SUGAR SHOCK! Blog

Are you an Outdoors Lover? Learn About Lyme With "Under Our Skin" Insiders

Do you spend time outdoors? If so, you need to learn about Lyme disease on today's Gab With the Gurus Radio Show at 3 pm EST today.

You can listen live or later. (See link below.)

Thanks to Blog Talk Radio for featuring this show, on which I'll interview Andy Abrahams Wilson, director of the documentary, Under Our Skin, and the film's senior producer Kris Newby.

Also appearing on the show is park-ranger-turned author Jordan Fisher Smith, who's had his own bout with Lyme disease.

Star Studded Lineup

The Positive Living Network welcomes public speaker, master facilitator, inspirational author Cynthia Barlow, neurologist Carolyn Bernstein, and practitioner of plastic surgery and obesity surgery, Dennis Hurwitz.

On the Road

Grammy-winning R&B diva Chrisette Michele – whose hits include If I Have My Way and Be OK – joins Mutha Knows to share her new music, talk about life on the road, and more.

Martin Payne's BFF

Thomas Mikal Ford, who played Martin Lawrence’s hunky straight man Tommy Strawn on the hit ‘90s sitcom Martin – and also starred on New York Undercover and The Parkers – stops by Rodney Perry Live to dish about his smooth brand of comedy.

Sparks Flying

Scrapple Sandwich welcomes back comedian Hal Sparks, known for his commentary on VH1 and his music, to talk about his new show in Seattle and preview his stand-up material.

TV Star Chefs Sizzle this Summer

Star of Food Network's Cooking for Real Sunny Anderson and Top Chef Master and Chef of RM Restaurant at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas Rick Moonen share their summertime grilling tips with easy ideas to make your next soiree sizzle! Live on The Ceslie Show.

Stuff of Legend

Musician Jennifer Batten, one of the world's best female guitar players, talks about recording and touring with Michael Jackson and Jeff Beck.

The Great Outdoors

Outdoor Afro features Stacy Evans, an African American female attorney and dog sledder, to share her inspiration and personal transformation though her outdoor adventures.

Starry Night

Random Sports Chatter and Sports Unlimited team up to present an MLB All Star Game Pre-Show, breaking down the rosters and going over the advantages for each team.

Open Your Eyes

Gab With the Gurus welcomes Andy Abrahams Wilson, producer/director of acclaimed, eye-opening documentary, Under Our Skin, which can help you avoid getting the fast-growing infection, Lyme disease, or identify the signs you may be infected.

Britney Spears: Does She Have Low Blood Sugar & a Sugar Addiction?

Britney Spears may be a victim of the blood sugar blues, according to the National Enquirer, which attributes a source stating that she collapsed while rehearsing..

The 27-year-old singer suffers from low blood sugar, according to the Enquirer source, who revealed that Britney's father has been trying to keep her condition a secret.

I'm baffled. Why would Britney's father want to keep it hush-hush that the singer has low blood sugar?

Having low blood sugar or hypoglycemia is not a condition you want to hide, and you shouldn't be ashamed of it.

Millions of Americans have low blood sugar, including Nichole Richie, as I also mentioned back in 2007.

In fact, more people have low blood sugar than have diabetes, but many experts believe that low blood sugar can lead to type 2 diabetes.

The good news for people with low blood sugar is that you can have a perfectly normal life, but you will need to take good care of yourself.

If you have low blood sugar, you should quit sweets and refined carbs, eat frequent meals and get plenty of rest, among other things, as I explained in Sugar Shock! (I learned all of this myself in 1998, when I was deep in the throes of my sugar addiction and suffered from many confusing ailments, including feeling faint and low on energy.)

If Britney Spears does have low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, this might explain her alleged interest in sweets, diet pills and alcohol.

Back in 2007, I posed the idea on this Sugar Shock Blog that Britney might be a sugar addict. I even posted a press release about it. I raised the issue again here.

Again, I posted about Britney's reported sugar interest here, and the year before, in 2006, I raised the questions as to whether or not Britney was relying on wine, diet pills and cigarettes to peel off her post-baby pounds or whether she was dancing off the weight.

I also wrote about a rumor that Britney was feeding her babies sugary foods and drinks.

The Enquirer cites sources stating that the singer doesn't often eat right or get enough rest. Plus she's under a lot of stress.

All of these can exacerbate conditions of low-blood sugar, as I've personally experienced.

But, as I pointed out in Sugar Shock!, you can prevent mystifying hypoglycemia symptoms such as fainting, weak spells and vertigo by:

• Eating moderate portions of high-quality foods every three to four hours (or about five to six times a day).

• Completely cutting out sugar and refined carbs such as white bread, most crackers, white rice and white pasta.

