Davisson Clinic Presents "Preventing the Holiday Feast of Fat"

For the human body the holiday season is even scarier than Halloween. The body wants to run away from the fat, but the human wants to eat that fat because it is just plain tasty. The holiday tradition has always included tables filled with pies, eggnog and candy. People spend hours over the stove making holiday concoctions to fill the tummies of their loved ones. It’s just tradition. The problem is that between Thanksgiving and New Years people consume on average an extra 600 calories per day. Not so good for that diet. Then that same person that consumed an enormous amount of calories will promise to lose it all after Christmas. It might come as a surprise, but no one has to gorge during the holiday season. Food is usually around all year. It might not be peppermint bark time, but surely when someone craves a usual holiday treat they could make it even if it was summertime. There are ways not to fall off the wagon this season.
Why wait until January to begin an exercise routine? Exercise not only will keep off those extra calories, but it will put you in a holly jolly mood. If a routine is started then it will be easier to keep the routine up after the season is over. Face it, everyone is going to indulge in a bit of holiday goodness, but exercising will definitely help combat the urge and the splurge.

Beware of the liquid form of excessive calories. Most people don’t think of liquid as being fattening unless they are slurping down a milkshake. Those fruity swirls of goodness at parties can add up quickly. The sugar in most alcoholic beverages is astounding. The famous holiday drink of eggnog is almost like drinking a cake made of milk, eggs and sugar. With this said going to a party doesn’t mean being forced to drink water. There are low calorie options of most alcoholic beverages as well as hot cocoa made with healthy ingredients.

Almost everyone will give in and have a few treats no matter how healthy they are trying to be. It’s best to decide before attending the event which foods you just cannot live without and which foods you can leave on the table. If you’ve been craving Aunt Ruth’s chocolate pie all year then have a piece of pie. If you spot a new dessert that looks interesting maybe decide to leave it on the table and just eat that piece of pie. Also keep an eye on the serving size. Allowing yourself some extra calories does not mean it’s time to consume half of the candy on the plate. One thing that just might help you is to visualize the ingredients that went into that dessert before it was made. Visualize eating that piece of butter and that handful of sugar. It might not seem so appetizing this way.

At the heart of it the holidays are not about food. Loved ones are the reason for the season so remember this when food seems to make your thoughts a bit hazy. Hang out with those loved ones and enjoy company instead of eating away in a corner. Lingering near the table of goodies certainly won’t do any good. At company parties get to the dance floor and enjoy chit chatting with co-workers.

Just because society says the average American gains between seven and 10 pounds during the holidays does not mean we have to jump on the bandwagon. Now that type of wagon is one that is just fine to fall from during this holiday season!

Davisson Clinic
Diet by Design Weight Loss Center
Dr. Harvey G. Davisson
Dallas, TX

The Truth About Fad Dieting

The truth about obesity is there is no miracle cure. Every single diet demands effort and care. There are so many contradictions out there about what you can and cannot eat and do to lose excess fat. Let's attack some of those thoughts.

Diet must always be combined with exercise. Even on the hCG diet you must exercise for about twenty minutes to further stimulate the metabolism. Cardio does not have to be a strenuous activity each day. It works best by changing it up. This way your body will not burn less calories for the same job done. Interval training of hard exercise followed by periods of rest will help keep that heart rate high. It is as easy as doing a short warm up of five minutes then going at rigorous speed for one minute then slowing down for two minutes. If done in a cycle it helps burn more calories. Women often worry lifting weights will make them bulky. To combat this it is best to do lift small weights with many repetitions. You will burn many more calories when combining lifting weights with cardio activity.

Protein is many people's answer to curbing appetite and building muscle. There are many different types of protein supplements. Some are not the answer to obesity. Many people do not like the taste of protein shakes and supplements; therefore, most companies throw in added sugar and fats to entice flavor. It is best to stick with protein supplements with ten or more grams of protein and read the label to ensure there are not additives.

