Food Junkies in Recovery: The Truth About Sugar Addiction with Dr. Vera Tarman
Is it really just emotional eating—or could it be addiction? In this week’s episode of Sisters in Sobriety, we speak with renowned expert Dr. Vera Tarman to unravel the science, psychology, and stigma surrounding sugar and flour addiction, and how we can truly recover. As the Medical Director of Renascent, one of Canada’s largest substance abuse treatment centres, Dr. Tarman brings a wealth of clinical insight—plus her own recovery from both alcohol and food addiction. She is the author of Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction and cohost of the Food Junkies Podcast.
What’s the real connection between alcohol and sugar? Why do so many people transfer their addictions to food when they get sober? And what do terms like “intuitive eating,” “emotional eating,” and “abstinence” actually mean in the context of recovery?
Dr. Tarman also breaks down the difference between emotional eating and food addiction, outlines what recovery from food addiction really requires, and offers practical insight into why abstinence—not just moderation—is the key for many. Expect to learn about the dopamine pathways, the food-addiction spectrum, the role of ultra-processed foods, and the concept of “food serenity.”
Finally, Dr. Tarman shares her deeply personal story— her own early experiences with alcohol and marijuana, and how she navigated her own recovery from binge eating and bulimia while practicing as a doctor. Her journey is vulnerable, relatable, and a reminder that healing is possible—even when it’s not linear.
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.
Time-stamped Highlights
00:00 – Welcome and guest intro: Dr. Vera Tarman, addiction medicine expert and author
01:55 – Her first addiction: sugar or alcohol?
03:30 – Growing up with an alcoholic mother
04:45 – Alcohol and academic life: why she quit in med school
05:50 – Binge eating, bulimia, and how food replaced alcohol
07:00 – “You should stop drinking”—saying it to patients, but not herself
09:00 – Her “aha” moment: reading the first studies on food addiction
10:20 – How food and alcohol affect the brain’s dopamine reward system
12:45 – Is sugar addiction common in people getting sober?
15:10 – Sugar and alcohol as “sisters”—and the medical consequences
17:00 – Liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver: the sugar connection
19:10 – Emotional eating vs. food addiction—what’s the difference?
22:30 – Why intuitive eating may not work for everyone
27:00 – Recovery and abstinence: what does it look like?
31:45 – Is it about added sugar or natural sugar?
34:10 – Can moderation work—or do some people need full abstinence?
36:30 – What counts as a relapse with food?
39:00 – Social pressure, stigma, and birthday cake
41:00 – Why sugar is so powerful (and hard to quit)
43:00 – Recovery essentials: more than just stopping
45:10 – Individualized food plans: what worked for Dr. Tarman
47:00 – OA and the growing food addiction recovery landscape
50:00 – Finding support: why community matters
51:20 – Building food serenity and daily recovery habits
53:00 – Her message of hope: it gets easier after 10 days
55:00 – “Day 4 of my reset”—Kathleen shares her moment
Dr. Vera Tarman’s Links
🌐 Website: https://www.addictionsunplugged.com
📘 Facebook Group: I’m Sweet Enough: Sugar-Free for Life
Sisters In Sobriety Links
💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
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Sisters In Sobriety
You know that sinking feeling when you wake up with a hangover and think: “I’m never doing this again”? We’ve all been there. But what happens when you follow through? Sonia Kahlon and Kathleen Killen can tell you, because they did it! They went from sisters-in-law, to Sisters in Sobriety. In this podcast, Sonia and Kathleen invite you into their world, as they navigate the ups and downs of sobriety, explore stories of personal growth and share their journey of wellness and recovery. Get ready for some real, honest conversations about sobriety, addiction, and everything in between. Episodes will cover topics such as: reaching emotional sobriety, how to make the decision to get sober, adopting a more mindful lifestyle, socializing without alcohol, and much more. Whether you’re sober-curious, seeking inspiration and self-care through sobriety, or embracing the alcohol-free lifestyle already… Tune in for a weekly dose of vulnerability, mutual support and much needed comic relief. Together, let’s celebrate the transformative power of sisterhood in substance recovery! Kathleen Killen is a registered psychotherapist and certified coach based in Ontario, Canada. Her practice is centered on relational therapy and she specializes in couples and working with individuals who are navigating their personal relationships. Having been through many life transitions herself, Kathleen has made it her mission to help others find the support and communication they need in their closest relationships. To find out more about Kathleen’s work, check out her website. Sonia Kahlon is a recovery coach and former addict. She grappled with high-functioning alcohol use disorder throughout her life, before getting sober in 2016. Over the last five years, she has appeared on successful sobriety platforms, such as the Story Exchange, the Sobriety Diaries podcast and the Sober Curator, to tell her story of empowerment and addiction recovery, discuss health and midlife sobriety, and share how she is thriving without alcohol. Your sobriety success story starts today, with Kathleen and Sonia. Just press play!
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