Sugarproof: The Hidden Dangers of Sugar That Are Putting Your Child's Health at Risk and What You Can Do

by Michael I. Goran, Emily E. Ventura

A leading childhood nutrition researcher and an experienced public health educator explain the hidden danger sugar poses to a child's development and health and offer parents an essential 7- and 28-day "sugarproof" program.

Most of us know that sugar can wreak havoc on adult bodies, but few realize how uniquely harmful it is to the growing livers, hearts, and brains of children. And the damage can begin early in life. In his research on the effects of sugar on kids' present and future health, USC Professor of Pediatrics and Program Director for Diabetes and Obesity at Children's Hospital Los Angeles Michael Goran has found that too much sugar doesn't just cause childhood obesity, it can cause health issues in kids who are not overweight too, including fatty liver disease, prediabetes, and elevated risk for eventual heart disease. And, it is a likely culprit in the behavioral, emotional, and learning problems that many children struggle with every day.

In a groundbreaking study, Goran's team conducted a detailed analysis of the sugary products that kids love and found that these yogurts, cereals, sodas, and juices often had more sugar than advertised and also contained different types of sugar than were being disclosed. Today's children are not just consuming more sugar than ever, but they are consuming sugars that are particularly harmful to them-- and their parents don't even know it.

The news is dire, but there is also plenty of hope. We can prevent, address, and even in many cases reverse the effects of too much sugar. In this guide to "Sugarproof" kids, Dr. Goran and co-author Dr. Emily Ventura, an expert in nutrition education and recipe development, bust myths about the various types of sugars and sweeteners, help families identify sneaky sources of sugar in their diets, and suggest realistic, family-based solutions to reduce sugar consumption and therefore protect kids. Their unique "Sugarproof" approach teaches parents to raise informed and empowered kids who can set their own healthy limits without feeling restricted. With a 7- and 28-day challenge to help families right-size sugar in their diets, along with more than 35 recipes all without added sugars, everyone can give their children a healthy new start to life.

Genres: Health, Parenting, Food, Nonfiction, Nutrition, Audiobook

368 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2020

Reviews

[Annique Mcgregor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to read nutrition books both for my own health and to guide my patients. Although the book is meant to be informative and not alarmist, I am quite alarmed at how much sugar we are inadvertently and unconsciously ingesting. I was aware of avoiding HFCS, juice, granola bars, sugared cereal, but thought the low calorie sweeteners in moderation might be ok. I started reading labels for sugar after reading this book (previously, I was mostly focusing on calories, fiber, and protein). My slice of whole wheat healthy bread has 1 tsp of sugar per slice! My cooked chicken strips from Trader Joe's has sugar added. My "healthy" whole grain chips have sugar added. Most of my condiments (Thai peanut sauce, ketchup, salad dressings) have added sugar. Sigh. It's hard enough for me who is educated as a physician and understands nutrition a little more than the average American and is privileged enough to have access to and afford fruits and vegetables to balance healthy fats, get enough protein and fiber, reduce calories, and now avoid all added sweeteners. I'm not doing very well with balancing all of that despite all my advantages. No wonder most of America is struggling!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Nonfiction. The author is trying to sound the alarm about all the sugar, and hidden sugars, that are in the diets of children. So much so that children, including the very young, are being diagnosed with diseases that have only been seen in adults. I liked his research. I think this message is necessary, but there are other problems that also need to be addressed....education for the kids, parents, schools, and doctors. Also in early detection of these diseases before it is too late to correct. There are so many.

What I didn't like was the way the author tried to stir up fear and his wide blanket statements. I'm not sure that is the correct approach for the intended audience of this book. I wish more time would have been given to productive changes, that all could implement to steer their kids in the right direction. So 3 stars.

[Michelle Korting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved all the research done and the information given on studies done that show all benefits to walking.
Fresh air, grounding oneself to the earth.

Now that I’m in my 50’s I understand why I was so happy, excited, in shape, energetic and interested in everything. It was always being outside and walking everywhere or riding my bike.

This book has pushed me to get those walking shoes on and get back outside. Reminder to park farther away from the stores. Take the stairs whenever possible. Every thing within reason considering my spinal disability.

So I encourage you to do the same! Get those shoes on and get outside.

