Twenty reasons to avoid sugar

At some point you've probably experienced the “sugar blues”—that lethargic feeling you get thirty minutes or so after eating candy, dessert, or having a soda.  You realize that sugar wreaks havoc on your energy levels long-term. 

But did you know that sugar feeds cancer cells, weakens eyesight, and contributes to the formation of hemorrhoids?   And that's not all…

Nancy Appleton, author of “Lick the Sugar Habit”, combed through hundreds of medical journals and found numerous studies that show that sugar:

Throws off your body's homeostasis, making it overly acidic

• Interferes with calcium and magnesium absorption, which weakens bones
• Raises bad cholesterol and triglycerides and lowers good cholesterol
• Causes loss of connective tissue elasticity
• Feeds cancer cells and has been connected with breast, prostate, stomach, and ovarian cancer
• Makes children anxious, hyperactive, cranky, and causes difficulty concentrating
• Can cause premature aging
• Can cause alcoholism
• Can cause varicose veins
• Can contribute to osteoporosis
• Interferes with absorption of protein
• Causes food allergies
• Can cause nearsightedness and cataracts
• Can cause emphysema
• Causes fluid retention
• Can cause kidney stones
• Can cause problems with bowel movements
• Can cause headaches, including migraines
• Can cause gum disease
• Can promote emotional instability

Another very telling piece of evidence is that fact that when children in juvenile rehabilitation camps were put on a low sugar diet, the administrators saw a 44 percent drop in antisocial behavior

With all of these negatives, why would anyone eat sugar?  Well, besides the sweet taste it has, sugar is added to many foods. 

To avoid sugar, you must become a label-reading sleuth. If sugar is listed in the top 3 ingredients, or if added sugar is listed under “Nutrition Facts”, the product you're considering might not be the best choice.

Fortunately, there are many healthy and delicious alternatives to sugar, and supplements to help cut cravings. In particular, gymnema sylvestre extract works by reducing your craving for carbohydrates, especially sugars.

You can find gymnema sylvestre extract in the All-in-One Weight Loss Formula, available at Energy First.

Try Chromium Picolinate as well as an additional aid to stabilizing blood sugar levels. 

For food alternatives, Gerry Morton, CEO of EnergyFirst, has these suggestions:

Instead of fruit juice, drink low-cal or no-cal flavored carbonated mineral water

• Avoid canned fruit—it's loaded with sugar. Instead, seek out fresh fruit, but limit it to 3-5 servings per day.
• Completely avoid candy, cake, pie, and sodas
• If you bake, use natural sugar replacements such as stevia
• Don't assume that honey is a safe substitute for table sugar—it's still a sugar

Gerry Morton, CEO of EnergyFirst, is an experienced athlete who has competed in 30+ marathons and 4 Ironman triathlons. Gerry is an excellent source of information on nutrition, supplementation and effective exercise. Since 1997, he has been educating and motivating others on how to attain peak performance.