Sugar busters diet
Sugar busters diet

Background

The Sugar Busters Diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-protein weight loss diet. It is based on a book published in 1995 by H. Leighton Steward, Morrison Bethea, MD, and Luis Balart, MD.

The Sugar Busters Diet is used for weight loss, but there is no good scientific evidence to support this use.
There isn't enough reliable information to know if the Sugar Busters Diet is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if the Sugar Busters Diet is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Effectiveness

NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Likely effective Effectiveness definitions
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
Likely ineffective Effectiveness definitions
Possibly ineffective Effectiveness definitions
Insufficient evidence Effectiveness definitions
  • Weight loss.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of the Sugar Busters Diet for this use.

Dosing & administration

The appropriate or safe use of the Sugar Busters Diet depends on several factors. Be sure to seek and follow relevant directions from your physician or other healthcare professional before using this diet.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

It is not known if this treatment interacts with any medicines. Before using this treatment, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.

Action

The main strategy used by the Sugar Busters Diet is to eliminate or reduce "bad carbs," carbohydrates that have a "high glycemic index." High glycemic index foods raise blood sugar levels quickly after the food is eaten. Some people think that high glycemic index foods cause excessive insulin secretion resulting in fat accumulation, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other harmful outcomes. However, there continues to be significant debate and research to determine if a low glycemic index diet can actually prevent these outcomes.

The Sugar Busters Diet suggests avoiding foods such as white rice, white bread, pineapple, syrups, corn chips, potato chips, breaded foods, and sugary snacks. It recommends intake of 40% of daily calories from high fiber foods such as vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds; 30% of calories from low-fat protein sources such as lean meats, skinless chicken, or seafood; and 30% from fats.

The Sugar Busters Diet has a significantly lower overall glycemic index compared to the high- or moderate-carbohydrate diets. However, there is no scientifically reliable information to know if using this diet results in weight loss.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 23/11/2022 00:33:32 and last updated on 16/06/2015 22:18:52. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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