SUGAR SHOCK! Blog

SUGAR SHOCK! Blog Accepted Into Media Bloggers Association

Yeah, I finally received word today -- after waiting word for many months -- that yours truly has been admitted as a member of the acclaimed Media Bloggers Association (MBA). So, I guess this means I'm now a bona fide bloger (whatever that means!)

Given that many revered, well-read bloggers are members of this group, I was quite pleased to get the "you're-in" nod from MBA president and veteran blogger Robert Cox, who runs The National Debate blog, which he started way back when dinosaurs were roaming the earth. (OK, silly joke, I confess. But, seriously, Bob began his blog back in June 2003, when people were like "Huh?" about "blogging." Or maybe they thought it was a derivative of "flogging.")

Anyhow, did you know that about 12 million Americans with Internet access are online content creators? Wow! This fact comes courtesy of a Pew Internet & American Life Project study released in November (and which I pulled from the Media Bloggers Association blog). About 19% of those bloggers run online journals, according to the study. Another figure I also found on the MBA site says 5 million of us have blogs.

So, in case you're completely in the dark about the Media Bloggers Association, the MBA (don't you love that business-sounding acronym?) is "a non-partisan organization "dedicated to promoting, protecting and educating its members; supporting the development of "blogging" or "citizen journalism" as a distinct form of media; and helping to extend the power of the press, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails, to every citizen."

As you may surmise, I'm a big fan of this genre of communicating. I simply love blogging, and I greatly treasure you, my dear readers.

What so impresses me about blogging is that it offers an unparalleled means of direct contact with readers. You see, while as a journalist, I did receive feedback -- letters, phone calls, and e-mails -- I never received this kind of instantaneous rapport, or criticism for that matter.

Speaking of which, contrary to what a visitor here stated, I don't delete comments here unless they're blatant spamming.

Anyhow, here, quoted verbatim, are the Media Bloggers Association's lofty missions:

Stump the Savvy Sugar Sleuths: Should Someone Who's Kicking Sugar Quit Wine At the Same Time?

It's been a while since I've posted one of these because I've been writing so much about the plethora of recent news events. So here's a "Stump the Savvy Sugar Sleuth" item. Here's a question I received:

"Connie, I have a question for you as the sugar guru. I know that wine is essentially a sugar, but how important in your opinion, is kicking the wine habit (2-4 glasses a week) when trying to eliminate sugar?

"Also do you know if white wine has more or less sugar than red? My client actually finds when she drinks wine with dinner, her cravings for sugar after the meal are diminished. Does wine affect our blood sugar levels as much as processed foods? Julie"

Dear Julie,

Good question! I'll give you a quick answer now, but I'd also like to consult with an expert or two on this, too.
I think red wine has less sugar than white, and I believe it also has some anti-oxidant properties.

Off the top of my head (and bear in mind that I'm on very tight deadlines this week), I'd vote for letting your client continue with wine for now since it gives her so much pleasure and perhaps let her ease off of it.

I'm just not a fan of telling someone to quit drinking wine -- that is, unless they really have to. (Alas, I'm in the camp, given that I get horrific hypoglycemic hangovers if I have wine.)

Having said that, I wonder why she wants to quit sugar. Is it to lose weight? To be more focused? To be in better spirits? If it's any of the three, then cutting out wine really could benefit her.

On the other hand, if such a drastic move is unappealing to her (which it sounds like it is), I'd just invite her to consider maybe drinking a little less -- perhaps half a glass of wine instead of a full glass at a time -- and to really, really savor it.

Also, PLEASE urge her not to drink the wine by itself but rather with a meal. If she eats protein, healthy veggies, and healthy carbs like veggies at the same time, then she won't be bouncing her blood sugar levels around so much.

So I vote for letting her continue to drink a little red wine. (Tell her to enjoy it for me, too, since I'm bummed that I can't have any! -- I'll just feel too sick.)

As you'll see now, two experts I consutled weighed in with two very differing recommendations.

Fred Pescatore, M.D. replied:

"Of course her cravings are diminsihed as she is drinking sugar. When you consume alcohol, the body preferentially uses that as energy before it will utilize anything else so they are dead calories just like a Snickers bar"

Dr. Pescatore also made the point that wine drinkers erroneously think that alcohol is "really nothing." He then suggests that your client should "give up wine entirely."

Meanwhile, Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., author Lick the Sugar Habit, takes a stance closer to mine.

"There is enough evidence to show that a glass of wine a day is not bad.  A candy bar a day is bad.  Supposedly research shows that . Red is better than whiite. Who knows?  Nancy"

Julie, I hope this helps you and your client, and I'm rooting for her to take control of her sugar habit. By the way, she's more than welcome to join my free online, KickSugar group, too.

Near NYC? Concerned? Attend Dr. Andrew Weil's Fascinating Nutrition and Health Public Forum This Sunday! See You There

Quick reminder for those of you who live near New York City (including Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania).

Set aside this Sunday, April 30 (from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in midtown Manhattan) to attend a fascinating Nutrition and Health Public Forum, where you'll get a chance to meet and listen to the much-acclaimed physician and best-selling author Dr. Andrew Weil exploring the topic of "What is Good Food?"

That's not all.

