May 18th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
James, you may be interested to know that sugar has been shown in brain scans to have the same strength of a response as opiates, and it lights up the same region of the brain too.
It is very possible to reverse type 2 diabetes if you cut out sugar (most important) and go back to a natural diet (green veggies, dairy, fish, meat, beans).
Many people have lost weight within the first two weeks of cutting out sugar, but why restrict it to two weeks? It takes a while for the body to go back to “normal”, the non-sugar state, and some lose weight quicker than others, but if you cut out sugar you will lose weight, not to mention feel better, more in control, less headaches and it allows you to be FREE to truly choose what you want to eat and how much of it.
Also, using the word “moderate” is not helpful when it comes to sugar because A) everyone’s version of moderate is different (usually used to describe the amount of sugar they happen to eat) and B) sugar is addictive so you can’t be “moderate” about something so addictive.
Who said I wasn’t intested in the debate? Of course there is room for all opinions. Blogs are one dimensional without them. Lucy, you must of been eating a lot of sugar. Obviously sugar is a big deal to David because he isn’t keen on exercise so the energy in is totally vital. My advise is to eat sugar. Sugar is fine. DO NOT deprive yourself!!Most of us exercise. For people to get wound up about BBQ sauce being evil is totally ludicrous.
So.. what’s healthier then? No sugar and no exercise (David) or moderate exercise and moderate intakes of sugar (me)??
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February 19th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
For goodness’ sake! Nobody is saying not to exercise! Sheesh! David Gillespie doesn’t say he never exercises. Have you read his books? Did you watch the video? If it means that much to you, by all means eat as much sugar as you like! No one is trying to deprive anyone of anything. We are all free-thinking people. Jason, you seem like an intelligent, reasonable guy. No need to get your back up. That’s certainly not what Sarah Wilson and her blog are about. It’s a journey remember? To make life sweeter! Is that irony? Or serendipity? Anyway, thanks for the stimulating discussion. I wish you all good things.
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February 20th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
And yeah, I think you’ll find that a lot of athletes get really really unfit when they stop exercising intensly because their diets are actually shit. Go check what happened to Geoff Huegill or Ian Thorpe when they stopped training. Many elite athletes suffer bad health problems when their careers finish.
Why not do both? What’s the problem? If you don’t want to, that’s cool, but other people are entitled to make choices without being labelled faddist. Giving up sugar is not like trying to cut out carbs or protein, it is nowhere near the same. It’s just giving up sugar. it’s dead easy, because it’s something we don’t need. Unlike carbs and protein, which are vital to our health.
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February 21st, 2011 at 7:37 am
Hanna,
Athletes diets aren’t shit. That’s ridiculous. And many athletes don’t suffer bad health problems when they end their careers. I suggest you do a little research before you start making ill-informed comments. Particularly about health.
February 21st, 2011 at 1:08 pm
Depends on the athlete and the sport. Focus is usually not on being healthy when it’s elite, its to be the model sportsman/ woman. Bodybuilders and fitness figure competitors often eat stuff that barely qualifies as food, female ballerinas and gymnasts rarely menstruate due to the severe diet/ weight restrictions and martial artists and boxers base their meals on what will keep them in their weight category, NOT what is healthiest. While you cant make blanket statements that athletes eat badly, you cant really assume they eat well either, as many dont.
When someone says not to eat apples and bananas, I switch off. That’s why people get sceptical. Sugar has never been touted as being good for you, but when people start nitpicking at what fruit you can and can’t eat – I’m not interested.
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May 18th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
Well, that’s your loss TC. Because David and Sarah *recommend* that in order to make things easier on yourself during the SUGAR WITHDRAWAL PERIOD (you know, from eating too much crap food) you should cut out fruit for a while. Whether you stop doing so for a few weeks or months or whether you continue to eat fruit during withdrawal is up to you. But it’s a shame that you are neglecting a change of diet and an opportunity to be healthy in the long term, simply because they are suggesting not to eat apples and bananas in the short term (because it will make you crave more sugar).
So you can continue eating all the apples and bananas that you want (along with all of the other crap).
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Some people are fructose malabsobers – there is a test for this.
The future of food is obsessing over labels and ingredients with hawk-eye precision to suit our individuality. For our better I am sure – besides too many corps have profiteered off their junk for long enough – cheap fillers parading as health food is the very worst kind -let us show them we mean biznez, vote with your dollarz.
