Life After Sugar

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Carolyn Dean, who is a medical doctor, naturopath, and author of Exposing Sugar Toxicity.

We discuss sugar and cravings, and how they’re often linked to much more than willpower. The main culprit could actually be yeast overgrowth.

Carolyn shares her personal story (which starts with late-night bowls of ice cream in high school) and explains how she came to understand the deeper connections between sugar, immune health, yeast overgrowth, magnesium deficiency, and more.

We talk about:

• Why your sugar cravings might not actually be yours
• How yeast overgrowth plays a sneaky role in keeping you hooked
• The surprising link between sugar and vitamin C
• What your immune system really needs (and how sugar gets in the way)
• Simple steps to experiment with less sugar and notice how your body responds

This is a science-rich episode, but grounded in real-life experience and gentle suggestions for anyone curious about cutting sugar and feeling better... without guilt or overwhelm.

Find Dr. Carolyn's book here.

To get personalized guidance to stop emotional eating and break free from cravings, plus support and accountability... apply here to join the 90-day program, Freedom from Cravings Formula TODAY.

For step-by-step guidance toward freedom from cravings, get your copy of my new book: "Break Free from Sugar Cravings". Available on Amazon now!

For free resources, Do the Cravings Quiz and take the first step to get rid of your cravings! 

Download your 5 tips HERE to discover how you can get rid of cravings... even when you feel tired or stressed.

To rate and review this podcast:

1. scroll down in your podcast player on your phone and click on the stars. 
2. To leave a review, scroll down a little more and click on "Write a Review". 
3. Once you’ve finished, select “Send” or “Save” in the top-right corner. 
4. If you’ve never left a podcast review before, enter a nickname. Your nickname will be displayed on your review.

After selecting a nickname, tap OK. Your review may not be immediately visible, but it should be posted soon.
Thank you! - Netta

Disclaimer: Information provided by Life After Sugar is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided ...

In this episode, I explore the emotional side of sugar cravings, and how low self-esteem can quietly keep us stuck in the sugar cycle.

This episode was inspired by Patra, a member of my Freedom From Cravings Formula program.

Patra gave me permission to share a part of her background and how years of guilt, self-criticism, and “never feeling good enough” affected her self-esteem and shaped her relationship with food, especially sugar. 

You'll also hear about the scientific reason our brain naturally looks for short-term ways to feel better with sugar. 

But when you start replacing sugar with self-compassion, you can develop healthier ways to make peace with food... and yourself.

This episode is about letting go of perfectionism and realizing that you’re not broken — you’re human.

To get personalized guidance to stop emotional eating and break free from cravings, plus support and accountability... apply here to join the 90-day program, Freedom from Cravings Formula TODAY.

For step-by-step guidance toward freedom from cravings, get your copy of my new book: "Break Free from Sugar Cravings". Available on Amazon now!

For free resources, Do the Cravings Quiz and take the first step to get rid of your cravings! 

Download your 5 tips HERE to discover how you can get rid of cravings... even when you feel tired or stressed.

To rate and review this podcast:

1. scroll down in your podcast player on your phone and click on the stars. 
2. To leave a review, scroll down a little more and click on "Write a Review". 
3. Once you’ve finished, select “Send” or “Save” in the top-right corner. 
4. If you’ve never left a podcast review before, enter a nickname. Your nickname will be displayed on your review.

After selecting a nickname, tap OK. Your review may not be immediately visible, but it should be posted soon.
Thank you! - Netta

Disclaimer: Information provided by Life After Sugar is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided ...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Anju, a former family doctor who shifted into functional medicine after realizing that treating symptoms wasn’t enough… She wanted to help people truly heal.

Dr. Anju and I talk about:

• How growing up in India with home-cooked meals shaped her view on food
• What led her to question the limits of conventional medicine
• Why she now sees sugar as a major disruptor to health, and encourages patients to cut it out completely
• How sugar affects hormones, energy, and cravings
• What functional medicine really means (and how it differs from the mainstream approach)
• Why eating well isn't about perfection, but about finding what works for your body

Dr. Anju shares her personal health journey, how she guides her patients through holistic change (starting with cutting sugar, dairy, and gluten), and why she believes no one has to suffer. 

