Do you have a sweet tooth?
Or do you simply have a bad habit of indulging in junk food with high carb and high sugar?
If you’re worried about the health implications but are having a hard time to break your habits, here’s a good news.
There’s actually a detox program to reset your taste buds in just 3 weeks.
The program is called 21-Day Sugar Detox. I have bought the program (Plus Package) and tried it.
I’m going to explain in this review why it works, and whether it’s difficult to complete.
21-Sugar Detox Program Members' Area
What is the 21-Day Sugar Detox program?
The 21-Day Sugar Detox is a program based on whole, all-natural food to get rid of your bad ‘sugar and carb’ cravings.
By limiting your sugar intake for twenty-one days, it aims to reverse your bad eating habits to a healthier one, hence leading to potential health benefits. (*)
In a nutshell, it is a diet plan which tells you what real non-sweet food to eat as a substitute for your usual high carb and sugar food intake.
21DSD Real Food for Unhealthy Diet Replacement
The 21-Day Sugar Detox program is different from other weight loss programs as it is NOT its main goal.
It’s not a low / no-carb eating plan, as you will eat plenty of good carbohydrates, including unlimited amounts of crunchy and leafy vegetables. It also includes limited fruits and even some slightly starchier vegetables like beets and pumpkin.
Nevertheless, weight loss will naturally follow the sugar detox process as you are going to stop eating sugar and unhealthy fats.
Who should do the program?
The author, Diane Sanfilippo, says her program is suitable for anyone who wishes to change their bad eating habits, including medically peculiar people like pregnant and breastfeeding women. (*)
Even so, these are the kind of people who will get the most benefits:
- Diabetics
- People with unhealthy cravings for sweet food like chocolate, candy, cakes, etc. (especially to the level of having headaches and bloated bellies)
- Athletes
- People with weight issues due to bad eating habits
Although this program can definitely help you live a healthy life, it is NOT designed to cure any disease. It is just a way of helping the body to fight them.
Therefore, do not rely totally on this product to treat your disease condition. Consult your doctor first, who will then advise you on how to combine this program with your treatment regimen for best results.
The program contains food recipes that are ‘100% gluten-free, soy-free, corn-free, peanut-free and overall very allergen-free friendly’.
If you are currently training for a marathon or other similar endurance-based competition, it would be best to wait until after the race to complete the 21DSD.
This program is appropriate for pescetarians, but not vegans.
What is inside the 21-Day Sugar Detox Program?
The program comes in 3 packages:
- Basic Package ($37 one-time payment): you’ll be given access to the members’ area, where you’ll receive the following:
- A Quick Start Guide eBook, which you can download and begin your detox program.
- Modification Guide eBook (contains special diet modifications for pregnant and breastfeeding women, athletes, diabetics, people with allergies or other autoimmune disorders, etc.)
- After the Detox Guide eBook, helps you transition back to some food you've missed.
- Downloadable audio transcripts of the whole program in mp3 format so you can listen to them. This means this program is also suitable for visually impaired people.
- Optional daily detox emails. Daily tips with sugar alternatives, sugar free ideas, and how to fight sugar cravings.
- Videos explaining the program and what you need to do to achieve your goal
- Access to support and online forum, where you can talk to fellow members of the detox community and get all the motivation you need during your detox.
- Plus Package ($57 one-time payment): in addition to the Basic Package, you’ll also get the hard copy of Diane’s New York Times bestselling, 240-page, color-printed book called 21-Day Sugar Detox, which contains over 90 detox recipes. It retails at Amazon for $34.95 but with this package, you’ll get the book $14.95 cheaper. It comes with free shipping if you live in the US.
- Premium Package ($77 one-time payment): here you get the benefits of the Plus Package and a hard copy of Diane’s 240-page, color-printed book called 21-Day Sugar Detox Cookbook, which contains over 190 detox recipes. It also retails at Amazon for $34.95 and you get the book $14.95 cheaper along with free shipping if you live in the US.
You are eligible for free updates for purchasing any of the packages above.
What is inside the 21-day Sugar Detox book?
The book “21-Day Sugar Detox: Bust Sugar & Carb Craving Naturally” contains 240 pages, divided into 3 sections:
1st section
This is what I like about the program. The book contains very in-depth but easy to read information that is useful to know before you start the program.
Diane explains exactly how your body deals with sugar, why you have sugar cravings, how glucose works, and the difference between bad and good carbs.
I have to be honest here and tell you that this is not an easy program to do (there is NO CHEATING DAY!). However, Diane made sure that you will have all the tools and support you need to persist through the 21 days:
- A preparation checklist for the 7 days before you start the detox which outlines all you need to do to get ready to start.
- What to expect and what you’ll experience during the course. This will help prepare you for unknown situations and help you manage any difficulty you will encounter.
- Supplement recommendations to help lessen your cravings.
- A Daily Success Log available in PDF. These are 21 sheets to log what you have eaten, how well you have slept, and how your mood and energy have been for each day of the plan.
- Useful tips on how to make healthy choices when you go out for lunch or dinner.
2nd Section
To cater to your lifestyle and unique needs, the 21-Day Sugar Detox program has 3 different levels. This section elaborates the meal plan, yes/no food list, and energy and pescetarian ( diet that include seafood / fish ) modifications for each level. (*)
Basically, level 1 (most lenient) is for someone currently following a standard American diet i.e. high in added sugar. Level 3 (strictest) is for people already following a paleo diet or other clean-eating diet. Level 2 is somewhere between 1 and 3.
This section begins with a quiz to determine which level you need.
