No Sugar for 30 Days…Can YOU Do It?
This January marks the beginning of National Sugar Free Month and the 30 Sugar Free Days Challenge.
Dr. Scott Olson started the challenge as a way for people to focus on weight loss, but also as a way to learn about the addictive and harmful aspects of our sugar consumption. I hope that you will take the challenge not only a way to reduce your weight, but also as a way to improve your health.
Why Stop Sugar?
You might agree that sugar is addictive, but you may not know just how addictive or how harmful that addiction can be. Let’s take a look and see what science is starting to show us about sugar:
• Sugar addiction: Animal studies show that sugar is every bit as addictive as cigarettes, alcohol and even drugs. If you understand that sugar is an addiction, you understand a lot of your behavior around the foods that you eat: bingeing, cravings, hoarding, obsession are all signs of addiction. If you have ever tried a diet, but couldn’t stick with it, or if you lost a lot of weight only to gain it back, you have your addiction to blame.
• Weight Gain: While medicine denies that there is an association, sugar leads directly to weight gain. It does this because eating sugar creates large spikes in blood sugar. Whenever your blood sugar is higher than the current needs of your body, your body will store the extra sugar as fat. This does not happen with other foods, like broccoli, meat, or even an apple.
• Insulin Insensitivity: Insulin insensitivity occurs when our cells become resistant to insulin. Both metabolic syndrome and diabetes are forms of insulin insensitivity. Your cells become resistant to insulin when there is constantly too much sugar in your blood stream. While even medical societies such as the American Diabetes Association deny the connection, sugar and foods that act like sugar are largely responsible for diabetes.
• Toxic: The most surprising thing he uncovered while researching Sugarettes, his book on sugar addiction, was that sugar is toxic to the blood vessels in the body. In the exact same way that cigarette smoke damages the lungs, sugar in the blood stream damages blood vessels. This damage is clearly seen in diabetics who have blood vessel damage in the form of heart disease, eye disease, kidney disease and more. The exact same damage occurs in people who aren’t diabetic but who eat sugar, only slower.
Join Me In January
Breaking the sugar habit is not easy; but with the right support, you can succeed. Taking sugar out of your life means that you are taking steps towards a much healthier you and preventing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Taking the 30 Sugar Free Days Challenge is a step towards your better health. Click HERE to learn more and make sure to download your FREE ebook by clicking HERE!
Dr. Scott Olson is a Naturopathic doctor, expert in alternative medicine, author and medical researcher. Spurred on by his patients’ struggles with sugar addiction, he was determined to discover just how addictive and harmful sugar can be and ways to overcome that addiction. The result of that study is his book Sugarettes, which describes the addictive qualities of sugar and the harm that sugar does to our bodies.
Dr. Scott also maintains a blog (www.olsonnd.com) which highlights the latest in health and healthy living.
Make sure to comment below if you are in so I can check on you! ;0)
Angie Schumacher is a Certified Fitness Professional who trains clients in her home and is a Women's Boot Camp Instructor in Colorado. She is the author of The Fat Blasting Boot Camp Program and has offered a one stop website to help you with all of your health and fitness needs. Please visit www.BuildingABetterU.com to find exactly what you are looking for!
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Oooh, I did the sugar embargo a few years ago, and while the first week or so was almost impossible, once that wall has been broken it’s really quite easy to just say no…however I learned that I can’t do moderation, just can’t, and once I fell off the wagon, I fell hard. I’d love to do it again, but I worry about binging hardcore after a couple of weeks.
Caras last blog post..An Addendum of Appreciation:
This post came right when I was contemplating how much sugar I eat. I’m already printing this ebook right now. I think I will start with 7 days, but I’m very excited about it.
Super Healthy Kidss last blog post..Happy New Year
i am in! i really need a sugar detox after this month. please check in with me and make sure i don’t slip and fall. thanx
@ Cara~ I totally agree! Sometimes it is just better to stay away from it! I am an all or nothing person when it comes to dark chocolate..trying more to be nothing..but its hard!
@Super Healthy Kids ~ Good for you !! 7 Days just might lead to more..you never know!
@ Dee Dee~ I will be checking on your girl! You can do it!
Count me in! I am starting the Elimination Diet by Dax Moy and that basically calls for eating nothing but REAL food – day 1 wasn’t too bad, and I’m off to a good start for day 2. The worst for me is giving up condiments – I love my ketchup and BBQ sauce!
Hi! I’m starting the challenge and would love if you would check on me too! I’ll need all the support I can get!
Thanks!
I am totally in! I started today! I have a tremendous sweet tooth and I want to see if this will take me to the next level! i will need all your support. I will also be printing out the e-book!
Thanks!
I’m in too…I’ve gone off of sugar and white flour before and stayed off for years and then gradually it became a part of my diet and then the binging on it again!
Today was my first day and I made it. If we call keep each other encouraged we can do it…one day at a time.
Good Job Joyce!! One day at a time is right!!
@Eka, @Michelle @Amber ~ Good for you!! I will make sure to check in on you!!
[...] other news, take a read through No Sugar For 30 Days. Think you can do it? Who wants to [...]
i’m in…been doing crossfit for over a year now and now it is time to atack my diet to get some real results! I know i have some muscles under this fat, because I’m sore after the workouts. Today is day !
Thanks
Matt
Awesome Attitude Matt!!
My sister-in-law started a group of us on this. The name NSIJ stands for No Sugar In January. We have a blog going to document our efforts in beign sugar free for 30 days. May be of interest.
Mike…s last blog post..Splenda Website
[...] since I posted about the No Sugar For 30 Days, I have been wanting to post about this supplement. Optimum Nutrition has now come out with the [...]
I just came across this and I would like to join and continue on till end of feb…i couldnt download the ebook for some reason.maybe you could email me as an attachment?