To get personalized guidance to stop emotional eating and break free from cravings, plus support and accountability... apply here to join the 90-day program, Freedom from Cravings Formula TODAY.

For step-by-step guidance toward freedom from cravings, get your copy of my new book: "Break Free from Sugar Cravings". Available on Amazon now!

For free resources, Do the Cravings Quiz and take the first step to get rid of your cravings! 

Download your 5 tips HERE to discover how you can get rid of cravings... even when you feel tired or stressed.

To rate and review this podcast:

1. scroll down in your podcast player on your phone and click on the stars. 
2. To leave a review, scroll down a little more and click on "Write a Review". 
3. Once you’ve finished, select “Send” or “Save” in the top-right corner. 
4. If you’ve never left a podcast review before, enter a nickname. Your nickname will be displayed on your review.

After selecting a nickname, tap OK. Your review may not be immediately visible, but it should be posted soon.
Thank you! - Netta

Disclaimer: Information provided by Life After Sugar is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided ...

This week I’m chatting with dietitian and author Kim Shapira about what it really means to feel free around food...

and how we can build a peaceful, trusting relationship with food, especially sugar.

Kim grew up with no food rules and a pantry full of snacks where nothing was off limits.

She says that that freedom, not restriction, is what helped her feel calm and in control around food. 

And as a mom, she shares how that approach shaped the way she raised her own kids, and how it still guides the work she does with her clients today.

We talk about sugar cravings, restriction backlash, and how to create a healthier  relationship with food that feels relaxed and respectful.

No guilt, no obsession, no needing to “be good.” 

Kim also opens up about her own sugar story: the one-week experiment that helped her break free from cravings, and how she now sees sugar: just not that big a deal.

Find Kim's book here.

To get personalized guidance to stop emotional eating and break free from cravings, plus support and accountability... apply here to join the 90-day program, Freedom from Cravings Formula TODAY.

For step-by-step guidance toward freedom from cravings, get your copy of my new book: "Break Free from Sugar Cravings". Available on Amazon now!

For free resources, Do the Cravings Quiz and take the first step to get rid of your cravings! 

Download your 5 tips HERE to discover how you can get rid of cravings... even when you feel tired or stressed.

To rate and review this podcast:

1. scroll down in your podcast player on your phone and click on the stars. 
2. To leave a review, scroll down a little more and click on "Write a Review". 
3. Once you’ve finished, select “Send” or “Save” in the top-right corner. 
4. If you’ve never left a podcast review before, enter a nickname. Your nickname will be displayed on your review.

After selecting a nickname, tap OK. Your review may not be immediately visible, but it should be posted soon.
Thank you! - Netta

Disclaimer: Information provided by Life After Sugar is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided ...

When I first told people I’d cut out sugar, everyone was so impressed — “Wow, that’s amazing! I could never do that!”

But when I mentioned I’d also stopped eating bread, the mood totally changed.
“Wait… no bread? Why?! That’s too extreme!”

It’s funny how cutting sugar gets applause, but cutting flour is judged.

And honestly, I get it. 

Bread and other flour-based foods have deep cultural roots — they’ve meant comfort, connection, even survival for generations. 

But the flour we eat today isn’t what our grandparents ate. Industrial milling made it finer, faster to digest, and a perfect ingredient for processed foods that keep us hooked.

In this episode, I talk about how flour became a staple in both tradition and modern food marketing — and why so many “whole grain” and “healthy” products aren’t nearly as wholesome as they sound.

And I’ll share what to eat instead of flour — not another powder or flour substitute, but real, satisfying foods that keep your blood sugar and energy steady... and your cravings quiet.

To get personalized guidance from me, plus support and accountability in a small group... apply here to join the 90-day program, Freedom from Cravings Formula TODAY.

For step-by-step guidance toward freedom from cravings, get your copy of my new book: "Break Free from Sugar Cravings". Available on Amazon now!

For free resources, Do the Cravings Quiz and take the first step to get rid of your cravings! 

Download your 5 tips HERE to discover how you can get rid of cravings... even when you feel tired or stressed.

To rate and review this podcast:

1. scroll down in your podcast player on your phone and click on the stars. 
2. To leave a review, scroll down a little more and click on "Write a Review". 
3. Once you’ve finished, select “Send” or “Save” in the top-right corner. 
4. If you’ve never left a podcast review before, enter a nickname. Your nickname will be displayed on your review.

