That Sugar Book follows ex-sugar junkie, Damon Gameau as after three years off refined sugar, he begins a 60 day experiment looking at effects of eating a ‘healthy’ diet of the average Australian. The results? He gained 8.5kgs, added 7% to total body fat, and stacked on 10cm around his waist. His liver also went from the best 20% to the worst 20% and it was noted that if he kept on with his diet, that he would be on track to liver disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other serious health issues. But one of the biggest things Damon noticed was how dramatically his moods and behaviour changed. He describes fluctuating foggy and manic states, and how edgy and irritable he became. The book is set out in four parts; The Experiment, The Science, The Good News and The Recipes. Essentially everything from the film is in here, but the book includes a lot more features and facts. I loved that it had much of the same humour from the movie, and you could rarely read a page without smiling or giggling. Gameau is a funny and easily likable guy, and this definitely shines through in his writing and its style. There is a fair bit of technical jargon in the book, but most of which Gameau explains in simple ways for those dummies out there like me. And to add the cherry on top (metaphorically of course, cherrys are full of sugar, gasp!), the book is full of fun illustrations and has a pretty package. I will be honest in saying that this book certainly does not have all the answers, but it has achieved its biggest and most important goal of raising awareness as to what sugar is doing not only to us as individuals, but to our societies and cultures all around the world.
So what now you ask? Am I going to give up sugar?! Well, considering my bliss point (see film, book, app, or you know, Google it; for an explanation) is below normal, my sugar intake is much smaller than the average Aussie and I have never been a drinker of anything but water, so you’d think that I haven’t much further to go. But my friends; I do. I am definitely going to be reducing my intake of processed foods and sugar. I am taking on a whole foods lifestyle approach, but am not restricting myself with rules and regulations to overwhelm myself. I am excited for the healthy journey I am on and know that my body will sing my songs of praises. I cannot wait to try some of the yummy recipes which this book includes, and am hoping that Gameau and his girlfriend Zoe TuckerwellSmith will make a larger sugar free cookbook soon. *Update. I tasted some of the yummy recipes after I made them! They were all superb! Check out the pictures below!
Rate: 8.5/10
Pages: 240
Format: Paperback
Genre: Non-Fiction/Health/CookBook
Acquired from: Pan Macmillan Publishing
Thoughts and things I loved (as told from my little brown book)
• “I flicked into hyper-drive and casually threw a wave to the Millennium Falcon as I sped by” –pg 29.
• "It [sugar] is now found in 80 per cent of all items available in a supermarket” –pg 32.
• "Sugar Addiction is not a moral failing; it’s a genetic condition, like asthma, which I also have. It’s just the way I was put together, it’s not my fault. On the other hand, I know what will give me an asthma attack, and it is my fault if I bury my head in the truck of a lime tree. And similarly, it would be a bad thing if I constantly stuffed myself with sugary foods. Because now I know better” –Stephen Fry, p. 64.
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own*