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Hi Sarah – great vid. Any chance of getting the details of the German chocolate brand? Couldn’t find it on google. Bugger about the “Well Naturally” brand, thought we were onto a winner. I’m sure I’ll be able to do without, but nice to know there’s something out there we could have if we wanted chocolate.
Cheers,
Sandy
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February 21st, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Hi
I tihnk I just found the chocolate brand – try searching for Frusano.
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February 21st, 2011 at 1:01 pm
http://www.frusano.com/Chocolate/chocolate-bars/Filita-Dextrose-chocolate::40.html?XTCsid=86c6adc29b2e69b0949eed571dda4b5d
They do deliver to Australia, but it would cost you…
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Some counter arguments to possibly bring some balance to this blog:
David Gillespie wrote an article in Crikey.com.au on 2 Feb making some interesting assertions, the one that astounded me most being “Overweight children eat more and exercise less because they are fat, not the other way round.”
The following reply to that article, and more relevant for this blog, regarding the role of fructose in the diet and obesity. It should be noted that the reply was authored by Chris Forbes-Ewan who handles dietary matters for the Defence, Science and Technology Department in Scottsdale, Tasmania.
“Readers of David Gillespie’s blogs may be interested to know that it is now more than two weeks since I first attempted to get David to reply to a series of questions in a comment about his blog entry titled ‘Attack of the Chocolatier’.
My questions cut to the core of David’s treatment (or rather mistreatment) of the science that he claims underpins his book ‘Sweet Poison’. David hasn’t answered any of my questions.
By refusing (or perhaps more appropriately not being able) to answer those questions, David is tacitly admitting that the science behind his book ‘Sweet Poison’ is fatally flawed.
As I have demonstrated in other comments on ‘Attack of the Chocolatier’ and in my Ockham’s Razor program (ABC Radio National) of 10 Jan 10, David Gillespie is not a reliable source of information on the health effects of fructose.
The questions are:
(i) In light of the evidence provided by Rosemary Stanton that there has either been no increase or a slight decline in food intake in the last 30 years (see my comment sent on January 29, 2010 at 8:48 PM), do you still believe that food intake has increased by 30% in Australia in the last three decades?
(ii) Taking into account your claim that average Australian intake of fructose is about two-thirds the average intake in the US, and that the US intake accounts for 9-10% of total energy intake (references provided in my comment sent on January 29, 2010 at 10:10 PM) do you still claim that almost 20% of our energy intake is now derived from fructose?
(iii) Noting that the authors of the 1985 paper by Reiser et al. [Am J Clin Nutr. 1985 Aug;42(2):242-51] refer (more than once) to a ‘… lack of relationship between the onset of the abnormalities and the type of dietary carbohydrate’, do you still claim that fructose consumption was the cause of severe heart conditions in four participants in that study?
(iv) Noting that at least 19 human fructose-feeding studies were conducted after 1985 (references provided in my comment of January 30, 2010 at 6:02 PM) do you still claim that no further human studies were conducted following that date?
(v) Noting that the World Health Organisation recommends that the maximum safe intake of added sugars is 10% of total energy (or rather just short of 10%); that the NHMRC dietary guideline is to ‘consume only moderate levels of sugars and foods containing added sugars’; that the American Heart Association sets safe upper levels of intake of 35 g of added sugar for men and 25 g for women, and that 12 of the 19 references to human studies conducted in the period 1985-2007 reported positive or, at worst, neutral effects attributable to fructose, do you still believe that added fructose is a poison in the diet at any dose?
(vi) Given that the NHMRC in Australia and ACSM in the US (and other national health authorities) recognise the value of physical activity in weight control, do you still believe that physical activity has no role to play in weight control?
(vii) Noting that the conclusion of the most recent meta-analysis (in the December 26 edition of Clinical Nutrition) concludes that ‘There is no support from the human literature for the hypothesis that sucrose may be physically addictive …’, do you still insist that fructose—the relevant component of sucrose in this context—is addictive in humans?
Also, one of my comments on David Gillespie’s blog entry ‘Attack of the Chocolatier’ (www.raisin-hell.com) included:
‘There is a long list of purported causes of, or contributing factors to the obesity epidemic. They include, but are not limited to:
‘High intakes of total fat, of saturated fat, of a particular kind of saturated fat known as palmitic acid, of a type of polyunsaturated fat called linoleic acid; high intakes of carbohydrate and/or alcohol; low intakes of protein; skipping breakfast; ‘grazing’ rather than eating three square meals; eating fast food rather than home-cooked meals; using artificial sweeteners; reduced physical activity; insufficient sleep; exposure to environmental chemicals such as insecticides … even a virus has been implicated as a cause of obesity in some circumstances.
