Sugar cookies, candies, baked goods, and ice cream are just a few food staples of the American diet.  We do our best to eat them only in moderation, but because they taste good, they’re hard to resist.  As a result we eat them in excess or crave them often.  But as most adults know just because it tastes good or makes you feel good it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily good for you.  Recent peer-reviewed scientific data shows that regular sugar intake increases your risk for cardiovascular disease mortality/death. 

A while back I posted a wonderful 3 minute video on the physiological response after eating sugar.  It explained our dopamine (feel good) receptors in the brain and how they respond to insulin surges created by sugar.  The average American eats about 159 pounds of sugar per year.  Eating sugar wreaks havoc on the stress hormones and provokes a surge of insulin and adrenaline putting the body on a long tumultuous roller coaster ride.  The body in a constant effort of trying to compensate for the sugar surges results in inflammation; inflammation that spreads throughout the body and can and will eventually inflame the brain.  The brain is the master control for our body. 

Data is now showing that the other major organ damaged by sugar is the heart. The study published in February 14th shows that sugar doubles your risk for heart disease.  The study can be found here .

Here are a few tools to do away with sugar:

1.  Be sure that your diet is complete with protein and fats at every meal.  When there is not ample, the brain requires glucose and you’ll resort to either pure sugar or refined carbohydrates (which turn to sugar).

2. READ your labels

3.  Eat real food

Once you stop eating sugar and you fulfill your other nutritional needs you will not crave sugar.  I promise!!! I know. I’ve been there (and wasn’t convinced either :)). 

I’m here if you need help.

Be well,

Lynn