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This book gives some great strategies for checking food labels and becoming more educated. Did you know a Clif bar is made with 8 types of sugars just called various things? I consider myself an educated consumer, but this book was still eye opening. The average American consumes 45 teaspoons of sugar per day!!! It’s in our bread, our sauces, our yogurt, etc. It’s an epidemic fueled by consumers who are being hooked on sugar in order to sell more packaged junk.

There was also a lot of information on why we should care about that. 57% of two year olds today will be obese by the age of 35. One out of three kids growing up today will develop diabetes at some point. Even thin kids are developing fatty liver disease. Lower test scores, memory issues and depression among teens are all linked to too much sugar.

[Ernesto Ruiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title caught my attention because I’ve been consciously reducing sugar in my diet. Initially, I didn’t realize the book was focused on kids, but I decided to dive in anyway—and I’m glad I did.

The book, written by Dr. Michael Goran and Dr. Emily Ventura, offers a thorough overview of the impact of sugar on children's health, but much of the information is valuable for anyone interested in understanding sugar’s effects. It provides a detailed look at the hidden sugars in our foods today and how they contribute to various health issues.

One thing that threw me off a bit, though, was the audiobook. It's read by a male voice, which felt a little odd at times, especially when discussing topics specifically related to women, given that one of the authors is female. Despite this, the book offers a solid overview of the different types of sugars found in our foods and gives practical tips on reducing sugar intake—something I found particularly useful as I continue my own journey to cut down on sugar.
Overall, "Sugarproof" is an informative and practical resource, even if you're not a parent. It’s a great guide for anyone looking to make healthier choices and understand the pervasive role of sugar in our diets today.

[shawdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving this book a 5/5 not because I think it was perfect but to put it on people's radars. The "dangers" of excess sugar intake is already widely known but this book goes beyond basic warnings to educate people on the definition of sugar and the different ways in which it can affect long-term health. The book is primarily directed towards parents but is still a great reference for anyone looking to learn more about sugarproofing their life.

Now, I saw reviews saying this book uses too much fearmongering, and yes, I agree, but in this case, it feels completely appropriate. Most people are not driven to action until their realize how devastating their current lifestyles can be. Most people don't even realize their current diets are damaging not only their lives, but their children's lives as well. We now live in an ultra-processed world, where nearly everything we eat comes pre-packaged and pre-prepared. This has made it extremely difficult to avoid sugar or to even know when we're consuming it. Sugar has been reshaped, hidden, and forced into our diets without our knowledge, making the information in this book all the more vital. All that said, I highly recommend this book as a first of what I hope will be many resources to help further educate yourself on sugar as a concept in today's world.

disclaimer: I skipped the last couple chapters of this book which contained the challenges since it was primarily directed towards parents aiming to change their young family's habits

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

These two authors come from University of Southern California and are both knowledgeable and passionate about their subject. This is a valuable addition to diet books because it limits what it tries to achieve to children and to the effects of sugars and sugar substitutes.

This book is understandable and a casual reader will come away knowing the difference between glucose and fructose, and aspartate and stevia. Compared to others, it is especially non judgemental of teens, for example admitting where sports drinks are and are not appropriate.

I can think of ten books which convey the same facts but I like this one because it stays on topic and is practical about its suggestions.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this book is jam-packed with lots of great information that I was truly interested in, but it was SO boring. It was like reading a research paper- informative but dull and I kept needing to start sections over because I found my mind wandering. The second half of the book was actionable steps to take to reduce sugar. If you are currently eating the standard american diet, you'll find it immensely helpful I'm sure! My family is not so I didn't take as much from this half, but it was a lot more interesting and I appreciated the breakdown of how to make each lifestyle change. Overall, great book, very informative, important read, but terribly boring start.

[Jasmine Hutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can tell that Michael and Emily care about people and helping them reduce their sugar intake to live healthier lives. The book is well written and easy to read. I didn't know that sugar and other sweeteners were culprits to a lot of the health issues people suffer today but it makes sense! This book will help you understand why you and your loved ones should avoid added sugars and gives you healthier alternatives. This is a great book to reference and read over and over. Thank you for researching and writing this book!

[Alex Hoeft · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s definitely a ~type~ of person who reads this book, and I am not that type normally … BUT I did take away a lot of useful information and have found myself checking nutrition facts and being shocked at how much added sugar there is out there. Ultimately, I see myself using this book as an opportunity to be aware of how much sugar is in the world and how many names it hides under while at the same time not becoming some uber-granola hippie. Looking forward to trying out some of the recipes!