‘At the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia last December, a prominent Australian nutritionist stated that the correlation coefficient for the association between fructose intake and the obesity epidemic is something like 0.8 (i.e. there is a strong correlation). A prominent American nutritionist immediately countered with: ‘The correlation coefficient for linoleic acid and obesity is 0.85’. (Linoleic acid is a fatty acid found in large quantities in vegetable oils, e.g. soybean and canola).
‘I also suspect that reduced physical activity plays a major role in the obesity epidemic, which is most likely multifactorial (i.e. there are many contributing factors).
‘The cause (or more likely causes) of the obesity epidemic remain unresolved. It is not appropriate to claim, as David does, that fructose is indisputably the sole cause, and that it is harmful in any dose.’
BTW, the President of the Australian Skeptics, Eran Segev, requested that I write an article for their magazine. It will be published in the March issue.
Finally, you may be interested in a comment by Eran Segev about David Gillespie’s approach to the science of fructose metabolism in humans. Go to http://www.raisin-hell.com, scroll down to ‘Attack of the Chocolatier’ and read the comment dated February 17, 2010 10:50 AM.
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February 21st, 2011 at 9:10 pm
Well, after reading what David had to say at http://www.raisin-hell.com about Jamie Olivers MoF, I’m starting to wonder what planet this guy is on. David’s views are alarmist and often narrow minded. It’s a good thing I didn’t know that he was at Greens Cafe a couple of weeks ago otherwise I would have walked down the hill and given him an earful. Muppet.
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February 24th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Sweet Poison does not actually contain any earth-shattering discoveries. I think many individuals are so excited over it because now the public can grasp the implications of fructose which cardiologists have known for years:
Fructose stimulates liver production of glycerol, which thereby increases liver VLDL production and raises blood levels of triglycerides; likely stimulates appetite; increases cholesterol levels; fructose has also been clearly implicated in increasing blood levels of uric acid.
With a strong history of heart disease and type II diabetes in my family, it’s really important for me to steer clear of sugar/fructose, other than a maximum of two serves of whole fruit per day.
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Hey Sarah
You remind me of myself a few years ago when i gave up sugar, i had candida, it’s really hard. I think it would be educational to point your readers to some books by Kathleen DesMaisons, PHD. She has a doctorate in addictions and i found her books fascinating, especially the part about alcoholics being addicted to sugar and this is based on her own clinical studies. So thats how addictive the stuff is!! I still have the occasional treat though.
http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Addicts-Total-Recovery-Program/dp/0345441338
http://www.amazon.com/Potatoes-Not-Prozac-Solutions-Sensitivity/dp/141655615X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
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can someone confirm for me that organic coconut sugar (coconut palm sugar) is fructose free and free of cancer causing toxins? if so i think ive found my baking solution!
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Great video Sarah. I have really enjoyed reading about you giving up sugar. I might even give it a go myself. Slightly off topic, but I love your ring in the video- any chance of finding out where it’s from?
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[...] you can catch up on other “I quit sugar” posts my interview with David Gillespie is here, the reasons why sugar makes us fat here, how I quit sugar here and some breakfast ideas [...]
In relation to solid foods containing 3g/100g or less of sugar… i think i have found the one thing that does not belong in the fruit/veg section that fits this bill….VEGEMITE!
Btw, love your article Sarah, you inspired me to go on this no-sugar diet without feeling like i’m actually on a diet
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Hi Sarah,
What’s David’s view on things like sweeteners? I’ve been told by my dentist to chew some sugar-free extra gum after meals (if I’m unable to brush my teeth). Would this be against the “sugar-free” rules?
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[...] I’m re-posting this video, because it explains the whole thing really well, I think. I can’t embed it, but you can watch it here, on vimeo, or, even better, here, on Sarah Wilson’s blog, with some extra post-y goodness, and easy surfing to other posts…. [...]
[...] mental and physical symptoms. When one quits, it is comparable to quitting smoking (according to David Gillespie). Plus, as I mentioned in my manifesto for this wellness blog, it is also about breaking years of [...]
