An expert in nutrition, diet and food addiction
Dr. Nicole Avena is a research neuroscientist and a pioneer in the field of food addiction.
Her seminal research work jump-started a new field of exploration in medicine and nutrition.
She is an expert in diet during pregnancy and baby, toddler and childhood nutrition.
Sugar, Food Addiction & overeating
Studies demonstrate that highly-processed foods can produce signs of addiction and lead to behavioral and brain changes that can contribute to overeating.
Learn MoreNutrition, Addiction & Medicine
Proper nutrition is the key to beating any addiction, but most programs don't recognize how crucial a proper diet is in aiding a lasting recovery.
Learn MorePregnancy, Baby & Toddler Nutrition
New research shows that healthy eating behaviors in the first 1000 days of life (from conception through age 2) has long term effects on a baby's health and well-being.
Learn MoreSugarless:
Uncover Hidden Sugars, Curb Your Cravings & Conquer Your Addiction
A science-backed, step-by-step plan to break free from the cycle of addiction and outsmart a food industry that hides sugar in plain sight.
Many people blame sugar cravings on a lack of willpower rather than acknowledge that the substance is highly addictive - even more so than cocaine, nicotine, and alcohol.
And the problem isn’t only dessert; sugar is everywhere - approximately 80 percent of products in supermarkets contain sugar. No wonder eliminating it feels impossible: the more added sugar a person eats, even unknowingly, the more likely they are to crave it.
In Sugarless, Dr. Nicole Avena teaches you how you can completely change your mindset around what you eat. You will no longer use food to soothe or reward yourself or be a victim of the addiction machine that our modern food environment has created. She will show you how to break away and to use food for what it is intended to be: fuel for your body.
Dr Nicole Avena Services
Corporate Services
Dr Avena offers lectures & consultancy services. Her 'wellness series' is for those wanting to improve eating behaviors & nutrition by recognizing the 'busy executive' pitfalls that can derail healthy eating attempts. Her 'science series' is for general industry, baby food and pharmaceutical firms and groups interested in the behavioral neuroscience of eating behaviors. She also provides general consultancy and litigation support.
Personal Services
Dr. Avena's ground-breaking research on food addiction shows that the highly-palatable foods that we to love to eat can hijack our brains and lead to addictive-like eating. Diets are hard to stick to because our food environment makes it virtually impossible to eat healthy. With Dr. Avena’s help, you can use science of addiction to better understand your eating behaviors, and develop the skills and tools you need to break the cycle of overeating.
Speaking Engagements
Dr. Avena regularly appears on tv and radio and speaks at universities, government agencies, schools and special interest groups about her research on food, addition and nutrition throughout the lifespan. She has appeared on the 'Doctor Oz Show & 'The Doctors' and at numerous formal events around the country. Her wellness-series talks are designed for non-scientist audiences interested in improving their nutrition and health.
Books and Publications
Dr. Avena is the author of 'What to Feed Your Baby and Toddler: A Month-by-Month Guide to Support Your Child's Health and Development', 'What to Eat When You're Pregnant: A Week-by-Week Guide to Support Your Health and Your Baby's Development' & co-author of 'Why Diets Fail: Because You're Addicted to Sugar'. She has also edited two academic books, and is a blogger for Psychology Today and the Huffington Post.
Contact Dr Nicole Avena
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