After selecting a nickname, tap OK. Your review may not be immediately visible, but it should be posted soon.
Thank you! - Netta

Disclaimer: Information provided by Life After Sugar is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided ...

In this episode, my guest Mallary talks about her moving story of living with an eating disorder that began after losing her mother at the age of 12.

 Mallory opens up about how grief, perfectionism, and the need to “stay small” shaped her relationship with food—and how recovery became less about perfection and more about self-compassion.

This conversation with Mallary explores:

• the difference between eating disorders, disordered eating, emotional eating, and "normal" eating;
• how diet culture, judgment, and misinformation blur the lines between healthy habits and obsession;
• why emotional eating isn’t always “bad”—and when it can become a warning sign;
• how grief, trauma, and food are often intertwined; and
• the importance of open-mindedness and kindness in rebuilding a healthy relationship with food.

Mallary also shares insights from her book Slip, based on her own story and interviews with hundreds of others, to remind us that healing isn’t about control — it’s about connection, awareness, and compassion.

Find Mallary's book here.

To get personalized guidance from me, plus support and accountability in a small group... apply here to join the 90-day program, Freedom from Cravings Formula TODAY.

For step-by-step guidance toward freedom from cravings, get your copy of my new book: "Break Free from Sugar Cravings". Available on Amazon now!

For free resources, Do the Cravings Quiz and take the first step to get rid of your cravings! 

Download your 5 tips HERE to discover how you can get rid of cravings... even when you feel tired or stressed.

To rate and review this podcast:

1. scroll down in your podcast player on your phone and click on the stars. 
2. To leave a review, scroll down a little more and click on "Write a Review". 
3. Once you’ve finished, select “Send” or “Save” in the top-right corner. 
4. If you’ve never left a podcast review before, enter a nickname. Your nickname will be displayed on your review.

After selecting a nickname, tap OK. Your review may not be immediately visible, but it should be posted soon.
Thank you! - Netta

Disclaimer: Information provided by Life After Sugar is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided ...

My guest this week is functional medicine nutritionist Sarah Reilly, founder of Get Nourished. 

Sarah opens up about her long battle with undiagnosed Lyme disease and the surprising discovery that sugar was actually feeding the infection. 

For Sarah, cutting sugar wasn’t just about weight or cravings — it became a critical part of her healing journey.

We talk about:

• How Lyme disease forced Sarah to rethink her relationship with sugar.
• The link between sugar, chronic illness, and low immunity.
• Why even “healthy” foods like smoothies can trigger blood sugar crashes.
• The lasting benefits she sees from stabilizing blood sugar naturally.

Sarah’s story shows how even the toughest health challenges can spark life-changing breakthroughs.

Find Sarah here.

To get personalized guidance from me, plus support and accountability in a small group... apply here to join the 90-day program, Freedom from Cravings Formula TODAY.

For step-by-step guidance toward freedom from cravings, get your copy of my new book: "Break Free from Sugar Cravings". Available on Amazon now!

For free resources, Do the Cravings Quiz and take the first step to get rid of your cravings! 

Download your 5 tips HERE to discover how you can get rid of cravings... even when you feel tired or stressed.

To rate and review this podcast:

1. scroll down in your podcast player on your phone and click on the stars. 
2. To leave a review, scroll down a little more and click on "Write a Review". 
3. Once you’ve finished, select “Send” or “Save” in the top-right corner. 
4. If you’ve never left a podcast review before, enter a nickname. Your nickname will be displayed on your review.

After selecting a nickname, tap OK. Your review may not be immediately visible, but it should be posted soon.
Thank you! - Netta

Disclaimer: Information provided by Life After Sugar is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided ...

Ciao! Take the time to listen to this episode... because it's about what I learned about food in Italy...

but especially, it's what I learned about time.

My experience in Italy in the summer of 2025 showed me that the Italian family's priority is taking the time to source high-quality fresh ingredients.

And taking the time to cook traditional, delicious meals is also a priority.

Eating meals together is a priority too.

And I saw this in the Italian coffee culture, as well as in slow processes such as the one used to make balsamic vinegar.

