Let’s start of with a fact: Sugar is the number one culprit behind heart disease, obesity, liver disease, diabetes, and even cancer (among other things). Blunt? Maybe. Truth? Yes.

Sugar is a silent killer, and unfortunately, it is probably the most difficult thing to remove from our diets. This is not only because it’s incredibly habit forming, but also because it is found in so many of the things we eat every day, even those that we wouldn’t typically expect (spaghetti sauce, ketchup, milks, “health food” bars, yogurts, juices, coffees and so so much more). Plus, it doesn’t help that every advertisement, TV show, magazine, and often even “healthcare” guidebook and pamphlet is designed to make these cravings worse so we buy and consume more. Hopefully, my work educating folks about hidden sugar and the not so hidden harmful effects will help the at least some folks eat less sugar, yes, but more importantly help them to realize how many of the processed, packaged foods that we are inundated with on a daily basis have sugar added to them.

With a better understanding and time spent practicing, avoiding sugar will be that much easier in the future. When you make a decision to reduce sugar, it’s about lifestyle change, not a cleanse, detox, or reboot. It’s about making decisions that will last a lifetime. A treat every now and then is not the end of the world, but eating sugar day in and day out, well, that’s killing people. Something has to change.

“One in seven Americans has metabolic syndrome. One in three Americans is obese. The rate of diabetes is skyrocketing and cardiovascular disease is America’s number one killer. According to this theory, all of these maladies and more can be traced back to one large toxic presence in our diet… sugar.”

Eve O. Schaub, author of the memoir titled Year of No Sugar, recently wrote this article about her experiences during an entire year where she and her family ate no sugar. She offers insight into removing sugar – the how, the why, and the what happened. She touches on the changed cravings of every member of her family, the zero sick days taken for actual sickness during that year, the reduced fear of catching the flu or any other illness, and the overall increased energy and zest for life.

This is an example we can all try to emulate in some fashion. Even if it just means starting with cutting out soda and candy bars, that small change can lead to so many more. Reading labels is half the battle. What’s in your food? You  have the right to ask questions. You have the right to know what you are eating. You have the right to live a life free of the need to eat sugar. And it all starts by making the decision to ditch it.

Questions? Struggles? Concerns? You can always email me at laura@myradicalroots or fill out the contact form here.  There’s nothing more powerful than a support system, whether it’s me, family, colleagues, or friends. Make the choice to make a change now.

Cheers to cutting the sugar habit!

♡ Laura