In The Sugar Fix, Dr. Richard Johnson uses results from his pioneering research on the link between a high-fructose diet and the metabolic syndrome to connect the American obesity epidemic directly to a frightening escalation in our fructose consumption.

It comes as no surprise that the sugar is found in processed foods like candy, baked goods, canned foods, and frozen meals in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, but it is also hidden in less obvious foods like peanut butter, egg products, and soups. In fact, many fruits and vegetables contain high levels of it naturally. Dr. Johnson shows how to dramatically cut back on the sweetener by making effective substitutions.

His 2-week program features daily meal plans containing less than 5 grams of fructose. After the 2-week start-up period, Dr. Johnson shows readers how to limit long-term fructose intake to 25 grams per day, one-quarter of the amount the average American now ingests. Rather than prescribing the low-carb approach of so many recent diets, Dr. Johnson recommends a formula that is much easier to enjoy and stick to: 55 percent carbs, 25 percent fat, and 20 percent protein. The immediate benefit of this diet is to help anyone shed excess weight. The additional benefits are even more impressive-reduced risk for serious health problems such as high blood pressure, elevated blood fats, and insulin resistance. These conditions are directly linked to heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and stroke.