Weil, founder of the innovative Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, will be joined by a distinguished roster of speakers, including:

• Renowned nutritionist Dr. Marion Nestle (from New York University's Department of Nutrition and Food Studies and author of Food Politics);
• Organic chef Dan Barber (of Blue Hill Restaurant in New York City and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture);and
• Dr. Joan D. Gussow, Swartz Rose Professor Emeritus of Nutrition and Education, Teachers College at Columbia University
• WNYC-AM/FM radio host Leonard Lopate (who will moderate).

Here's why you should attend this event: You'll finally get an answer to some of your pressing questions!

If you're like many of us health-minded folks, you're downright confused about what the heck you should eat to stay healthy.

In fact, as the press release for the event reveals, a recent survey shows that the majority of Americans are confused about proper nutrition, with almost two-thirds (63%) agreeing that there's so much conflicting info about healthy diets that they don't know what to believe.

As the PR materials promise, at this event, you'll:

"Get straight answers on what you should be doing to live a healthier life."

You may recall that I wrote previously about this event, and I'm writing about it again, because I'm really, really excited about it -- and I urge you to register right now for it.

Just look at the questions you'll get answered. Come this Sunday to learn:

• How unhealthy is fast food?
• Is “going organic” is something you and your family should be doing? What are the benefits?
• What are good and bad fats?
• How can certain foods help to improve health conditions?
• What does “good food” really mean?

"With so many conflicting messages about nutrition and health in the media and elsewhere, of course Americans are confused about how they can live a healthier life,” Dr. Weil, a leader in the field of integrative medicine, said in a press release about the event.

“Consumers need straight answers on what they can and should be doing to live a  healthier life so they can make informed decisions about their overall health and diet.

So, whip out your credit card now to spend the afternoon with Dr. Weil and other experts in the field of nutrition.

Register now online or to place your order with a credit card, call (212) 342-0116.

But hurry! Tickets -- which cost $85 in advance and $100 at the door -- are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis and they're sure to sell out!

By the way, if you go, make sure to look for me, because I will definitely be there! Introduce yourself because I'd love to meet some readers of this blog.

We owe this Public Forum thanks to Dr. Weil's Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona and the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

For more wonderful information, check out the Nutrition Conference

If you're a forward-thinking physician, nurse, dietitian and other health care professional, you'll also want to attend the 3rd Annual Nutrition & Health Conference from May 1 to May 3, also in New York.

FYI, I'm confident that this year's conference is sure to be an exciting one if last year's event is any indication. You see, for the 2005 conference, I actually hopped on a plane to Arizona for the amazing gathering. It was quite exciting for me -- while there I interviewed Dr. Weil, Dr. Walter Willett and Dr. David Ludwig for my upcoming book, SUGAR SHOCK!

See the event's brochure. Some of the topics covered include:

• "Omega 3 Fatty Acids: A Major Tool in Health and Disease"
• "Breast Cancer: Nutritional Strategies in Prevention and Treatment"
• "Nutrition for Children"
• "Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergies"
• "Vegetarian Nutrition in Practice: Big Blunders, Simple Solutions"
• "The Nutritional Management of Diabetes"
• "Evaluating Popular Diets"
• And much more...

Remember to look for me this weekend, and say hi. Naturally, I'll be busy taking notes and networking as much as possible.

So, whip out your credit card now to spend the afternoon with Dr. Weil and other experts in the field of nutrition.

Register now online or to place your order with a credit card, call (212) 342-0116.

But hurry! Tickets -- which cost $85 in advance and $100 at the door -- are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis and they're sure to sell out!

By the way, if you go, make sure to look for me, because I will definitely be there! Introduce yourself because I'd love to meet some readers of this blog.

We owe this Public Forum thanks to Dr. Weil's Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona and the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

For more wonderful information, check out the Nutrition Conference

If you're a forward-thinking physician, nurse, dietitian and other health care professional, you'll also want to attend the 3rd Annual Nutrition & Health Conference from May 1 to May 3, also in New York.

FYI, I'm confident that this year's conference is sure to be an exciting one if last year's event is any indication. You see, for the 2005 conference, I actually hopped on a plane to Arizona for the amazing gathering. It was quite exciting for me -- while there I interviewed Dr. Weil, Dr. Walter Willett and Dr. David Ludwig for my upcoming book, SUGAR SHOCK!

See the event's brochure. Some of the topics covered include:

Check Out Learning Channel's "Honey, We're Killing the Kids!"

The other night I stumbled upon the most fascinating TV reality show on The Learning Channel, "Honey We're Killing the Kids!," is "a nutrition makeover series that transforms the lives of 13 families by improving their diets and lifestyle."

Not knowing what to expect, I was riveted as a family of five got help from nutritionist Dr. Lisa Hark to help their three junk-food-eating children, who were on their way to health problems galore. The show certainly demonstrated how it's vital for parents to set a good example, and it certainly illustrated that obesity can begin in the home -- the mom was already obese herself.

The Youngs (Photo from TLC / Discovery)

What was especially sad -- and shocking enough to prompt the parents to take action and set a good example -- was seeing computer-generated photos of how the kids would look like at age 40 if they stuck to their poor nutrition habits. It was quite mind blowing seeing these children turning into incredibly unhealthy looking adults.

Newsday quotes the stunned mom of the three youngsters, shown above.