3rd Section
This is the last section and here you will find over 90 detailed recipes. Every recipe has a picture, preparation time, and number of servings:
42 Main dishes Recipes
19 Soups salads & sides recipes
9 snacks
12 not sweet treats
13 sauces & salad dressings
15 egg-free recipes
My Results
I’m on my 2nd week of trying this program and here are what I’m experiencing:
- I survived my cravings for sugar on week 1
- …but I’m getting bored of eating with the fruit choices
- I feel hungry and look for snacks less frequently
- Better sleep and more energy in the morning upon waking up
- More focus and concentration at work
- I feel as strong in my workouts as before the program, but not during demanding sports like football and badminton
- I’ve lost only a few pounds but my clothes fit better (*)
To solve my problems, I guess I just need to put more portions of good carbs on my meal plan and make more variety of food from the recipes on the daily emails and Pinterest.
Tips
As I said before, the 21-Day Sugar Detox program is not easy at all. The program itself has tips scattered all over them to help you persevere until the end, so it's not that difficult either.
Therefore, in this section I will only highlight the critical ones:
- Do NOT start right away. Pick a date when it’s going to be your first day, preferable on a Monday. Try to find a time period where there’s no public holiday or a major event such as a wedding party.
- Do your homework and COMPLETE the preparation checklist 7 days before your 1st If you fail to plan, plan to fail.
- Prepare the meals by yourself. It’s okay to ask for help, but do not rely on anybody else to do everything for you.
- Listen to the daily audio files for motivation and boost your mental strength and to avoid the obstacles you may experience.
- Read the daily emails which provide focus to your journey and keep your mind on your goals.
- If you need support from other people, ask a family member or a friend to do it with you with the same start date. You can also go to the Facebook page where you can find fellow participants motivating each other.
- Don’t focus on weight loss. Think about how your mood changes and how your energy levels are increasing day by day.
Testimonials
Sylvie McCracken:
“I have to say Diane does not disappoint with this book. Just like she did in Practical Paleo, her recipes are simple and delicious and the photography makes you just want to eat the pages.
I’m not gonna spend hours in the kitchen each day and I’m not making any recipes with a million ingredients so I really appreciate Diane’s consideration for busy working moms when it comes to recipe creation. I actually can’t believe some of these recipes are 21 Day Sugar Detox approved- they are seriously yummy.”
Nicole Crawford:
“I feel that after completing this program I have a deeper appreciation for sugar in its more subtle forms. I can have a small piece of dark chocolate when I get a sugar craving and I am satisfied. If you would also like to restore your relationship with sugar and overcome cravings that make you “hangry,” I highly recommend this book.”
Sarah on February 29, 2016:
“The results are incredible. This is not only a detox program; it’s a healthy habit for life. After what I’ve learned and the results I’ve experienced, I’ll definitely continue my no added sugar lifestyle.
It’s not a weight loss program, or a 3-day detox program. Instead, it’s an educational, practical, and straight forward program to kick sugar out of your life so you can enjoy all the benefits that come with it.”
Who is Diane Sanfilippo?
Diane Sanfilippo is a New York based certified nutritionist who has been practicing since 2009.
Diane holds a Bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, a Holistic Nutrition Consultant Certification from Bauman College in Berkeley, CA, a CHEK Institute Holistic Lifestyle Coach Certification, and a Poliquin BioSignature Modulation Certification.
She is the founder of BalancedBites.com, a website full of information about dieting and healthy eating. Her 2012 book ‘Practical Paleo’ became a New York Times bestseller.
Diane can be found on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+ and YouTube. There you can see her sharing dieting tips and other info, as well as responding to questions asked.
Where to buy the program
You can buy the 21 Day Sugar Detox program from the official website by clicking here .
I would suggest you to buy at least the plus package so that you can get your hands on the 21-Day Sugar Detox book to get the basic recipes.
$20 is a bargain for a big 240-page book on glossy paper.
The Quickstart Guide alone is worth a fair few dollars. This is one of the most thorough and comprehensive guides I’ve come across.
Moreover, it’s going to save you a lot of time researching for the recipes by yourself.
The Verdict
The resources in the 21-Day Sugar Detox are well structured. The science behind the concept was explained simply, keeping everything relevant to you.
The course is written in easy-to-understand language. The design is gorgeous and there’s even the occasional illustration, which adds to the feeling that you’re experimenting and having fun, rather than reading some boring and complicated scientific document.
There are plenty of examples, short summaries, and links to additional resources if you want to find out more.
It is not an easy course but it provides the tools, the knowledge, and the motivation to get rid of sugar and enjoy a better life.
I am amazed by the amount of information and number of resources I got for my money.
I recommend the 21-Day Sugar Detox to anyone looking to reset bad eating habits, and learn once and for all how to eat for good health.
Disclaimer
Please note that results may vary especially if you're not strictly following the meal plans outlined. If you feel that you're not getting the maximum results from the program, you can always try the next level for more effectiveness.
If you are taking medications, are pregnant or nursing, or have a diagnosed or serious medical condition, please consult with your physician, naturopath, or other healthcare professional before beginning any new supplements.
Although this program can definitely help you live a healthy life, it is NOT designed to cure any disease. It is just a way of helping the body to fight them.
Hence, do not rely totally on this product to treat your disease condition. Consult your doctor first, who will then advise you on how to combine this program with your treatment regimen for best results.
Detox Effects
When the liver is relieved of the burden of detoxifying alcohol and excess sugar, it can focus on working to release other toxic substances from the body’s fat stores. This often leads to short-term discomfort such as headaches, joint or muscle pain, fatigue, changes in digestion, skin rashes, and decreased appetite. It is normal as it commonly happens during any other detox process as well. Hence, there is no need to worry about it.