• Getting ample protein, slow-acting carbohydrates (such as vegetables and low-sugar fruits) and healthy fats.

• Never skipping meals, especially breakfast.

• Exercising regularly, if possible. (Light snacks before and aftewards may also be helpful.)

• Working with a qualified nutritionist or health care professional.

Here are 9 of many warning signs of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. (These symptoms also could mean that you're in sugar shock or have a sugar addiction.)

1. Feeling unexplained faintness, dizziness or weak spells (such as those experienced by Britney Spears and Nicole Richie).

2. Experiencing such baffling symptoms as staggering, lack of coordination, abnormal weight (loss or gain) and mental confusion or “brain fog.” .

3. Suddenly becoming wiped out and spacey. (Usually, people with hypoglycemia or low blood sugar wrongly grab quick, sugary snacks or drinks, which only make matters worse.)

4. Flipping from wired to tired, at a moment’s notice.

5. Getting abnormal, almost insatiable cravings for candy, soda and other sweets or fast-acting, refined carbs such as chips, white flour bread or white rice.

6. Suffering from ferocious headaches, the shakes or heart palpitations.

7. Displaying unpredictable cranky behavior, temper outbursts or crying spells.

8. Having excessive fatigue—so much so that extra sleep even doesn’t seem to help much.

9. Hearing unconvinced loved ones or doctors falsely assuming that your symptoms are “all in your head.”

Remember, if you have low blood sugar, you can lead a perfectly normal life. You just need to take good care of yourself which is what I'm doing this week. (I'm still on vacation but took some time out to post this.)

One other important fact to remember: If you have low blood sugar, relying on candies, cookies and other sweets is NOT the way to resolve your condition. It only makes it worse.

But if you cut out the offending sugary "treats," you will ultimately experience a renewed energy, zest for life and much more.

Need help with your sugar addiction? I'm happy to help you.

Off Vacationing to Walk My Talk: Do You Take Time for You?

Lately, I've been striving to walk my talk. Sure, I stay away from sugar and refined carbs and work out, but I just work too hard and don't take enough time for me.

So I'm off on vacation now taking some much-needed time for me.

Back on July 13 to help you again.

Do you walk your talk? If so, I encourage you to do so. I'm already feeling much more invigorated and ready to give back.

By the way, if you have sugar issues, did you know that I offer coaching (of course, my time is limited).

If you're fed up with your sugar issues, it would be my honor to help you break free of your sugar addiction. And I know we can do that together!

Please join my for next Tuesday's radio show about Lyme disease. This is a very important show about a fast-growing, infectious disease featuring the director and senior producer of the riveting, must-see documentary, "Under Our Skin."

Declare Your Sugar Independence!

As we near Independence Day, wouldn't it be nice to achieve Sugar Independence, too?

Getting over a sugar habit can enable you to:

• Feel liberated
• Get more energy
• Lose weight
• Get along better with loved ones
• Enjoy yourself more
• Find your sense of calm
• Become more confident
• Concentrate better
• Have a stronger libido
• Accomplish more
• And so much more!

Let me help you reach Sugar Independence.Just listen and get inspired by these Successful Sugar Kickers.

Learn how getting over their sugar addiction helped them to feel liberated.

There's nothing more motivating and exciting when you're trying to get over a sugar habit
than to listen to or read about Sugar Kickers and how they succeeded.

FYI, these were preview calls for my Fast-Track, Kick-Sugar Countdown Program.

Go ahead. Listen to these liberated people now.

If you become liberated from sugar, your life will dramatically change.

When you break free from sugar, you can find a deep-seated sweetness in all aspects of your life -- but that doesn't necessarily mean the sweetness from foods.

Just listen now to how the lives of these Sugar Kickers became sweeter in so many ways just by
kicking sugar.

Remember, you CAN kick sugar and have a life of sweetness, too!

I have high hopes for your success and wish you a sweet holiday weekend.

By the way, if you get tempted over the holiday weekend by candies, cookies or ice cream, just listen
to these people tell you how getting over your sugar addiction is the first step to having a better, sweeter life.

Did you know that I work with people privately to help them break free of sugar and other unhealthy habits? My schedule permitting, I'd be happy to work with you, too.

Lyme Disease: You Can Get Bitten in the City & Country: Learn About this Controversial Infectious Disease With "Under Our Skin" Creators

Do you spend time outdoors? If so, it's important to pay attention to this blog post. You could unknowingly be the target of a tick, who could give you Lyme disease.

Right now, I'm concerned, because people quickly reading this New York Daily News article may falsely conclude that you can only get Lyme disease in wooded or rural areas in such areas as Connecticut, New Jersey, Long Island and Westchester County.