"It was scary seeing my kids in the photos," said Kelly Young. "It was like I was looking at three serial killers."

Here's more info about the series, which began airing April 10:

"...The Learning Channel will transform the lives of 13 families across the nation in the groundbreaking new series, Honey We're Killing the Kids! In each family, the children’s eating habits have spiraled out of control into a diet of nonstop junk food – sugar, snacks, processed food – and huge, oversized portions. Coupled with a lack of exercise and sleep, this lifestyle means the kids are not only hyper and unruly, they are at serious risk of becoming overweight and developing high-blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

"Honey We're Killing the Kids! offers a startling look at the causes of America's childhood obesity epidemic and issues a critical wake-up call for parents. In the series, nutrition expert Dr. Lisa Hark shows how everyday choices can have long-term impacts on children, and offers both the motivation and the know-how to help turn these families’ lives around. Using state-of-the-art computer imaging and certified assessments based on measurements and statistics, Dr. Hark first gives Mom and Dad a frightening look at the possible future faces of their children – and a dramatic reality check. Then, introducing her new guidelines and techniques, Dr. Hark works with parents to reverse course and give their kids a healthy diet and active lifestyle."

Here's a link to the complete schedule and also info on next Monday's episode, "Too Much Too Soon."

"Terrence and Tyler love eating junk and watching TV. Their Mom is desperately worried about their health - especially since hubby Terrence has diabetes. Nutritionist Dr. Lisa Hark enforces big changes- fresh clams in lieu of burgers, Judo, and veggie BBQ!"

And info below is included on another upcoming episode, "Sugar and Spite":

"Meet three precocious kids -TV and sugar fanatics Jesse, Jara, and Zachary. Mom can't stop them from sneaking candy! Nutritionist, Dr. Lisa Hark dramatically changes their diet and family dynamic --- but not without a lot of resistance along the way!"

The Learning Channel is trying to get the audience involved. For instance, its website invites you to share your real-world experiences with aging on its interactive message boards. They want to hear "stories of what has or has not helped you stay fit and healthy."

Also, check out the show's forum to talk about the show, trade nutrition and fitness tips, and to upload photos and stories of your own aging process.

By the way, Dr. Hark -- author of The Whole Grain Diet Miracle -- is widely quoted by members of the media. Just check out her extensive list of media appearances.

America isn't the only country running TV shows to help or challenge people lose weight. See the BBC's article about the plethora of shows highlighting "Television's popular fat intake."

Thanks to Stacey, a fellow classmate at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, for tipping me onto this.

Connecticut Senate Rules Against Soda Sales in Schools But Battle Expected

Hurrah for the Connecticut Senate! They've cast the first votes to boot soda out of schools there. But, WAIT a minute. I'm being way too optimistic. Apparently, there's a big battle ahead to get the bill passed. Here's the story:

The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 24 to 8 Thursday to ban soda sales in Connecticut's schools in an effort to reduce childhood obesity, according to accounts in the The New York Times and the Hartford Courant.

Next up, the state's House of Representatives needs to vote on it, but now apparently it's going to be a tough uphill battle. The AP quoted Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, telling reporters that he expects "hand-to-hand combat" over the legislation. (See the Senate Democratic leadership's press release about this.)

What's more, the soda companies are getting ready for a big fight to prevent the bill's passage. In fact, Christopher Keating, the Courant's Capitol Bureau Chief, reported:

"Williams describes the bitter clash as a "David-vs.-Goliath" battle because the soda companies have hired two of the most influential lobbying firms at the Capitol: Sullivan & LeShane for Coca-Cola and Gaffney Bennett for Pepsi."

As Williams said in the Senate press release:

"The soda and junk food industries spent more than $250,000 to kill this bill last year and there is no reason to believe they'll stop the flood of cash for lobbyists trying to kill this measure, which addresses the childhood obesity epidemic we are facing.

"We have the facts and the overwhelming scientific evidence on our side, and we will continue to do everything we can to get this information out. Parents and the PTAs across the state, the state's school superintendents, the School Nutrition Association of Connecticut and pediatricians all support this bill. 68% of the people of Connecticut support banning soda from our schools."

The idea of the bill is promising. Not only would it be taboo to sell regular or diet soda in schools, but sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade would get the boot, too. Unfortunately, there's an exception: These drinks could be sold at concession stands during school-sponsored events after school and on weekends. (Connecticut schools need to talk to other schools around the country, who use non-junk food ways to raise needed funds.)

If passed, the legislation would allow school vending machines and stores to sell low-fat and nonfat milk, soy or rice milk, and 100 percent fruit and vegetable drinks. What's more, as the AP notes, this Connecticut bill, if enacted, would be "among the most sweeping in the nation."

Encouraging as all that may seem, the bill will require intense lobbying, as the Hartford Courant pointed out.

If you live in Connecticut, urge your representatives in the House of Representatives to vote for this bill.

Here's how to contact members of the Connecticut Senate. (Remember, they've already voted for the bill.)

Also, make a point to write to State Sen. Williams and applaud him for his efforts to help Connecticut's children. (Just check out some of the exciting things he's doing.) Also, see this interesting item about Coca-Cola's unconscionable practices.

Do You Drink Enough Water? It Can Help With Midnight Hunger

I have water on my mind. It's all because I was cleaning out old e-mails from my overflowing Outlook inbox. Lo and behold, I saw an old e-mail from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I'm now going to school, and they sent the following facts about water.