[David Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book comes off as alarmist and vilifies high fructose corn syrup which I'm not sure is fair, but where it shines is highlighting how sugar filled our children's environment has become. We readily find that our kids have had two donuts, a cookie and a bag of candy at school. Similar story at church. It made us realize that we don't need special treats at home and should really cut down on what they eat at home. Love the switch witch suggestion. We have been doing for years due to allergies and later to limit sugar consumption.

[Jamie Gottlieb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The message of this book is great and it had a lot of helpful hints and practical steps! It is a little repetative but for people who don't read every page of it and just skim it that might be helpful. It certainly was very educational for me. One of the important things I read - one out of three of our children will become diabetic someday - we have a societal problem with sugar so teaching your children and yourself about this is important!

[Roxanne Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book its a bit over the top, but i suppose if your child is eating/drinking alot of sugar the authors want to put some fear in you.
The best part is part 3 with all the recipes. Sugar is in everything and trying to keep my toddler away from it as much as possible can be challenging especially when we arent eating at home.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating dive into biology and how the chemical makeup of different sugars affects our blood sugar and brain pathways. It gave me renewed courage to fight for health for my children and draw boundaries for their safety.

[Matt Lorenzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great resource on reducing and/or eliminating added sugars from your diet. This book is geared towards families raising and teaching kids about the dangers of sugars, but has valuable resources for everyone.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

comprehensive review of the dangers of sugar and listed many strategies on how to manage your kids, your family and yourself and reduce your risks

[Matthew Kutilek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sugar, poison seed oils, carbohydrates and fake fat are killing our kids. This book address killer #1. Read it, implement their simple plans and see the results.

[Nick Affolter · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the last sentences sums it up well: “Sugarproof isn’t about quitting sugar entirely, it’s about becoming less reliant on sweet foods and drinks as daily staples”

[Catsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, motivating, easy read. Could have done without the « practical tips »

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book every parent need to read.

[Gina Sumbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the suggestions were a bit unrealistic, but overall a great & important read.

[Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not always a page turner nor is it necessarily great writing. But, presents compelling evidence against sugar intake and offers solutions in an easily digestible way.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Focuses a lot on children and parents, but still has a lot of useful information in it for anyone. Can get a bit dry at the times.

[Alice Sibley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly eye opening and accessible. Great tips for lowering the sugar intake for yourself and your family

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative but could have been shorter

[Shayla Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read! Eye opening and life changing for me.

[Winter Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an informative book. I learned so much about sugar and the different ways it can affect the development of children. I am looking forward to performing the 7 day no sugar challenge and trying out the recipes. I have recommended everyone I know to read it!

[Sadman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sugar is a hard subject to tackle, especially in the US where the median consumption of added sugar is 10x the maximum. You cannot go two seconds criticising sugar habits without a knife at your throat. So I applaud the authors on tackling this subject.

The book presents a good mix of the science and psychology as it pertains to sweeteners, as well as some history lessons that sheds light on how things got so bad. The case studies and specific examples are extra-helpful as some should hit close to home for most of us.

The second half of the book wasn't relevant to me but would still recommend to people with young families. Recalibrating the relationship with sugar for our children is most important, which is the primary focus of this book.

I understand that I am not the target audience for this book, being fairly well-aware of the baddities of sugar, and maintaining the recommendeds. However, I still found learning points for me that I can't help but repeat, as they have made me change my already strict diet habits:
1. Unaccompanied fructose (i.e. any fruit sugar that is not in whole fruit) goes straight to the liver and becomes fat, causing fatty liver disease in even active people who don't drink alcohol.
2. Low-calorie sugar (LCS) messes up brain chemistry, and hinders brain development in children. It can cause appetite to go up (this closed the loop on a couple of conversations I had with people who had more weight gain after switching to drinks like coke zero)
3. Like maybe just completely stop buying baked goods from the store and bakeries. They don't report how much LCS they put and it isn't in anyway captured in the calorie numbers

Health and nutrition is a very difficult subject. Much is based on anecdotes and food is an emotional soft spot for us. The book is well-written, well-presented with a apt humility that is oft overlooked in these types of "let me present my research to the world"-books. Please give this book a chance.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information, especially for parents who don't know where to start learning about how to incorporate healthy eating for their families.