Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track [Mass Market Paperback]

Connie Bennett (Author), Stephen T. Sinatra (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 26, 2006

A provocative exposŽ of the negative effects of sugars and simple carbs-and how to break the addiction.

Most readers already know that succumbing to sweets too often can lead to obesity and diabetes. What many don't know, however, is that too many "quickie carbs" can bring on a host of other maladies-such as "brain fog," fatigue, mood swings, heart disease, and even cancer-from which millions may be suffering because of their sugar or carbohydrate habits. Once besieged by 44 seemingly unconnected symptoms, former "sugar addict" Connie Bennett, an experienced journalist, managed to kick sweets and simple carbs in 1998. She improved her health-and uncovered extensive medical research that substantiated her theory: people who eat too many low-caliber culprit carbs could be in sugar shock. Based on the insights of thousands of physicians, nutritionists, researchers, and "sugar sufferers" worldwide, SUGAR SHOCK!(tm) not only addresses how badly sugar affects the body, it demonstrates how everyone can kick the sugar habit.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Spills the beans on the shocking impact of simple carbohydrates on aging and quality of life—a double whammy for humanity.”
-Mehmet Oz, M.D., coauthor of YOU: Staying Young

“Tells the shocking truth... and lays out the path to kicking the sugar habit and reclaiming your health!”
- Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom

“SUGAR SHOCK! is the definitive look at how Americans are simply eating too much sugar and how this is having a profound negative impact on millions of people. This well-researched book should be considered must reading for anyone interested in the complex health discussion underway in America today!”
- Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee

"...trots out a Who's Who of prominent experts who support Bennett's argument that sugar is the road to physical ruin. The evidence is in, and it's depressing."
- TIME magazine

“Wow! This is an impressive, exceptional expose and self help work! Just about every American—or anyone who regularly eats sugar and processed carbs—needs to read this eye-opening, hard-hitting, and ultimately inspiring book.”
- Oz Garcia, Ph.D., author of Look and Feel Fabulous Forever

“A detailed, compelling, and scientific book that will become an instant classic.”
- Joshua Rosenthal, director of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition

"...Reveals the not-so-sweet truth but that too much sugar and refined carbohydrates could you very sick— and maybe even kill you. But SUGAR SHOCK! gives you hope as it is loaded with many practical tools and resources that can help you avoid disease and enjoy life."
- Dr. Joseph Mercola, founder of www.Mercola.com

About the Author

Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C., is an experienced journalist, former sugar addict and holistic health counselor. She founded "The 21-Day, Kick-Sugar Countdown Diet" and an international online support group, "KickSugar."

Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., is an internationally recognized cardiologist, certified nutrition specialist, and bioenergetic psychotherapist with 30 years' medical experience.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (December 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425213579
• ISBN-13: 978-0425213575
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,244 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 113 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I'm a sugar addict - how do I stop??, March 28, 2008

By 

LH "Just Ducky!" (Eastern seaboard) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track (Paperback)

Even though I gave "Sugar Shock" three stars, I want to say up front that I DO like it; it has made clear to me how sugar has messed my life up and I have been in so much denial about my reliance on it. I really am like an alcoholic or crack addict! I have not yet stopped eating sugar - it's scary to think about trying to do it again and failing again, but I am feeling more concern for my health and damn it, I want to live a real life that's not clouded by the stuff.

The reason I gave this book three stars is because of the author's presentation; she frequently reads like an ad, not a book. She'll say things like, "...John showed classic signs of sugar addiction, which I outline on my website and blog site www...." It's so infomercial-y. I tried to overlook this but it kept coming up through the book. Although this doesn't dilute her message, the constant referral to her web site and commercial references like that make her sound like she's more interested in marketing her company and herself than she is in her message. In other words, she can be annoying.

Also, I felt she spent too much time on how sugar is ruining our lives - but little space on how to practically eliminate it. She offers a list of seven tips on getting sugar out of your life but if I am a sugar addict, I need more than that.

I would have liked to have learned more about her own experience than just about when her dr told her to drop sugar and she did and it changed her life. I would like to have heard about if she had sugar withdrawals so strong she thought she would scream or if she ever experiences cravings now. She doesn't really talk about herself much apart from that initial "burning bush"-like moment at her dr's office -- which doesn't inspire me much. I've had those moments, too, and make a great start but then fail.

I do believe her when she says it changed her life but for most addicts of any kind (note I said, "most") it's not just "I decided to stop and I did and my life is SO much better!" That's the issue with addicts: we all WANT to stop but it's hard to do it, so we feel trapped. HOW do we get out?

On another note, I was surprised to see an endorsement on the book and a review here from Jimmy "Livin' La Vida Low Carb" only because on his web site he seems really into artificial sweeteners (which I am, too) but the author of this book does not recommend them at all. Whatever!

The authors of "Sugar Shock" make a convincing case to significantly cut down, if not completely eliminate, sugar from our diets. I'm going to try it for sure.

62 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tremendous Success - THANK YOU!, January 14, 2007

By 

A. Codd - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track (Mass Market Paperback)

I never thought I would be able to talk about life without sugar for more
than 3 days. I am in the process of getting rid of sugar from my diet,
and am proud (and SHOCKED) to say that I have been refined sugar-free
for 19 days. My personal record before this was 8 days (a rarity, most
of the time it was 2 or 3 days!)

Truly, honestly, I have Sugar Shock! to thank for helping me finally
kick the habit. In reading about how sugar sets up a subclinical
infammation that can cause so many diseases like cancer, heart disease,
arthritis, diabetes, etc, it really helped me to gain perspective on my
habit. It didn't happen right away, and I had a few binge episodes
after reading this (the last one being the day after Christmas), and
just imagined what was going on inside my body the whole time. That
took the "fun" out of it for me. I thought I would be battling this problem for the rest of my life, but Connie took the struggle out of it for me. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ!!, January 12, 2007

By 

Christine L. Sardo (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track (Mass Market Paperback)

You must read SUGAR SHOCK! It is so informative, so interesting, you will change the way you eat!

Connie has written what will be regarded as a respected reference on sugar and an important resource for the public.

I have highly recommended it to friends, families, and patients already after reading the book in just a couple days. The amount of research that went into this book is unbelievable. Connie has exceeded all expectations and will surely gain the respect of anyone interested in learning about how to control their sugar habit.

I met Connie at a professional meeting several years ago and her personality shines through in SUGAR SHOCK. Her upbeat personality and conversational tone make SUGAR SHOCK easy to read and her personal stories are so engaging that they will inspire anyone who has felt the highs and lows of too much sugar to make changes. You will find all the solutions to stopping your sugar habit in this book!