So interesting are they that I'm passing them onto you.

1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

(Likely applies to half of the world population.)

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.

4. One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

5. Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

Please note: I'm really big into always giving credit where it's due so these facts are taken verbatim from the old e-mail from IIN.

In turn, IIN got this information from Public Citizen's document, the Water Privatization Overview,

which delves into the wordwide crisis over water.

FYI, Public Citizen is a national, non-profit, public interest organization. You can learn about the group's ongoing campaign here -- Water for All: Campaigning to Keep Water as a Public Trust.

If you'd like to explore other fascinating water literature, check out:

• About.com (Provides a great overview article about water's benefits.)
• BBC (Ditto)
• Mercola.com (Offers a fascinating article about the power of prayer, gratitude and appreciation and how it affects the water we drink. Check out the wonderful images showing the value of a good attitude.)

Oh, wait, one more interesting link. While just in Washington, D.C. for a conference, I met Jack Barber, the president of WaterWise, which offers what sound like wonderful products, which allegedly get rid of 99.9 percent of impurities in H2O. In fact, they have a catchy slogan -- they claim to offer Water As Pure As Nature Intended.

After hearing Jack speak and telling us how their systems work, I'm convinced. So, I'm going to buy it myself. Here's how to reach them.

Obesity Confirmed As Leading to Diabetes

Of course we already knew this, but now it's official.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine confirmed that obesity is a major factor in the development of diabetes, FoodNavigator.com reports.

They warn that we need to take measures to prevent obesity to hold back the diabetes epidemic.

The CDC researchers looked at reasons behind a 41 percent increase in diabetes in American adults from 1997 to 2003. They wrote:

"Among US adults aged 18–79 years, the incidence of diagnosed diabetes increased 41% from 1997 to 2003. During this period of rapid change, incidence increased at a greater rate among obese people, resulting in obesity being more prevalent among incident cases at the end of the time period than at the beginning.

“Altogether, these data suggest that obesity is a large factor - although not the sole factor - in the increasing incidence of diagnosed diabetes."

Get some help kicking those culprit carbs to lose weight by joining my free, onlne KickSugar support group now.

Coca-Cola Captures Critical Limelight

Wow. Talk about an eye-opening reading experience.

Check out this fascinating article, "The Case Against Coke," by writer Michael Blanding, which runs in the May issue of The Nation.

Here's the description of his story, which you can find on Blanding's website: "A global, grassroots campaign against Coca-Cola is using product bans and lawsuits to shed light on the corporate giant's exploitation and brutality in Colombia, India and elsewhere. (The Nation, May 1, 2006)

You'll find, for instance, this intriguing paragraph:

"In the past two years the Coke campaign has grown into the largest anticorporate movement since the campaign against Nike for sweatshop abuses. Around the world, dozens of unions and more than twenty universities have banned Coke from their facilities, while activists have dogged the company from World Cup events in London to the Winter Olympics in Torino. More than just the re-emergence of the corporate boycott, however, the fight against Coke is a leap forward in international cooperation. Coke, with its red-and-white swoosh recognizable everywhere from Beijing to Baghdad, is perhaps the quintessential symbol of the US-dominated global economy. The fight to hold it accountable has, in turn, broadly connected issues across continents to become a truly globalized grassroots movement."

It is quite interesting to me to get a political perspective on Coke given that my focus is totally on the resounding health ramifications -- potentially life threatening -- of consuming large quantities of such high-fructose corn syrup-laden beverages such as Coke. 

Read Blanding's mind-boggling article now.

My 8-Year Anniversary of Kicking Sugar for Health, Happiness & Sanity

I'll be darned. I completely forgot to pat myself on the back!

So engrossed was I in doing final editing for my upcoming book, SUGAR SHOCK!, that I totally ignored the very day in which my kick-sugar work began!

Yep. Yesterday marketed a mammoth day for me. I quit sugar 8 years ago -- April 15, 1998. On that momentous occasion, I turned my life around.

That was the day I began my incredible journey to transform myself from a lifeless, moody, depressed, irritable, headache-ridden, unpredictable bitch -- plagued by 44 symptoms -- to an energetic, enthusiastic, gregarious, creative, sweet (I hope!), optimistic, calm-headed, joy-filled woman with a zest and spunk for life.

April 15, 1998 -- and the months that followed -- was when I first:

• Conceived my upcoming book, SUGAR SHOCK!
• Realized that I'm not alone -- rather that I'm in the company of millions, whose lives are being destroyed by their sugar habit and resulting see-sawing blood sugar fluctuations.
• Laid the groundwork to help millions of sugar addicts and baffled hypoglycemics, pre-diabetics, and diabetics around the world.

So, in honor of my 8 years off sugar, I do hope you'll allow me to engage in some self congratulatory kudos!

Happy Kick-Sugar Birthday to Me!

And since kicking sweets and refined carbs gave me a wonderful rebirth, let me now share my incredible joy, boundless freedom, and feeling of exhilaration with you. In other words, let me help you if you're feeling hopelessly hooked on sweets and simple carbs as I once was.

So I invite you to explore. Are you...

Feeling trapped by your sugar habit?

Beset by baffling symptoms as disparate as "brain fog," crippling fatigue, debilitating headaches, and off-putting mood swings?

Agonized every month by ferocious PMS and then horrific cramps?

Come join me in my free, supportive, fast-growing internatinal online KickSugar support group, which I founded in November 2002 and which has 1,349 members as of today. You may find that kicking sugar could do away with or diminish your symptoms -- as it did for me!

Stay tuned for some exciting news regarding my upcoming book, SUGAR SHOCK!

The Sour News: Sweet Easter Candy Sales Skyrocket

Did you know that Easter is the second biggest candy-eating day of the year for Americans?

We (certainly not I) consumed a whopping 7 billion pounds of candy in 2001, according to the National Confectioner's Association. Yikes!

It's very sad to me to think about how most Americans consider it politically correct to show love by giving all this blood-sugar-bouncing candy!

Just check out these alarming facts, which you can find on InfoPlease.com:

• Americans spent nearly $1.9 billion on Easter candy in 2000, just shy of Halloween's sales of nearly $2 billion. Christmas brought in an estimated $1.4 billion, and Valentine's Day forked in more than $1 billion.

Here's another couple of quirky fact that won't make you hop with glee:

• A total of 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are produced each year.

Now for an absurd fact that makes you wonder -- don't these survey makers have anything else better to do?

• 76% of Americans think you should first eat the ears of the chocolate bunnies. On the other hand, 5% stood behind the idea of munching on feet first. And 4% said to go for the tail first.

Meanwhile, here are a few more scary stats:

• Each Easter, millions of Americans buy 700 million of the empty-calorie, sugar-laden, nutrient-lacking Marshmallow Peeps®. (shaped like chicks, bunnies and eggs).
• Americans gobble 16 billion jellybeans at Easter. If you lined Easter jellybeans end to end, they'd circle the globe nearly three times.
• Some supermarkets have doubled the space allotted to Easter candy in the past few years as the market has increased.

And we wonder why our nation is facing an obesity epidemic?

All this Easter talk makes me recall the days -- when in the depth of my sugar addiction -- I used to clamor after pastel-colored, chocolate malted milk balls. Oh goodness did I overdose on them, I'm saddened to remember! (All these Easter candies may have contributed to my getting hypoglycemia.)

Thank goodness this fact sheet contains some non-sugary ideas (tucked at the end of the stat sheet). For instance, it says, "some experts suggest adding non-edible items to Easter baskets: crayons, movie passes, jump rope, baseball cards, kids' videos, stencils, markers, paperback books, chalk, Playdoh, stuffed animals or balls."

Hey, why can't Easter baskets contain only healthy edibles? 

Thanks to Myra, my incredibly hard-working, assistant moderator for my free, online KickSugar support group for bringing these Easter candy facts to my attention. We'd love to have you join us there if your candy habit is getting the better of you.

Tax Sugary Drinks and Kick Your Addiction to Them, Suggests New York Times Columnist

Kudos to New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof for his much-needed opinion piece today, which draws attention to the potentially dangerous substance high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which studies indicate our body metabolizes differently from other sugars and could lead to obesity, heart disease, and more.

Kristof's column will do much to educate consumers that the major sweetener in soda is high-fructose corn syrup, which, incidentally, is now found in some 4,000 food items, from ketchup to hot dog buns.

Kristof points out the alarming facts: "Americans over the age of 2 get an average of 132 calories a day from high-fructose corn syrup." Ugh. Not good news.

The timing of Kristof's op-ed item is ideal, because it coincides with the bipartisan bill introduced last Thursday that would ban soft drinks and other unhealthy foods from our nation's schools. "That legislation, if passed, wouild save more Americans than anything else this Congress is considering," the perceptive Kristof concludes.

He also presents some smart, sensible suggestions, which, up til now, have been offered only by obesity experts, physicians, and public health advocates. It's very exciting to me to witness a respected New York Times columnist now urging the very same things that health-minded experts already are promoting. He recommends to:

• Ban sugary drinks from schools. (I love his line, "kids need sports, not sports drinks.").
• Curb advertising on sugary drinks, especially when children are targeted.
• Impose a tax on all sweetened, non-diet drinks at 5 cents per fluid ounce. (This tax, he says, would apply to soft drinks, iced tea, fruit punch, sports drinks and other novelty drinks like Starbucks Caffe Mocha. Let's hope that Kristof's column gives this fabulous idea some great momentum. It's time for this taxing suggestion to get lots of press and public discussion. After all, it's worked so well, as Kristof notes, for cigarettes.)

Read Kristof's fabulous column now. Then, send a copy of it to your friends. And send an e-mail to Kristof to convey your hearty thanks for drawing attention to this very worthwhile issue.

Again, hurrah to this New York Times columnist for alerting Americans to the fact that fighting "our addiction to sugary drinks" is a vital "first step" to change our nation's horrible eating and exercise habits. 

Want help breaking your addiction to sugary drinks and foods? You're invited to join my free, online KickSugar group, which will mark its four year anniversary this November, and which, at last count, had 1,343 members from around the world.

My Sugarfree Shopper's Guide for Those Stumped When Seeking Unsweetened Foods

Frequently, members of my free, online KickSugar group ask me: “Can you give me a list of sugarfree foods?”

Due to the overwhelming demand, after many months of gathering information about sproducts with no added sugars, I previously posted such a list, but since many of you keep repeating this same question, here again is your Stop SUGAR SHOCK! Sugarfree Shopper's Guide.

Now, like me, you, can learn the joys of being sugarfree and becoming a Savvy Sugar Sleuth™. (Special thanks to Amy of my KickSugar group for graciously volunteering to look up URLs for many of these products.)

Please note:

• I'm providing this Stop SUGAR SHOCK! Sugarfree Shopper's Guide as a public service to Sugar Kickers and health-minded people everywhere.
• This is not a complete list so you can play an important role to help expand this list. So please add your comments to this entry.
• Products containing artificial sweeteners are NOT included.
• Please carefully read food labels before buying all products, even if they're on this list, because the manufacturer may have changed the ingredients and even added sugar after I examined the label. (See Trader Joes's interesting item on How to Read the Nutrition Facts Panel.)
• If you're serious about cutting out sugar from your diet, make sure to buy only the specific items I've tracked down for you. Many of the companies whose products I list make several versions of the same product, with most of them containing added sweeteners.
• Most of these foods are available at health food chains such as Whole Foods (178 stores in the U.S. and the United Kingdom) and Wild Oats Markets, Inc. (113 stores in 24 states and British Columbia), and perhaps at such specialty stores as Trader Joe's (over 200 stores in 19 states) and more.

Other shopping tips:

• Please make sure that you eat moderate portions.
• If you have gluten (wheat, etc.) or other allergies, please make sure to avoid certain foods on this list. While some experts suggest refraining completely from grains, even if they're whole grains, most Americans, I believe, won't go to this length. That's why I'm including a list of more healthy, sugarfree ones here. (I'm personally a fan of eating grains sparingly or moderately.)
• You may freely distribute this article to friends, acquaintances, websites and Internet support groups, but you must provide the following copyright credit:
  • This Sugarfree Shopping List is compiled by Connie Bennett, author of SUGAR SHOCK!. (Upcoming). Copyright (c) 2006, Connie Bennett, www.SugarShockBlog.com and DBA Stop SUGAR SHOCK.

Read on for the rest of this long shopping list. And make sure to write to me with your ideas for additions..

Frequently, members of my free, online KickSugar group ask me: “Can you give me a list of sugarfree foods?”

Due to the overwhelming demand, after many months of gathering information about sproducts with no added sugars, I previously posted such a list, but since many of you keep repeating this same question, here again is your Stop SUGAR SHOCK! Sugarfree Shopper's Guide.

Now, like me, you, can learn the joys of being sugarfree and becoming a Savvy Sugar Sleuth™. (Special thanks to Amy of my KickSugar group for graciously volunteering to look up URLs for many of these products.)

Please note:

Twice As Many Kids Now Take Type 2 Diabetes Meds

Sad, sad news.

Twice as many teens and children are taking medication to treat or prevent Type 2 diabetes than four years ago, according to a study released from Express Scripts Inc., one of the nation's largest pharmacy benefit managers, the St. Louis-Post Dispatch reported.

As we often hear, obesity is a major cause of diabetes, and this study coincides with government research, which found more U.S. kids are overweight.

Apparently, this study is "the first of its kind nationally to reveal the long-suspected national increase in prevalence of children with or at risk for diabetes," said Emily Cox, Express Scripts senior director of research and one of the study's lead authors.

The American Diabetes Association even ran this important article on their website.

Tragically, not so long ago, type 2 diabetes was called "adult-onset diabetes," because it most often would strike middle-aged adults and seniors. But now, as gets are gaining weight, more and more are becoming diabetic -- which means they will typically have their life span shortened by about a decade.

Please, if you have overweight or obese children, try to help them to lose weight so they won't face horrific health consequences such as a stroke, heart attack, blindness, or amputation.

Great Tele-Seminar With Best-Selling Author Dr. Mark Hyman

Just finished attending a wonderful tele-seminar in which my new friend Liz Lipski, Ph.D., C.C.N. interviewed the cutting-edge physician Mark Hyman, M.D., author of the hot new book, Ultra-Metabolism. (I announced this here a few days ago.)

If you missed this fascinating call, don't fret. You can still listen to the eye-opening Dr. Hyman interview, in which he revealed some great weight loss insights.

To hear Dr. Hyman's words of wisdom, just join Liz's brand new Access to Health Experts program, which will not only give you access to the call tonight but to replays of other such tele-seminars with leading health experts. You'll also get such features as:

A database of carefully selected articles

A links library of the best web resources

Audio and written teleseminar transcripts of interviews with leading holistic health experts

Clips of selected radio interviews packed with useful information

A health topics section that reorganizes these vast resources by topic so it's all in one place

I must say, after having presented 14 tele-seminars myself since December -- in which I interviewed top health experts -- it was wonderful to be at the other end of the phone and just listening to the call and not planning it!

Anyhow, other than Dr. Hyman's intriguing remarks, what also impressed me about tonight's tele-seminar was Liz's fabulous, amiable interviewing style. (Hey, I'm a journalist, who always looks at these things -- I can't help it!)

So I definitely recommend checking out Liz's Access to Health Experts program tro get a replay of Dr. Hyman's call tonight. (Look for snippets of some of my tele-seminars on the site, too. We're going to do some cross promotion.)

