Six famous faces have embarked on a challenging experiment in Sugar Free Farm, now screening on SBS (find out more here and catch up on all the episodes streaming 24/7 on SBS On Demand). The group head to the countryside and quit sugar cold turkey. But they are not the only celebrities who have sworn off the white stuff.
Miranda Kerr
As one of Australia’s most recognisable models and a former Victoria’s Secret angel, Miranda Kerr is all about watching what she eats to maintain her catwalk figure.
Her diet consists mostly of vegetables, fruit, nuts, meat and plenty of superfoods, and apart from the odd indulgence here and there, she avoids sugar and wheat altogther.
Kerr gave Vogue an insight into how she maintains an energy-rich diet sans sugar recently when she said, “I always start my day with hot water with lemon and then I’ll have a green juice – a cold pressed organic green juice”.
“And then I’ll actually have eggs or avocado on a piece of gluten free toast. After that, an hour and a half later, I’ll have a smoothie with my chia seeds, goji berries, raw cacao,” she added.
Pete Evans
As an avid follower and spokesperson for the Paleo diet, celebrity chef Pete Evans tends to avoid refined sugars. Grains, legumes and dairy are also considered ‘no no’s in the eating plan that focuses on whole, unprocessed foods.
As a result of his lifestyle change, the My Kitchen Rules judge says he’s lost that bloated and lethargic feeling and is more balanced, healthy and happy.
Evans is also significantly lighter than he was back in his pizza making days at Sydney's Hugos restaurant and told Sunday Life magazine last year that he even feels younger for it.
"I see a very young teenage boy looking back at me. It's exciting because five years ago I was looking at myself, going ... Pete, you are looking old!" he said.
Wholly dedicating himself to the cause, Evans now has eight cook books brimming with sugar-free recipes for the Paleo-curious.
Even his desserts come without refined sugar.
Gwyneth Paltrow
In 2010 one of Gwyneth Paltrow’s weekly newsletters to her loyal GOOP subscribers was all about “Overcoming Sugar Addiction”.
In it she explained how the spike in the consumption of sugar and products made from highly processed white flour in the past generation has led to various health concerns.
“You get anxious, moody and eventually you feel exhausted,” she said of the white stuff before claiming, “Sugar is also associated with many chronic problems that include decreased immunity, some chronic infections, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, diabetes, pain syndromes, irritable bowel syndrome, ADD, chronic fatigue, and candida.”
Three years later it seemed the Sliding Doors actress hadn’t forgotten the cause and she published It’s All Good, a cook book that was not only sugar-free, but also dairy and gluten-free.
Although it seems she's isn't immune to a little indulgence on occasion.
Kate Hudson
Like Paltrow, Kate Hudson has been limiting the amount of sugar in her diet after realising she “was craving it like an addict”.
While shooting a campaign for Jimmy Choo last year, the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days actress said, “I would say cutting sugar, or at least being aware of how much you are ingesting in a day and limiting it.”
“That was an eye opener for me, I realised I was craving it like an addict around 4pm every day. I would crave something sweet and it hit me how much sugar we really eat.”
Hudson’s newly found sugar-free ways fit into her high-alkaline diet which sees her avoid dairy, gluten and acidic foods like meat, in favour of nuts, tofu, fruit and vegetables.
In her book Pretty Happy, the star explains, "The key to living well, and healthy, is to plug into what your body needs, understanding that one size does not fit all, all the time, and being truly honest with yourself about your goals and desires."
Alec Baldwin
At the end of 2011, Alec Baldwin swore off sugar and dropped an impressive 13.5 kilos in four months.
“I just have to eat less. So, I'm very conscious of that. But sugar was the real killer for me, that was the problem,” he told Access Hollywood at the time.
The move was prompted by a doctor’s visit where he learnt he had prediabetes and had to get his blood sugar under control.
The 30 Rock actor has also cut pasta from his diet and with the help of his yoga instructor wife Hilaria, tries to maintain Pilates and spin classes.
Thinking of giving sugar the flick?
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