One of the biggest fads out there is eating less gluten. Gluten is not the bad guy, but it is found in many baked goods that are packed with fat and calories. Taking gluten out of the diet could mean getting less fiber in your body. Fiber is what makes us feel feel longer and keeps our bowel movements regular. It is fine to cut a bit of gluten out of the diet, but make sure you are reading the nutrition labels so you are not losing nutrients.

The hCG diet or Human chorionic gonadotropin hormone is a way many doctors are seeing a successful weight loss program. This diet combines a low-calorie intake with the hCG which burns the fat instead of muscle. This has been successful in most patients to take the weight away and keep it off, but if it is not followed properly the diet can fail. It must be prescription hCG and not just bought off the shelves as well as the dieter needs to be monitored by a physician to ensure it is working properly.

The pattern seems to be that diets will work if you follow the instructions and put the effort into the new lifestyle. The one thing all dieters and doctors can agree on is that losing weight means burning more calories than taking in each day. No, only eating a piece of pie all day does not mean weight loss will occur either! Losing weight and keeping healthy means eating balanced meals to ensure all parts of the body are working together for a greater good.

HCG Diet featured on The Rachael Ray Show

Davisson Clinic Presents "Fatally Fried"

Fried food seems to be conquering the world. State fairs boast of frying everything from bubblegum to chocolate bars. Dieters have been running from the greasy foods produced from frying for years, but many cannot argue they miss the taste of fried chicken and French fries. Inside the grease pan lies health hazards that outweigh the satisfaction of having a taste of crispy fried food.

Many people use trans fats for frying foods because they are less costly than vegetable oils. Trans fats are hydrogenated vegetable oils that can clog arteries and increase the risk of heart disease. The oils and fats that are used to fry food contribute almost ten calories per gram to the piece of food being fried. Many also speculate some fried foods lead to cancer. Butylhydroxytoluene, commonly known as BHT, is frequently used by the food industry to prevent rancidity in packaged baked goods. BHT can cause cancer when consumed in high amounts. Frying foods can also form acrylamides, a substance that may increase risk of cancer and nerve damage. When exposed to heat, sugars and an amino acid called asparagine which are both present in potatoes react and form acrylamides. Acrylamide levels of potato chips increase with frying temperature.

The older generation tells stories of basically cooking with lard. There was a big can of Crisco sitting right beside the stove ready for some cooking. These days fried food is cooked in many different unhealthy oils besides Crisco. Many restaurants claim they are using vegetable oil, but most are truly using highly processed trans fat filled soybean oil.

No, state fairs will probably not soar the popularity of grilled bubble gum and chocolate bars, but those trying to eat healthy can try some alternatives to this frying. Breading gives most foods almost the same flavor as frying. All that is needed is rolling the food in breadcrumbs or crackers and then baking it in olive oil. Roasting, steaming, grilling and sautéing are easy ways to give food a kick. If a consumer still misses the crunchy goodness of fried food then drizzling olive oil over food and sticking it in the oven will give it that same feeling.

Eating the creative fried foods at the fairs are just fine in moderation. Sometimes it is hard to resist the newest fad like the fried margarita!

Davisson Clinic Diet by Design Weight Loss Center
Dr. Harvey G. Davisson
Dallas, Texas
http://www.davissonclinicwellness.com

Sodium the Superhero?

Sodium is not the bad guy on the nutrition label. It is merely something used to spruce up the taste of food and works with potassium in the body to regulate the operation of the nervous system. The problem with sodium is that most people eat much more than required which can lead to many health risks.

The average American consumes 3.4 grams of sodium each day. The recommended intake is 2.3 grams per day or one teaspoon of salt. So how can that little salt shaker on the table contribute to such a large number? The answer is not in that little shaker. Sodium is in many foods. Processed foods are essentially high in sodium. Condiments pack a big sodium punch as well. A tablespoon of soy sauce is a hit of 1,000 milligrams of sodium. One tablespoon of ketchup contains 156 milligrams. Surprisingly even canned vegetables, luncheon meats and cheese have high levels of sodium at certain times. When sitting on the shelves vegetables have little sodium, but when they are canned salt is added to increase the shelf life. Processed cheese and cured meats are stuffed with sodium as a way of preserving the life of the food. This means pretty much all fast food and frozen meals have high amounts of sodium.

Again, sodium is essential to the function of the human body, but it is very easy to overindulge. Too much sodium causes the body to retain fluid making the heart work harder than normal. High blood pressure and heart disease can be the outcome. It eventually leads to weight gain from all of the excess fluid. In worst cases all of this can lead to not only heart disease, but strokes and kidney disease.

It is not impossible to eat without a lot of salt. Always taste food before eating it. Many consume dinner after putting a heaping amount of salt on top of it. It does not mean families have to eat organic and make everything from scratch, but eating homemade meals is good for the system. Avoiding processed and packaged foods is the best. Cooking at home will alleviate many of the concerns regarding what is actually in each meal. For those on the go that just do not have time to cook, it is best to study ingredients and read labels before buying the packaged food. There are healthy alternatives to many items on the shelves.

Every new fad and website will tell consumers different things to eat. One will claim this is killing consumers and one will claim that is killing consumers. Eating everything in moderation will help ease the mind of any consumer. Sodium is a good culprit that is only bad once the consumer makes it bad.

Davisson Clinic Diet by Design Weight Loss Center
Dallas, Texas
http://www.davissonclinicwellness.com

Have Yourself A Healthy Holiday Season

Halloween is quickly becoming overshadowed by Christmas. What, you don’t believe me? These days the store aisles are already beginning to fill with Christmas décor. It is as if the commercialization of Christmas starts earlier and earlier each year. Maybe this is why between Halloween and New Years the average person gains seven to 12 pounds! Halloween gets the ball rolling with candy then Thanksgiving keeps it rolling with those goodies surrounding the Turkey Day feast then you are just rolling downhill as the holiday season is filled with amazing desserts at every small holiday bash. In order not be a statistic start now to ensure you won’t be a turtle on your back in a chocolate filled pool after Christmas.

If you plan on giving candy out this Halloween choose candy you just do not enjoy. If you are a big time chocolate lover then choose candy corn. Give big handfuls of candy to the trick-or-treaters so you will not have leftovers. You must realize healthier might not mean fewer calories. It might have fewer calories, but what about the sugar and carbohydrates? Lower carbs usually means more calories. There is no miracle candy that is going to actually be good for you no matter what the label says to lure you in; however, there are lower calorie treats that are better choices. Licorice, gummy bears, mints and popcorn are all treats that could work for you.
As you dream of sugarplums dancing in your head make a plan to defeat the dreams. The small bites taken of pies, cookies and candy will soar calories through the roof. Make you sure set aside small portions if you really want those desserts. If you do dive into the sugar bowl do not close the door on the plan. Everyone gets off track because we are kidding ourselves if we think we can run from the amazing taste of sugar and butter forever. It can be as easy as taking a walk to burn a few extra calories to get back on track.

It is best to get your fitness on track during this time because once the New Year rolls around people will be jumping on the bandwagon and clogging the gyms. They have put off the goals you have right now. The gyms will be less crowded right now, too! Remember you can have what you want in moderation. Eat a slice of pie instead of three slices of pie. Yes, it tastes yummy, but that holiday dress will certainly not look as good at the Christmas party!

Keep your eye on the prize. The prize being your health and well being. Don’t let Halloween scare you into the spiraling haunted house of calories.

Davisson Clinic
Diet by Design Weight Loss Center
12900 Preston Rd. Suite 1250, Dallas, TX 7523
972.918.0000
http://davissonclinicwellness.com

A Healthy Halloween

Halloween should just be called National Candy Day. As a child don't you remember dumping the bags of candy on the floor sifting through just trying to find the best candy? It sounds so wonderful and comforting, but that candy is full of calories and sugar. Even the sugar free kinds could be discomforting to your tummy. (Who gives sugar free candy to trick-or-treaters anyway?!!) Don't kid yourself; You know some of that chocolate is going to be eaten... by you. It doesn't have to ruin your diet.

The worst thing to do is to save up calories all day to just pig out later on candy. It's about pacing yourself and not pigging out. Start with a workout if possible. You can burn off some calories and ease your mind for the intake later. Eat normally throughout the day so you are not too excited to jump into the pile of candy. Make a pact with yourself that you will only indulge in a certain number of candy bars. That might take a little willpower, but it will save you from feeling really bad later.

Trick-or-treaters moan and groan about the house giving away toothpaste or apples. One day they will be rejoicing that they didn't eat pounds of chocolate every year though! If you really want to stay away from the sugar high be the boring house on the block. Give out the healthy stuff like nuts, raisins and dried fruit. Atleast then you are not left with candy staring at you once the doorbell stops ringing. Don't let the sugar free candy fool you either. Yes, it is "better" for you, but the ingredients often give people an upset stomach and cramps. Throwing back a wad of sugar free candy won't taste as good anyway so it just might not be worth it!

It doesn't help if you have kids and they come in with bags and bags of candy. Kids on a sugar high on the school night of Halloween might mean a long night! It's the kids' loot so you do want to save it for them throughout the weeks to come, but how do you stay away from it? The best thought is to freeze it or just get it out of your sight. If you freeze it then when you see it and get excited your mind must then remember you have to let it thaw and then eat it which will take hours. Yes, hopefully your excitement will fade by the time it would be thawed. Keep the house stocked with healthy snacks so you know there is always an alternative.

Now we get to the worst case scenario. You give in and eat the loot of candy. The healthy way of eating is not ruined forever. Some call it a food hangover! Getting back on track means a few days of healthy eating. Vegetables and greens will help settle your stomach and flush the toxins out of your body.

Halloween is a fun day filled with candy and costumes. The costumes go back in the closet after Halloween, but the candy just turns next into pies and cookies for the holidays. Making smart decisions will help keep those calories at bay and keep you on the right track. Remember a few pieces of candy never hurt anyone, but a load of candy is just a monster filled with calories and sugar!

Davisson Clinic Diet by Design Weight Loss Center
Dallas, Texas
http://www.davissonclinicwellness.com

Weight Loss Hypnosis is Not Magic

Hypnosis can help you lose weight. It sounds like an idea out of "Inception," but in reality it is just the simple gesture of putting thoughts in your mind to aid in weight loss. It really does work. According to studies done at the Mayo Clinic hypnosis is not a way to diet, but a way to change the mind's thinking when it comes to food.

The problem with hypnosis is that many only know what they see on television. They have this concept of being sat in front of a swinging pendulum and made to cluck like a chicken. Hypnosis is nothing like that in a professional term. Being medically hypnotized simply means you are put into a relaxed state of mind and given a speech in a sense. Hopefully in this deep state of relaxation the patient will begin to believe the things said and believe they will lose weight. During hypnosis some doctors will try to change the automatic response to food in order for the patient to see it in a different light. Food is paired with something unpleasant so when the patient sees a fattening food they think of just plain fat. The hope is that they will begin seeing healthy food in the best light.

Many dieters do not have much willpower. The smell of a freshly cooked cinnamon roll can ruin their whole diet for a day. Willpower fails because it is associated with the logical conscious level of the brain. The urge to eat whatever you want because you deserve it comes from the unconscious level. It is best to combine a behavioral weight management program with the hypnosis. Long-term hypnosis combined with a behavioral weight management program appears to contribute to weight loss and helps maintain it.

It is not magic and it will not put you in a trance to run away from food. Hypnosis is basically just a way to get your subconscious mind to make better decisions. Skeptics have tried it year after year and most have decided it is a pretty neat little tool. Losing weight is about changing your destiny. Hypnosis is about changing your thinking in order to reach that destiny.

Davisson Clinic Diet by Design
#Weight Loss Center
Dallas, Texas
http://www.davissonclinicwellness.com

HCG: The Fat Eating Creature

There is always something that happens to make someone realize they need to lose weight. Whether it be an old photo or a tight pair of jeans when that scale number rises so do emotions. There are a million diets out there, but finding the perfect one for you takes time and effort. The best diet is the good old fashioned eating healthy and exercising, but for some they want to speed that process up a bit. That’s just fine, too. hCG seems to be new on the scene to save the day, but in all reality the diet has been around for many years. The problem is that not many people know the ins and outs of hCG and jump at something they just do not understand. We’ll break it down for you.

hCG is Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. It is a natural accruing protein hormone that develops in the placenta during the first trimester of pregnancy shortly after conception. Its primary function is to support the pregnancy by encouraging the production of progesterone. So how does it work for weight loss? Over 50 years ago Dr. Albert Simeons’ was doing studies on pituitary problems by treating them with low doses of hCG. He began to notice the patients were losing fat instead of muscle. During most diets muscle begins to fade quickly, but the difference in the hCG approach is fat is destroyed forever instead of lean muscle tissue.

This diet is also not about just jumping on some bandwagon. Patients must get blood tests and speak with a consultant before beginning the diet to ensure they are okay for treatment. Most programs are six to 12 weeks. Each person will lose a different amount of weight. Most dieters report a loss of about ten pounds each week. Dieters must follow a strict diet that will partner with the hCG injections or drops. Fiber and water are the most important parts of the diet. The reason it is not just another low calorie diet is the hypothalamus is being reset to send signals to break down body fat.

Yes, the weight will melt away. No, it will not let you eat anything in sight for the rest of your life. After the hCG program is completed it is up to you to keep up the new lifestyle. The metabolism is usually reset and the weight should not climb back on, but eating healthy and exercising need to come into play after the diet is over. hCG does not reset your lifestyle! Losing weight should not be a journey, but a destination where you feel complete, happy and ready to live in your new body.

Davisson Clinic Diet by Design Weight Loss Center
Dallas, Texas
http://www.davissonclinicwellness.com

The Stress Monster

Stress is a giant monster rearing its ugly head and forcing you to deal with things that might just be out of your control. You cannot control the existence of stress in your life, but you can control how you deal with this existence. You know the drill. Everything in your life seems to be crumbling all at the same time. Some people exercise to kill the monster. Some people cry and talk to loved ones. Others try to eat the monster away.

Actually at first stress can totally shut down an appetite. The hypothalamus releases hormones suppressing the appetite. As the monster makes a home in your mind over a period of time the adrenal glands release cortisol which elevates the thoughts of eating. The best thing about stress if that you can easily take control of this persuasion to eat a gallon of ice cream! The first thing to do is the easiest.

Banning unhealthy food from your home and surroundings is a must. It might seem hard with family roaming through the house wanting a midnight snack, but making the simple first step will actually help the entire family’s health. You can also keep healthy snacks on hand so you are not reaching for the chocolate in a stress frenzy, but reaching for some pretzels or air-popped popcorn.

Now that you’ve gotten all of the unhealthy food out of sight and mind you need to attack your lifestyle. Alcohol and caffeine at times make the stress levels bubble over creating even more tears and leading to that monster of eating once again. Some people claim they just don’t have any time in the day for exercise. Hey, thirty minutes of exercise a few days a week will conquer the stress monster just as quickly as workouts that last for hours. Your lifestyle is about how you live and how you treat your body. It may seem crazy, but talking to your body can alleviate your stress. Listen to that inner dialogue that just might not be positive at times, and then give it some positive thoughts. You believe what you feel. One thing that might help this is meditation. Sit in a quiet place and just relax. Breathe and let your mind wander away from the world for a few minutes. Studies have shown this will reduce stress and lead you to deal with it in more positive ways.

For some people the stress monster is always lurking in the shadows. The cortisol will still be released in the body during levels of high stress, but it can be maintained by keeping calm and focusing on the positive ways to alleviate stress. Eating that box of cookies will not help kill the monster, but will only make it rear its ugly head again after you find yourself with your head in your hands in guilt.

hCG

The Childhood Lunch Box Diet

Drive-thru lanes will eat your arteries and your pocketbook. The innocence of just not knowing the glory of fast food is long gone once we reach adulthood. Do you remember back in the day before the school year began lunch boxes overflowed the store shelves? There were so many different kinds to choose from… because there was no way you would be uncool eating in the cafeteria. Where did we stray from this way of thinking? Nowadays it seems the drive-thru lines at lunch are inching their way into the streets. If we could only go back to our childhood ways of lunch we would save money and live better.

Studies have shown we spend about $3500 a year on eating out. Rolled into that large amount of money is a large amount of calories. Unless as a consumer we stand there watching them prepare our food we have no idea what is packed into it. MSG, preservatives and additives are thrown into food to help it taste better. In 2010 there was a study done on McDonalds proving after sitting its food on a shelf for a few years there was no change in appearance. This same thing sure could not be said for the sandwiches and fruit we packed in our lunch as children.

The biggest advantage to making your own lunch is the fact you know exactly what is in that lunch box. If you want to cut fat, then cut fat. Cut carbs, then cut carbs. You can measure your caloric intake as well as make sure everything is balanced. If you were to go out every day it would be a hassle to look up the calories before you even ordered. And, if you did look up those calories, you would probably wish you had brought your lunch in the first place!

The number one complaint about taking lunches to work is the time it takes to prepare the meal. There are many ways to combat this complaint. Stock the fridge at work with salad dressings and condiments. Take your dry salad to work without the dressing and add it later to ensure it is fresh. One thing to be sure to include in that lunch is protein. It will stick with you so you are not hungry until dinner. A small amount of protein will fill you up longer and better than chips or candy. You can always take pre-cooked meat to heat up, but if that is not exciting enough, hard boiled eggs are a staple. Fish is great even cold. Putting nuts in a bag for a quick snack throughout the day is also a great staple of protein. Remember back to that childhood lunch as there was usually a fruit thrown in the lunch box. Fresh fruits, carrots, celery or tomatoes are an easy portion of carbohydrates and fibers. No, you don’t have to forget the dessert. Trail mix or peanut butter is great to fill that sweet tooth. It shouldn’t take long to throw together a lunch that will fulfill both your stomach and your pocketbook.

After a while of taking your lunch to work you should begin to find it routine. Preservatives and processed foods will suddenly begin to taste too salty and too fatty. Your stomach will begin asking for its lunch brought from home! It’s all about making choices to change your destiny. That new destiny can be found right in your own kitchen. The one thing you know for sure is that new destiny will not be found in the fast food lane.

Davisson Clinic’s Diet by Design Weight Loss Center

It’s time we introduce you to Davisson Clinic’s Diet by Design Weight Loss Center. Dr. Harvey G. Davisson is expanding his clinic with a brand new weight loss wing of the clinic. The Davisson Clinic has over 35 years of successful treating thousands of patients to lose weight and stop smoking. Besides the expertise of Dr. Davisson there are also highly trained weight loss consultants and fitness trainers on hand at the clinic. Weight loss is a concept that has been thrown here and there. So many people try diet after diet year after year seeing a yo-yo status. Not here. The consultants help you find a program that works for you. Not every body works the same so not every person will fit the same program. There are many different programs. From Prescription HCG to supplement programs to pure weight loss fitness programs… we have it all.

The free consultation is first. Seriously… free. We evaluate you and your lifestyle to determine which program will best fit your needs. You will then attend weekly center visits for individual counseling if needed. The length of the program depends on how much weight you need to lose and which program you will be using. The best thing about whichever program is right for you is that we have seen successful outcomes. No, we cannot maintain your weight for you though. It is up to the individual to commit to the lifestyle change that will keep the weight off forever. The best thing about the programs at the Davisson Clinic is there is no pre-packaged food. You can eat food out of your own kitchen. We do have protein bars and other sort of supplements on hand, but it is not part of the program. Did you know 80% of the people who use diet drugs alone fail? Even a prescription medication cannot serve as a substitute for a healthy lifestyle!