How to Find a Nutrition-Minded Doctor

Often, I hear from people in my clients and members of my free, online KickSugar group, who are at a loss as to how to find a nutrition-minded doctor, who's savvy about the dangers of sugars and reefined carbs.

Today, coincidentally, I ran across information from two of my favorite, "with-it" M.Ds.

First off, I just got off a wonderful tele-seminar with the knowledgeable Dr. Mark Hyman, author of Ultra-Metabolism. (More about the call shortly.) On his website, he offers a specific section that answers the question, "Where can I find a doctor who thinks like you?" For instance, he offers links to a number of organizations which offer this information, including The Institute for Functional Medicine.

Then, Fred Pescatore, MD, MPH, CCN, another nutrition-minded physician, wrote an article that's currently posted on SheKnows.com on "Finding a low-carb friendly healthcare provider." He recommends, for instance, contacting The American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM).

By the way, a couple of months ago, I, too, posted an article, "How to Find an Open-Minded, Sugar-Savvy Doctor & Nutritionist."

As you'll notice, the three of us certainly list some of the same resources.

Hope this helps those of you who need a new, in-the-know doctor.

Tips to Squash Your Sugar Cravings & Habit (2 Articles)

Whenever I work with people to help them kick sweets, they want to know: "How can I stomp out my nagging sugar cravings?

Then they ask me: "What are some of your best tips to kick sweets?"

Because frustrated, wanna-be "Sugar Kickers" often yearn for answers to such questions, I recently wrote two articles, which offers some simple, easy-to-do tactics and strategies. 

DrLaura.com is running my story this week on "The Power of Delaying to Squash Sugar Cravings" on the home page as the "Tip of the Week."

I'm happy to report that SheKnows.com, BabiesOnline.com, and WomensWeb..ca also are running this piece.

Then, eDiets.com posted my other article, 7 tips to Squash Your Sugar Cravings.

Also, I just got word from one of my clients (who's a massage therapist) that this article, which they renamed "Just Say No: Beating Your Sugar Habit," appears on the last page of the spring issue of Body Sense magazine, the monthly publication that you get as a member of the Associates of Bodywork and Massage Professionals.

Hope these articles give you some good sugar-kicking ideas.

Cool! Thanks to those who deemed my pieces worthy of using. Great to see my articles getting out there. Soon, I'll be writing many more. Right now, I'm on book deadlines.

...Oh, one more thing. A few months ago, as I reported then, Low Carb Energy Magazine named this spot the # 1 low-carb blog out there.

Hope these articles give you some good sugar-kicking ideas.

Passive Smoking Increases Risk of Developing Diabetes, Study Suggests

A fascinating study -- conducted over a period of 15 years -- revealed that smokers are at higher risk of developing glucose intolerance, which is a precursor to diabetes, the BBC reported.

Even more disturbing: Even though they never smoked themselves, 17 percent of those studied who were around second-hand smoke, went on to develop diabetes.

The researchers, led by Professor Thomas Houston of the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Centre in Alabama, concluded -- as they wrote in the British Medical Journal:

"We identified passive tobacco exposure in never smokers as a new risk factor for glucose intolerance.

"If confirmed by further research, these findings provide further documentation of the deleterious effects of tobacco smoking, and policy makers may use them as additional justification to reduce exposure to passive smoking."

Yikes! And most of us probably thought lung cancer was the main concern we should have about smoking.

Sure gives you more good reasons not to smoke and not to hang around smokers. Glad I quit years ago! (By the way, if you're hooked on cigarettes, as I once was, try SmokeEnders -- it worked wonders for me.)

Cool! Bipartisan Support for Healthier Foods In Schools

I'm just getting chills reading this exciting news.

More than 80 organizations, including the School Nutrition Association, the National PTA and the American Heart Association. are putting their weight behind a bipartisan bill, introduced in Congress this week that proposes a readical overhaul of the nutritional standards for foods sold in schools, FoodNavigator.com and other news outlets reported.

The ramifications of such a bill could be tremendous. It could mean that sugary, fatty, high-caloric crap doesn't get sold during the school day. That would be wonderful!

Lead sponsor for the measure is the long-time fan of healthy foods, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA).

"Many kids are at school for two meals a day. But instead of a nutritious school breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria, they are enticed to eat Cheetos and a Snickers Bar from the vending machines in the hallway," Sen. Harkin said.

Selling junk food in schools,  he said, "undercuts our investment in school meal programs, and steers kids toward a future of obesity and diet-related disease. Congress cannot stand idly by while our kids are preyed upon by junk-food marketers.”

Hurrah for Harkin!

And here's another worthwhile statement from Margo G. Wootan, nutrition policy director for the Center for the Science in the Public Interest:

"When parents send their kids to school with lunch money, they shouldn’t have to worry that the money will be spent on foods that promote obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay.

“Disco-era nutrition standards don’t make sense in 2006. When you have an obesity epidemic, schools shouldn’t sell candy at recess, potato chips for lunch, and soda throughout the day.”

Read more from the Center for Science in the Public Interest about this important measure.

http://www.cspinet.org/new/200604052.html

Some Soda Contains Toxic Chemical Benzene!

This is absolutely nightmarish. As if all the high fructose corn syrup in soda isn't enough reason to stop drinking the stuff.

Now, it turns out that some soft drinks are contaminated with the toxic chemical benzene at levels that are above the legal limit for drinking water, according to recent tests conducted by scientists at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and elsewhere.

Rightly so, such consumer watchdog groups as Commercial Alert and Center for the Science in the Public Interest are up in arms about this.

"Now, in addition to the calories, parents and educators should be aware that some of the drinks they give children contain poison," explained Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale Prevention Research Center. "Here we've got a genuinely worrisome reason to focus on soda in schools."

Commercial Alert dug up the following and reported so to its mailing list:

"Long-term exposure to benzene is associated with leukemia, aplastic anemia and other blood diseases. According to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency factsheet, exposure even “for relatively short periods of time” above the EPA limits for benzene in drinking water can “potentially cause” effects such as “temporary nervous system disorders, immune system depression, [and] anemia.”

The group also explained that benzene is actually formed "by a reaction of two soft drink ingredients -- ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and either sodium or potassium benzoate (which are used as preservatives). Here is a list of some soft drinks that contain both ingredients."

Commercial Alert encourages us to get involved -- which I think is a good idea.

So urge your legislators and the governor of your state legislators to halt the sale of these drinks in schools immediately. Take action now.

Expert Raises Questions & Concerns About PepsiCo-Funded Soda Study

A couple of days ago (before my computer broke down, my keyboard completely died, and I lost my Internet conenction), I posted about the recent Pepsico study, which purports that our bodies don't handle high fructose corn syrup any differently than table sugar or sucrose.

This particular post of mine got an expert in food and beverage formulation all up in arms. The expert -- who prefers to be unnamed -- replied to my post: "Saying that high fuctose is no different from table sugar is the equivalent of the Tobacco Institute publishing a study saying tobacco products are not harmful."

"HFCS-laden soda sales are down nearly 1% for the first time in 20 years in the U.S. and the... big soda companies and `sports drinks' using HFCS are hiding the fact that they're using HFCS and labeling it instead as `glucose-fructose syrup.'"

This expert also said these companies making sugary drinks are fearful of losing sales, getting bad publicity, and potential consumer fraud or class action liability lawsuits.

The food industry insider went on to explain that, contrary to what most people think, "HFCS is NOT fruit sugar," (You can read about this in Greg Critser's wonderful book, Fatland: How America Became The Most Obese Nation.) "Moreover, the fact that HFCS is not recognized in the body's Kreb Cycle, for conversion or utilization to blood glucose (energy) in metabolic pathway, has been medically and scientifically established for over 30 years.

Research shows, the expert notes, that "crystalline fructose from corn (not fruit) and HFCS (from corn not fruit) and hydrolyzed high fructose inulin syrup (often falsely misbranded and illegally mislabeled as 'agave', 'chicory' or 'beet' or just 'inulin' syrup(s)... are converted direct to body fat (adipose tissue) and triglycerides (the precursor and building block to LDL or bad cholesterol) in humans. Thus, chemically created, and reversed polarity hydro carbon man made fructose at 4 calories per gram, is stored in the body as 9 calorie FAT." (You can tell this is an expert by the language here--which may of us lay people don't quite get it.)

The expert continued: "Argumentation that HFCS, or any refined fructose from non fruit sources, 'is the same as sugar' or 'metabolized the same as sugar'" is a blatantly false assertion, and part of  Big Soda's BIG LIE..."

Furthermore, the food industry insider claims that "Big Soda knows, and does not want you  the consumer to know, that HFCS is indeed harmful if over consumed."

Incidentally, this expert points out, HFCS is "much lower in formulation cost than sugar, and only outdone by carbonation, air, salt, or water in lower formulation cost.

"Beware of ANY study even suggesting HFCS or refined fructose are 'good for you', or the same as cane or beet sugar, it just is not soda. The proof," the expert believes, "is the obesity rates, which have risen, along with cardiovascular disease, as the the use of HFCS has increased since the early 1970s... when it was first approved for use. Argumentation that [eating too much] fat is the culprit in the US Diet for obesity is patentedly false also.

The expert also rasied a few more questions about the study. "I'd also be asking when were the blood draws were done, and over what period of interval from ingestion, or how much soda (presumably with HFCS in it, but maybe low dosage versus regular soda), along with your comment on other fluids or food taken before, during, and after with specific times and testing of blood glucose levels."

Anyhow, this expert raises some very compelling points, and like I said before, I'm quite wary of the new soda study.

What concerns me, as it does other experts I've interviewed, is that people are wrongly believing that fructose is fruit sugar. Therefore, they're thinking it's OK to use. What's more, they're being told that fructose is low G.I., which it is, but what everyone is not aware of is that research shows that fructose from corn has been shown to take a different pathway and could lead to an increase in weight gain and trigycerides! 

The expert also pointed out a study a few years back, which linked sugar and hyperactivity. But refined cane and sugar beet growers claimed there was no causal relationship between sugar and childhood hyperactivity, but "that methodology of the study was FLAWED, with blood glucose draws (syringes), and measurements, being only made after 60 minutes after ingestion. Thus the small dosages of sugar given the kids had already gone hypo (raised) and hyper (crashed) and returned to neutral, by the time the next ingestion and draw were made..."

A lot to think about, right?