Book excerpt: According to the World Health Organization, one of the important things that constitute a healthy diet is limiting the “intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake.” The article also added that “further reduction to less than 5% of total energy intake is suggested for additional health benefits.” Sugars account for almost a fifth of an average person’s dietary calories, well over the 10% the WHO recommends. This number is the reason why the statistics on those with various health problems are high because of the unhealthy diet people are used to consuming regularly. This is where the diet plan No Sugar, No Starch Diet comes in. It is a diet plan developed by Eric Westman, M.D., of Duke University to help those who need and want to remove sugary and starchy food items in their meals, not just to lose weight but also to improve their health, mainly by having better glycemic control and improvement in their cholesterol levels. The No Sugar, No Starch Diet is not much different from a low carbohydrate or ketogenic diet, so it’s important to know if your body can do it. The goal is to eliminate excessive intake of sugar and starch products to help the body burn fats, which then contributes to weight loss. Upon reading this guide, you will have a better idea as to why this diet is such a popular and effective one. If you have seen other people’s results, this will help explain why. This guide will help you: Understand the difference between sugar and starch Understand the parallels between sugar intake and body functions Shop groceries for a low-carb diet Learn how to combat your sugar cravings Learn methods to maintain your diet Discover the long-term benefits of cutting carbs off your meals