It was an eye-opener for me, because I live in North America (Canada) where it feels like the priority is to make food as fast and cheap as possible.

Maybe that's why we're so reliant on processed foods?

So how come one culture seems to have the time to prep and eat good-quality meals, but another culture doesn't?

You'll hear my thoughts when you take the time to listen to this episode.

To get personalized guidance from me, plus support and accountability in a small group... apply here to join the 90-day program, Freedom from Cravings Formula TODAY.

For step-by-step guidance toward freedom from cravings, get your copy of my new book: "Break Free from Sugar Cravings". Available on Amazon now!

For free resources, Do the Cravings Quiz and take the first step to get rid of your cravings! 

Download your 5 tips HERE to discover how you can get rid of cravings... even when you feel tired or stressed.

To rate and review this podcast:

1. scroll down in your podcast player on your phone and click on the stars. 
2. To leave a review, scroll down a little more and click on "Write a Review". 
3. Once you’ve finished, select “Send” or “Save” in the top-right corner. 
4. If you’ve never left a podcast review before, enter a nickname. Your nickname will be displayed on your review.

After selecting a nickname, tap OK. Your review may not be immediately visible, but it should be posted soon.
Thank you! - Netta

Disclaimer: Information provided by Life After Sugar is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided ...

Growing up, Jonathan described himself as "the fat kid".

His weight yo-yo'd constantly, reaching over 400lbs as an adult.

Jonathan had tried hundreds of diets, but he could never keep the weight off.

One day, he saw himself in a photo and he was shocked.

So shocked that he made an appointment for weight loss surgery.

In the weeks before, he decided to be more mindful of what he was eating, as well as how much and how often.

In this episode, you'll find out how Jonathan's mindset shifts saved him from surgery and helped him lose weight and maintain a healthy mind and body.

To get personalized guidance from me, plus support and accountability in a small group... apply here to join the 90-day program, Freedom from Cravings Formula TODAY.

For step-by-step guidance toward freedom from cravings, get your copy of my new book: "Break Free from Sugar Cravings". Available on Amazon now!

For free resources, Do the Cravings Quiz and take the first step to get rid of your cravings! 

Download your 5 tips HERE to discover how you can get rid of cravings... even when you feel tired or stressed.

To rate and review this podcast:

1. scroll down in your podcast player on your phone and click on the stars. 
2. To leave a review, scroll down a little more and click on "Write a Review". 
3. Once you’ve finished, select “Send” or “Save” in the top-right corner. 
4. If you’ve never left a podcast review before, enter a nickname. Your nickname will be displayed on your review.

After selecting a nickname, tap OK. Your review may not be immediately visible, but it should be posted soon.
Thank you! - Netta

Disclaimer: Information provided by Life After Sugar is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided ...

My guest this week is very special... because it's my mum, Marcia!

And it's her birthday too!

In this episode, we talk about how and why my mum decided to try cutting sugar 10 years ago, at the age of 68.

But she didn't just cut sugar... Marcia also cut flour. 

But why?? Well... partly because she saw me cut sugar and flour and feel so much better.

So she thought: I'll give it a try! What have I got to lose?

So at the age of 78, how's my mum's health today? And how does she feel?

That's what you'll find out in this episode!

To get personalized guidance from me, plus support and accountability in a small group... apply here to join the 90-day program, Freedom from Cravings Formula TODAY.

For step-by-step guidance toward freedom from cravings, get your copy of my new book: "Break Free from Sugar Cravings". Available on Amazon now!

For free resources, Do the Cravings Quiz and take the first step to get rid of your cravings! 

Download your 5 tips HERE to discover how you can get rid of cravings... even when you feel tired or stressed.

To rate and review this podcast:

1. scroll down in your podcast player on your phone and click on the stars. 
2. To leave a review, scroll down a little more and click on "Write a Review". 
3. Once you’ve finished, select “Send” or “Save” in the top-right corner. 
4. If you’ve never left a podcast review before, enter a nickname. Your nickname will be displayed on your review.

After selecting a nickname, tap OK. Your review may not be immediately visible, but it should be posted soon.
Thank you! - Netta

Disclaimer: Information provided by Life After Sugar is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided ...