Nicole Avena Ph.D.

About

Dr. Nicole Avena is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and a Visiting Professor of Health Psychology at Princeton University. She is a research neuroscientist and expert in the fields of nutrition, diet and addiction, with a special focus on nutrition during early life and pregnancy, and women’s health. She has done groundbreaking work developing models to characterize food addiction and the dangers of excess sugar intake. Her research achievements have been honored by awards from several groups including the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Psychological Association, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

In addition to over 100 peer-reviewed scholarly publications, Dr. Avena has written several popular books, including Why Diets Fail: Because You’re Addicted to Sugar, What to Eat When You’re Pregnant, What to Feed Your Baby and Toddler and What to Eat When You Want to Get Pregnant. Her latest book, Sugarless, covers the latest science on sugar addiction and how to overcome it. She frequently appears as a science expert in the media, including regular appearances on Good Day NY, The Doctors, and the former Dr. Oz Show as well as many news programs. Her work has been featured in Time Magazine, Bloomberg Business Week, The New York Times, and many other periodicals. Dr. Avena is a member of the Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau. She has the #2 most watched TED-ED Health talk, How Sugar Affects Your Brain, with over 17 million views and counting.

You can find her on social media @drnicoleavena IG, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Books by Nicole Avena Ph.D.

Recent Posts

Places Sugar May Be Hiding in Your Diet

Sugar can be sneaky, and it may just be hiding where you least expect it. Let's discuss some common places where sugar may be hiding and some better-for-you alternatives.

Managing Social Pressures Around Sugar

Breaking sugar dependence can be challenging, and social pressures can certainly make it more difficult. Fortunately, there are ways to navigate social pressures and see success.

Sugar Withdrawal: How Does It Occur?

The withdrawal symptoms seen in situations of drug and alcohol addiction may manifest in situations of sugar dependence.

What's the Scoop on Fructose?

The intake of excessive amounts of processed foods and beverages that are rich in sugar and fructose can be detrimental and result in negative health outcomes.

Sugar's Best Friend: Alternative Sweeteners

Fighting sugar dependence can be challenging. Are alternative sweeteners a good option?

The Connection Between Added Sugar and Chronic Disease

Excessive sugar intake has been linked with chronic diseases. Making small, sustainable changes to your diet can decrease your risk of developing chronic diseases.

Sugar Is in Almost Everything—Hiding in Plain Sight

Sugar is hiding in plain sight—sometimes where you least expect it. Being able to identify foods that contain added sugar is vital in your fight against sugar dependence.

How to Manage Stress When Cutting Out Sugar

Struggling to cut out sugar because you’re too stressed? Here are techniques you can use that will help manage both your stress and sugar cravings.

Will Intermittent Fasting Help Fight My Sugar Dependence?

Sustainable changes are necessary to fight excessive sugar intake. Is intermittent fasting a change you should make?

How to Curb Cravings and Put an End to Your Sugar Dependence

If you’re constantly craving sugar, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s talk about how you can kick sugar cravings to the curb for good.