Without Prejudice
Hi Sarah
Great video. The .mp4 was only 0.7meg. Amazingly small for such a long and inspiring vid. A lot of give and take would have been needed to make it such a small size. Congrats.
My best friend of years and years, has been researching diets and weight-loss for two decades. He is an overview type of person (very small hands), whereas I am a focused person (very large hands). You might say we are both “One percenters”. He was able to compare it with other research that he had done, and was very impressed.
My circulation is my only weakness that I can see in my silk/linen eyes. (Been following Iridology for a few decades).
One other subject that you might find interesting..
Edgar Casey (early 1900′s psychic) said that (in my own words).. Two raw almonds a day will keep the tumors away.
It has stayed with in my memory and been put into practice for decades.
In this age of tumors running rampant (growing food with Ammonium Sulphate soil fertilzer), it may be of help.
[Fly-in-the ointment]: There is no profit, or profitable patents involved; so the almond benefit will never be proved by horrendous double-blind “symptom” tests. The characteristic will never be added to the amazing list of what almonds are good for.
Some-one mentioned that they liked your glasses. So do I. Glasses say to me.. “accept me as i am”. Very refreshing. [big grin]
I hope it is all right if i downloaded your streaming video on this page, so i and close friends can be inspired when off-line.
If you don’t wish it, you may delete my post; and i will delete my copy.
In case you want to know how i downloaded this YouTube-like streaming video..
I used a Firefox addon called Ant Video Downloader [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloader-player/] with Firefox 7.
I had to first install the Add-on Compatibility Reporter [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/add-on-compatibility-reporter/] (A firefox addon that allows older add-ons to work with the resently released Firefox 7).
Then Tools, Add-ons, Extensions, Preferences (of the add-on), Delect Display Mode – Status bar. (Allows click of icon at bottom right of Browser page to start download). Also change the “Downloaded Movies Folder” to your choice.
Farewell.
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[...] may remember David Gillespie from previous discussions as Why Sugar is Really Grim For You. He’s the author of Sweet Poison and over the past 13 months since I quit sugar we’ve [...]
OMG!
What an eye-opener!
Now the more I educate myself about it, the more a lot of my health issues make sense!
I have been for years what my my family calls “a health fanatic”. As little produced foods as possible, no ready-made sauces (cause we don’t really know what chemicals, Enubers etc. are in there). For years I have not eaten any fruit yogurts, cause they simply taste too sweet and not of fruit AT ALL, but rather chemical. Fruit juices, like e.g. apple juice I can only drink if diluted with water (one part juice, 3-4parts water) and grapes, they actually make me sick. I live in France, the country of wine and I can never drink any and people feel pitty for me and try to make taste it….so the last couple of years I told people I am allergic to grapes, cause otherwise they have an urge to ‘force feed’ me wine. I can eat a couple of grapes (but I actually never crave them), but if I eat more than a handful I get stomach ache. Wine, I can have a sip or two of dry white wine, but rosé and red wine are very repellent to me. Should I drink a whole glass, I will be ‘hungover’ with all it’s nasty symptoms as if I drank an equivalent of a bottle of vodka straight. Vinegar….spirited vinegar, no probs.. I can eat everything that’s pickled. If you give me the nice, rich, thick Balsamico…well, let’s put it this way. throwing up is the BEST thing that can happen to me. If not it’s pure agony.
What I thought had to do with enzymes (and still very well might be) makes me think now that it could be the sugar. I am in week 3 of your programme and a couple of days ago I tried my friends carrot cake (with icing of cause) out of politeness and I had afterwards the exact same symptoms, aka. pains, as if I ate something containing balsamico….. can’t help but make the connection.
Waaahhhh…. I got to get my hands on Davids book….but it’s not available in France yet! *frustration*
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P.S.: In order to observe myself better I decided to keep a blog as sort of journal. Since I also feel like I am losing a bit touch with my native language and country it’s all in German….but I reference you a lot Sarah
http://8weaks.tumblr.com
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[...] may remember David Gillespie from previous discussions such as Why Sugar is Really Grim For You. He’s the author of Sweet Poison and over the past 13 months since I quit sugar we’ve [...]
For years I have given up sugar at Lent and the month of November (a religious thing) Used to lose at least a stone. Then over past 5 years jumped on 5 a day bandwagon plus glasses of freshly squeezed juice and despite taking more exercise could only lose a few lbs. Now I understand why. I am a recently retired pastry chef I now intend to spend a lot of time experimenting with sugarless recipes because life is too short to give up cake. Question. Will baking with glucose dangerously increase my glucose levels. M H
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Hi Sarah,
I am unclear about alcohol, specifically wine. I can’t find any info on the internet about the fructose content or for gin..
Also on the packet of rice it says their are no sugars but someone else told me rice is to be avoided on the progam..
Looking for answers.
Madeleine.
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We’re a gaggle of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve performed a formidable
process and our entire group might be thankful to you.
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The key moment for me was when David remarked in one of the books about having been on a diet of some kind for most of his adult life. At that sentence I put down the book and wept. I have been around 5-15 kgs overweight – for many years.. it has fluctuated wildy – For the last 20 years I have been deeply fascinated by nutrution and cooking and had prescribed religioulsy to the Low Fat – High Fibre mantra as my mother had a heart attack at 43– meaning we all switched to skim milk/low fat etc..I feel that I am the perfect example of someone who has tried everything – has exercised regularly from lifting weights to city to Surf – yoga and everything in between. I have been a conscientious, well informed and methodical dieter – following them to the letter and have alway ended up blaming myself for failing – when the fact is that they were never going to work.
After 6 weeks — I have lost 4 cms off my waist. I have stopped punishing myself by running 4-5 hours a week in the park alone hating every second and replaced that with 3- 20minute bike rides after dinner and some social dancing also.
I have more energy – my mind is clearer- my teeth feel incredibly clean ALL the time, I am not bloated, I am regular, i am eating like a queen and most importantly — the incessant hunger and
pre occupation with how I was going to approach every single meal ( a nightmare mostly ) I ate has gone.
Also a great thing to mention is my food bill ! a trolly full of garbage sure does cost a bit.
Argue all you like about eating full cream dairy – the fact is — after switching down the appetite naturally – I find I can only tolerate a little anyway and there are points made about not getting any fructose — but by eating 2 pieces if fruit I am confident that I am getting just the right amount. the alternatives for chocolate and cooking using dextrose and such have been wonderful aids in the path to success here — however I also find the desire to even eat these ‘treats’ has also gone.
I am not answering anyone in particular here.
Really just wanted to share a story from a genuine 36 year old average aussie female who has found the going VERY TOUGH – and has gained some form of enjoyment back from life rather than walking every crumb of food off on a treadmill watching trash telly in an overpriced Gymnasium.
thanks for reading
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October 14th, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Hi Suzy,
I just had to reply to your comment, because I have had exactly the same reaction to giving up sugar, after many, many years of failed diets!
I gave up sugar 2 years ago (except for a couple of pieces of fruit daily and sugar in the occasional cappuccino), after reading David Gillespie’s books. I lost 10 kilos during the first year, and have not looked back. I have lost all my midriff fat (I’m post-menopausal, so that’s quite impressive) and my body is back in proportion. I eat full-fat foods, am never hungry and feel great! It is such a relief to know that I never have to diet again, and that I can maintain this smaller, healthier body as long as I stay away from added sugar (which as you noted, is not difficult, because you completely lose your taste for it).
It’s so reassuring to read of someone else’s successful experience, because no-one believes me when I say that my weight loss was due to giving up sugar, and it’s so easy, I can’t believe more people don’t do it.
I exercise regularly because I feel like it (as David predicted) but don’t feel that sense of being punished (that you mentioned) because I am exercising to feel healthy rather than to lose weight. During winter, I had the flu for 3 weeks, and couldn’t exercise, but my weight didn’t increase because I didn’t eat sugar.
Please keep going with it, because I can assure you that it is the answer to your ‘weight problems’, and though the weight loss may not happen quickly, you will eventually stabilise at your optimal weight and have no problems maintaining it as long as you give sugar a miss.
I am also an average Aussie female who has gained so much enjoyment back from life by not having to obsess about what I eat any more. I hope our experiences help others to find a similar freedom.
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Hi Sarah,
As a coeliac and on a permanent gluten free diet, I thought I was restricting enough from my lifestyle and healthy enough that way.
I’m now into week 4 of your IQS plan and am loving everything you write about the topic. I am switching between your eBook (which I’ve probably read 4 times now) and David’s Sweet Poison on my ebook reader. I’m feeling enlightened and inspired from both. So thank you.
If you’d like to take a look, my gluten free website is still trodding along at http://www.ctrlalteat.com.au
Cheers!
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