Out of the more than 600 responses I have received from people requesting help to get off of sugar, there are a few I would like to share with you. See if you or your loved ones relate:

I simply don't want to become ill and unhealthy… I want to feel healthy and happy when my daughter graduates from high school, goes to college and has a family of her own. One of my close friends has diabetes. I don't want to have to deal with anything that comes with having that terrible disease.

That sugar is destroying my health...and at the same time seems to be so satisfying when I am eating it. It seems that no matter how great my intentions are early in the day...by 2:00 pm I cave in. I love to bake...when I get stressed...I start baking...with the intention of giving it away...then I justify eating some because I have to make sure it turned out ok first.

I have fatty liver disease. I must lose weight; it's not an option. So the stress is on. 

It's in EVERYTHING and EVERYWHERE. I work with the youth.  I'd really like to bring better treat options.

It takes more time and a lot of effort.  I need a different kind of fast food.

I can only go three hours without craving sugar and chocolate. Refined sugar is addictive and so is chocolate.  I want to know how to break the cravings

I'm dealing with arthritis, fatigue, and high cholesterol issues.   I know I can feel better if I can avoid sabotaging my body with sugar and empty calories.

I'm addicted to ice cream.  My wife won't stop buying it and I have great difficulty leaving it alone.  We are both overweight and have been for 20 years. 

My spouse is diabetic type 2;  tries everything and ends up snacking.  We have difficulty exercising.  Our joints are gone. Sugar is an almost direct link to my painful joints, arthritis and the gout in my feet. 

From observing my patients, reviewing numerous studies, and reading your emails regarding sugar intake, it is obvious that sugar has a devastating effect on our bodies. The most apparent problem is manifested in diabetes, but I'm not even going to go there today with this article. Sugar is a huge issue that affects MANY aspects of our health. To complicate matters, our reactions to sugar intake often are affected more by the source of the sweetener. My main focus with this report is on refined sugar and its effects.

There are many ways in which sugar causes inflammation in our bodies.

First of all, sugar causes disturbances in the metabolizing of vitamins and minerals, which leads to dysfunction of all the cells. Sugar increases the rate of calcium excretion from the kidneys, so it interferes with the calcium/ phosphorus ratios. This disturbs the bone matrix and the strength of bone, often leading to osteopenia and osteoporosis.

The minerals chromium and vanadium are depleted in the process of sugar metabolism, which leads to insulin resistance and diabetes.

Sugar in its natural state is surrounded with an abundance of fiber and vitamins. Refined sugar does not have fiber and vitamins, which are needed to properly utilize and break down sugar. The B vitamins are also needed in metabolizing sugar, and they are easily depleted when sugar is ingested in an unnatural, refined state (translate: candy bars, soda pop, sweet refined cookies and candies, etc.).

Sugar affects the immune system. Phagocytosis is the process that scavenger cells in the body use to kill viruses, bacteria, and clean up their waste and debris. Sugar reduces the body's ability to use the white blood cells at their optimal level. Sugar ingestion also depletes zinc, an antiviral and antibacterial mineral in the body (as a side note: zinc is useful for fighting infections).

With a reduction in the body's ability to fight infection, there tends to be greater antibiotic use, which may eventually lead to candidiasis. The candida organism loves sugar, and feeds on it. As the candida organism gains strength, with the absence of normal colon bacteria to keep it in check, our bodies experience uncomfortable results such as bloating, itching, and toxin release.

Another effect of sugar on the immune system is its ability to contribute to allergies. Sugar is often ingested with common ‘allergic' foods like corn, wheat, and milk. This creates the potential for the body to become allergic to sugar in the process of reacting to the other proteins. Exposure to sugar in the future will then exacerbate existing inflammatory reactions, such as arthritis and asthma

My patients often wonder why they are more driven to eat sugar when they are stressed. Upon eating sugar, they often find that the solution is short lived, because once the immediate effects of sugar wear off, they become even more stressed and cranky.

When the body is deficient of its vitamins and minerals, the cells do not function as well as they should. As the immune system becomes less effective and infections invade the body and allergies manifest, this puts a stress on the body.

Dr. Hans Selye did the finest research in this area. He found 3 distinct stages of reaction to stress:

Another well-documented problem with sugar is its inflammatory effect on the blood vessel wall. We call this vascular disease, or, if it affects the blood vessels of the heart, cardiovascular disease. This disease is caused by inflammatory substances, and not by high levels of cholesterol.

Everyone knows that tooth decay is a product of sugar ingestion, or related to the amount of time that sweet things (including dried fruit) stay in contact with the teeth. This is not the only reason sugar affects the teeth. When a sugar solution is placed directly in the stomach with no contact with the mouth, an interesting phenomenon happens—the flow of fluid that usually starts inside the tooth and ends on the outside of the tooth changes its direction. This means that the bacteria that is in the mouth is now capable of being carried into the tooth to create cavities.

The beautiful thing about understanding the harmful effects of sugar on our bodies is that we can make a conscious decision to stop the intake and become healthy. We can be diligent about controlling our health destiny. These effects can be reversed as our wonderful bodies get the nutrients they need and our cells heal themselves.

Good news for those who are having difficulty with sugar: Although I have closed enrollment for general applicants, I am making the Sweet Freedom from Sugar Training Course available exclusively to Meridian subscribers for a brief extended period of time. Until July 9, you may get the basic course (normally $797) for free—just pay $9.97 for shipping and handling. I will ship you a DVD that introduces the course concepts, and you will be able to download the ebook and workbook in modules. To get your free copy, go to http://www.sweetfreedomforme.com and sign up there.

To your dynamic health and energy!

Dr. Stan Gardner