HCG is one program that the Davisson Clinic’s Diet by Design Weight Loss Center offers. HCG injections or drops help the body to attack the fat instead of the muscle in order to lose weight and keep it off. In order to qualify for the HCG program there are many health factors that you must meet. There is a homeopathic version of HCG that is sold at many health stores, but a true HCG program has strict guidelines in order for health not to be comprised and have the best results that last. The homeopathic versions often do not have an accurate amount of actual HCG hormones in order to lose weight and keep it off. After the program is over the weight loss counselors will help the patients to gradually increase their caloric intake. The Davisson Clinic also offers a vitamin supplement diet and exercise based program. This program is monitored weekly by both the weight loss consultants and the personal trainers. A detailed food plan will be given as an example to follow along with supplements.

The Davisson Clinic is unlike many weight loss clinics available for those wishing to lose weight. There is an onsite fitness center where patients are welcome to work out on a daily basis. Personal training sessions are also available. Weight loss hypnosis sessions are available to those that would like to try this method as well. Dr. Davisson incorporates hypnosis into weight loss programs by addressing specific mental behaviors incorporated with dieting. Weight loss consultants and personal trainers are available at any time to address any needs and personally aid in the effort to help patients lose weight.

Diet by Design will change your destiny. There is no excuse to wait another day to prevent and reverse obesity. The road to change starts with one step. If you want to start that journey today please call for a free consultation.

Pulling That Sweet Tooth

Think of the last soda you drank. That 12 ounce can of soda is equivalent to shoveling seven teaspoons of sugar in your mouth. What about the last fruit smoothie you bought at Smoothie King and thought it was making you healthier? Oh, think of it as eating a bowl of over 20 teaspoons of sugar. Before we scare you away from sugar, know anything in excess is bad. Sugar is good for a quick burst of energy and fun to feed that sweet tooth at times. The key word: at times.

Back in the 1890s people consumed only five pounds of sugar per year. These days we consume that in a week! Heart disease and cancer were virtually unheard of before this century. Coincidence? Maybe, but studies have shown sugar feeds cancer cells. It is not as easy as just saying cutting out sugar will cure cancer, but it is as easy to say sugar feeds every cell in the body. Cancer cells have six to ten times the number of insulin receptors than a regular cell in the body. Studies have also shown that sugar is a contributing factor in diabetes. We have been told for years that being obese leads to diabetes in adults. During the World War sugar was not readily available. Studies show during that time there are not as many cases of diabetes. After the war ended sugar consumption increased over 30 percent. The cases of diabetes increased as well.

Sugar creates a dependency where the body feels it needs more sugar to satisfy it. Some say it is as habit-forming as narcotics! It does create an energy, but that energy can only last so long until the body is depleted and left feeling lethargic. The cycle repeats itself as we hit that low and think we need more sugar for more energy.

The world isn’t going to stop eating baked goods or begin to push sugar off the grocery store shelves. There has to be a way for us to eat foods that still taste sweet without worry. Some say that best answer is in sugar substitutes such as aspartame and sucralose. Others claim these substitutes are even worse than sugar. Natural substitutes for the sweetness of sugar are honey, applesauce, fruit juices and dates. Maple syrup is sometimes used, but its strong taste is often a turnoff to sugar lovers. Many scientists say honey is actually the best substitute for sugar in most baking instances.

When it comes to your health there should be no excuses. It’s either sugar or sickness. Remember feeding that sweet tooth is okay in moderation, but feeding that sweet tooth without hurting your health at all can easily be done with sweet substitutes. You can’t take away that last soda you drank; however, you can run from those seven teaspoons of sugar in the future.