That's not true. You can get "Bitten in the City," which is evidently what happened to me last year at this time. (You can learn more about Lyme disease and my horrible experiences in last year's radio show, on which several renowned experts shared their insights and info.)

Of course, there's considerable truth to the statement in the Daily News that "city dwellers have less exposure to ticks," as Dr. David David P. Calfee of Mount Sinai tells reporter Katie Charles, but it's false that "Rocky Mountain fever is the only disease known to be transmitted in all five boroughs."

Anyhow, in my opinion, more than 417 New Yorkers got Lyme disease in the city last year. (The New York Daily News News cites another figure -- 538 people.)

Let me repeat: It you spend any time at all outdoors -- i.e., most Americans -- you MUST learn about this infectious disease. Again, I urge you to to listen to last year's radio show, which featured Pamela Weintraub, author of the book, Cure Unkown; Pat Smith, president of the Lyme Disease Association; Dr. Bernard D. Raxlen; Dr. Steven J. Bock; Dr. Qingcai Zhang; author Rebecca Wells ("Ya-Ya" novels) and Kris Newby, senior producer of the “Under Our Skin: The Untold Story of Lyme Disease.”

Next, I encourage you to tune in July 14 at 3 pm EST to my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show for a special show about Lyme disease in which Andy Abrahams Wilson, director/producer of the poignant documentary, "Under Our Skin," and Kris Newby, the film's senior producer. The film is now playing at selected movie theaters nationwide.

Together, they will open your eyes about the mistruths and controversies surrounding this fast-growing, infectious disease. (Special thanks to Kris for alerting me to this Daily News article cited above and for consistently providing me with lots of background information about this tick-borne illness.)

Again, let me insist! All Americans need to know about tick-borne illnesses. You see, as many as 2 million to 3 million people around the country, according to some experts, have Lyme disease, but they and their doctors don't know it.

That's because people with Lyme disease are often misdiagnosed as having a variety of other illnesses such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, lupus, ALS, lupus, arthritis or even psychiatric disorders.

Read more about this incredible documentary in this Vanity Fair article.

You can listen to this show live Tues., July 14 at 3 pm EST or later, at your convenience.

Incidentally, because of my horrific experiences with Lyme disease, I've written an op-ed piece, "Bitten in the City: How a Tick Made a Mockery of My Memmory," which will soon be published in a major newspapers. Details coming.

Plus, I'm now writing a book about Lyme disease. The  working title is: "Bitten in the City: Facts & Fallacies about Lyme Disease." Stay tuned for announcements about it.

Remember, on July 14, on the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show, the creators of "Under Our Skin" will educate you about this horrifying, horribly misunderstood, controversial disease.

Sugar Addiction Could Lead to Macular Degeneration

As my book SUGAR SHOCK! reveals, eating too many sweets and refined carbs leads to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and many other illnesses.

But did you know that a diet high in sugary foods can also make you blind?

Yes, high-sugar diets can significantly contribute to vision impairment. In particular, you can get  Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), which is now the # 1 cause for vision loss in the United States.

The following is a post that was contributed by LensShopper.com.

Sugar Addiction Could Trigger Macular Degeneration by Anders Wedin, OD.

Research shows that excessive sugar consumption is a contributing factor to AMD. At Tufts University, 4,000 people between 55 and 80 years old were studied to test the alleged connection. The results strongly indicated that high blood sugar levels increased the risk of AMD.

I'm betting you don't really know about AMD. Well, it’s a very serious eye disease that often develops over a longer period of time, but you rarely show symptoms in its early stages.

This disease affects the macula of the eye, which is the part that controls your central vision -- you know, the part that you need to read books, watch TV, or drive.

Every year, more than 200,000 Americans get AMD -- or about 30 % of Americans over age 75. Not all reported cases lead to complete blindness, but advanced level AMD patients will experience blurriness and blind spots right in the center field of vision. 

To date, according to experts, AMD has no outright cure.

However, many foods that can help decrease the risk and slow the progression of AMD.

The reason we contacted Connie and her Sugar Shock Blog is because the most important action you can take to avoid Macular Degeneration is to stop eating high sugary foods altogether.

Other foods that can help include vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and leafy greens; salmon and other kinds of fish; liver (though not too much); whole grains and walnuts.

In other words, to reduce your risk AMD, dump your sugar addiction!

Anders Wedin, OD is the in-house optometrist at LensShopper.com, a consumer guide to buying contact lenses and general eye care information.

Note from Connie: I hope this provides you with some more motivation to kick sugar. Not only could you lose weight, get more energy, manage your diabetes if you overcome your sugar addiction, but you also could prevent becoming blind in later life.