The Problem With the Glucose Goddess 'Eat Smart' Show

Experts warn that the Glucose Goddess show "Eat Smart" oversimplifies complex metabolic processes and may fuel disordered eating.

Jessie Inchauspé, also known as the Glucose Goddess, is a French biochemist who has gained popularity for her method to reduce glucose spikes, which she claims are the culprit behind many health conditions.

Her charisma and easy-to-understand language about common health concerns like fatigue and bloating have earned her over 5 million followers globally.

Inchauspé now appears on Channel 4, a British television network, in "Eat Smart: Secrets of the Glucose Goddess." The two-episode show follows the lives of six participants with various health issues. After wearing a glucose monitor to track the impact of their diets on their glucose levels, the participants are instructed to follow some — or all — of Inchauspé's hacks.

With the help of Dr. Rupy Aujla, an NHS medical doctor, and a chef, they learn how to make nutritious meals to replace ultra-processed foods so common in their diets.

Although all participants saw improvements in their health, the show attracted criticism from the scientific community. Several nutrition experts are drafting an open letter to Channel 4's head of programming, raising the concern that the show oversimplifies complex metabolic processes and promotes unnecessary fear around food.

Experts interviewed by Wellnesspulse say that the "hacks" demonstrated in the show are barely novel or groundbreaking — many are based on well-established nutrition guidelines. However, following some of these hacks may be dangerous for those vulnerable to eating disorders.

The novel hack is not so novel

One of the participants, 27-year-old Ashlee, has severe nodulocystic acne that causes painful nodules on her face, which significantly affects her confidence. She learns from Inchauspé that glucose spikes cause chronic inflammation, which results in acne; therefore, the six-week experiment focuses on reducing blood sugar fluctuations.

Ashlee follows the Glucose Goddess hacks adding "clothing" — protein or fat — to the carbs and replacing sweet snacks with savory ones. At the end of the experiment, her acne significantly improved, and so did her self-confidence.

Sandra Vigelienė, BSc

Health Content Researcher

The Glucose Goddess oversimplifies the causes of acne, which involve factors like hormones, gut health, and the intake of processed foods and saturated fat

While there is a connection between insulin levels, inflammation, and acne, the evidence for glucose spikes directly driving acne is not well established in clinical trials.

Vigelienė points out that Ashlee's diet was rich in highly processed foods before the experiment and lacked proper distribution of macronutrients, micronutrients, and fiber. All these factors can impact multiple systems in the body, including gut health and hormonal regulation, which may affect acne's severity.

She says, "Fixating on glucose or carbohydrates alone misses some important aspects, such as omega-3 and omega-6, vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A and D, zinc intake among many other micronutrients, and gut dysbiosis, which all have a link to skin health in one way or another."

Sarah Idakwo, a UK-based eating disorder dietitian, says the "putting clothes on the carbs" hack is not a new concept — it aligns with general nutrition advice and recommendations.

While chronic inflammation may impact skin conditions like psoriasis or acne, normal, short-lived glucose spikes from a balanced meal aren't generally believed to exacerbate these conditions in otherwise healthy individuals directly, she says.

Even protein can cause glucose spikes

Another participant on the show is Omar, 35, who has type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea caused by carrying excess weight, partly due to emotional eating. As he waits for the arrival of a new baby, he is worried that his health issues may prevent him from being there for his family. That's why he turns to Inchauspé for help.

Inchauspé advises him to eat food in the right order — vegetables first, followed by proteins and fats, and carbohydrates at the end. Six weeks later, Omar reports improved sleep and that he has moved to a pre-diabetic condition.

Meal sequencing may contribute to blood glucose control, especially when protein and fiber are consumed first, but there are more nuances that the show reveals, Vigelienė says.

A hack like this cannot be universally applied, as it affects people differently.

For example, in people with type 2 diabetes, the liver's conversion of protein to glucose can still stimulate an insulin response, causing blood glucose to rise.

"Omar's drastic dietary changes, switching from sodas processed snacks to whole foods, is not really a novelty 'hack' but a basic dietary guideline for those who are suffering from type 2 diabetes," Vigelienė says.

According to Idakwo, while diet and blood sugar regulation matter, obesity involves many factors, including genetics, lifestyle, environment, and overall dietary patterns.

Singling out transient glucose spikes in healthy individuals as a primary 'worsening' factor for obesity or skin conditions oversimplifies a more complex issue and actually does a disservice to individuals living with obesity.

Idakwo

Moreover, emotional eating is usually related to stress and other negative emotions, so the hacks Omar has tried don't address psychological causes and may not lead to long-term results, Vigelienė says.

Glucose doesn't cause psoriasis

Aaron, a 29-year-old surfer, has psoriasis, an autoimmune skin condition that causes a rash with itchy, scaly patches. Cameras are hidden in his kitchen cabinets as part of the show reveals that his diet is high in ultra-processed foods.

The Glucose Goddess's advice on managing the disease involves snacking on savory foods. During the six-week experiment, Aaron didn't have a psoriasis flare, which made him feel more comfortable with his skin.

Vigelienė says the claim that eating excess glucose leads to psoriasis is oversimplified, misleading, and inaccurate. It is an autoimmune and inflammatory condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells, triggering rapid skin cell turnover and inflammation.

High sugar intake can contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation via increased oxidative stress and gut microbiome alterations.

"However, this kind of inflammation is generalized and can contribute to many conditions, such as heart disease and arthritis, but it is not skin health or psoriasis specific. This means that inflammation is not a primary or sole driver of this condition; it is not a root cause," Vigelienė says.

Introducing balanced meals and reducing processed foods can maintain and support many of the body's systems, including the immune system and gut health, leading to some improvements in psoriasis. However, this cannot be attributed solely to sugar reduction or blood glucose.

The risk of disordered eating

Idakwo says the Glucose Goddess Method fuels unnecessary fear around "spikes." For most people, the body is well-equipped to handle normal, modest fluctuations in glucose.

Strictly policing these normal fluctuations can lead to anxiety and an unhealthy fixation on "perfect" blood sugar curves, potentially fueling disordered eating behaviors.

Idakwo

While hacks like balancing meals with protein or fat and emphasizing more whole foods have merit, the Glucose Goddess method also risks promoting food fears and rigid rules that can be counterproductive, especially for those prone to disordered eating, Idakwo says.

She already sees a growing number of the Glucose Goddess followers in her private clinic, which she finds concerning.

Critics often point to Inchauspé's claims as based on anecdotal evidence. Much of the data on which foods cause the highest glucose spikes comes from her personal glucose monitor readings, which may not apply to other individuals.

She faced the biggest backlash when she launched her "Anti-Spike Formula," the supplement marketed to reduce glucose spikes when taken before eating. Although individual ingredients of the nearly $60 supplement are indeed tested in clinical trials, the complete formulation isn't, raising questions about its effectiveness.

Idakwo concludes, "The simple truth is that maintaining a balanced, flexible relationship with food and seeking personalized guidance where needed remains the most sustainable and science-supported approach to long-term health, but this information doesn't sell like 'hacks' do."