Dramatic, but true. I know you realize that sugar is bad for you - but sometimes a little reminder is a good thing. High levels of dietary sugar will erode your quality of life. It will age you prematurely, both inside and out, and put you on a path to numerous health issues. Sugar is hidden in products we use everyday. It has created generations of unknowing addicts that have suffered physically and emotionally as it has taken hold and become a major part of our diets.

I read the label on everything I buy. I have noticed that some products are trying to hide added sugar by labeling the ingredient as another form of sugar such as fructose. To be perfectly clear, this fruit derived sugar is sugar. In nature, we are meant to eat an orange or an apple, not have some factory extraction process delivering us the juice without the fibrous material inherent to the fruit itself. So, when you see products with "no added sugar", look to see if they have simply added a sugar analog. It's a dirty trick that harms your health. Sugar can even sneak in to seemingly innocent  products like taco seasoning and almond milk. Stay informed, read labels, and make good choices.

Let's be honest - no one is a fan of the beer belly. Wine will do the same thing. I do enjoy a very occasional glass of wine (and by glass I don't mean bottle) - but I partake with the caveat that I'm going to pay for it the next day in the form of additional cardio. I think of an alcoholic drink as a glass of sugar, because it is. Alcohol places your metabolism in low gear, and leaves it there until you work it out of your system. It also erodes your will power. How many of us have over eaten as a result of having a couple of drinks? All of us. Also, the terrible sleep you will have on nights you drink is due to the alcohol and the sugar being processed out at different rates.  Be aware that a serving of wine is 5 ounces. Many restaurants will pour a 10 ounce double serving. So if you have two glasses of wine, you have had four servings. No one has ever stopped drinking and gotten less attractive. If you want to drop your wine gut, drop the wine. It's fine occasionally - which means on occasion - the daily arrival of 5:30 doesn't qualify. 

Sugar is a jerk. The more you eat it, the more you want it. It gives you amazing highs only to drop the bottom out with  soul crushing lows. It's a major player in depression, mood imbalances, attention disorders, and completely sends your hormones into a spin trying to regulate your levels. If you aren't quite feeling yourself, maybe all you need is to reduce your sugar intake and reassess. Sugar depresses immunity, making you vulnerable to colds and flu, not to mention diabetes, tooth decay, heart disease, and, new research shows Alzheimer's can be linked to the damages caused by this sweet little creep. 

Completely eliminating sugar is very, very hard. Reducing it is an attainable goal that can be done today. Read your labels, make good choices, and show your body the respect it deserves. Sugar is a tough one - but you are tougher.

What is the deal with coconut sugar? Is it really better than just regular sugar? Is it the same? With so many options for “all natural” and man-made sweeteners, sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the trees.  

​Coconut sugar is made by taking the sap of the Coconut Palm, and drying it under heat until all of the moisture is gone and the sugar remains. 
("coconut palm sugar" isn't coconut sugar... it's from a different type of palm tree - I know...It's confusing....but don't worry about that now...)

This natural production process actually leaves the final product with some additional minerals that you won’t find in white sugar. Zinc, Iron, Calcium, and Potassium are all found in coconut sugar, but the amounts are pretty small. Knowing that, I would say you should seek other sources for these nutrients. However, Inulin is the magic in coconut sugar.  It’s a fiber that is believed to reduce the glycemic index of coconut sugar by lowering the absorption rate. In a nutshell, (pun intended), you won’t get the major spike in your blood sugar level you would get from normal sugar.

What is the glycemic index anyway?  The glycemic index is a scale that uses pure glucose as the top performer. Table sugar has a glycemic index of 60, so it can be assumed that it is 60% as potent as pure glucose. Coconut sugar has a glycemic index of 35. Pretty simple. 

​The real villain is fructose.  Fructose has been linked to insulin resistance (which can lead to diabetes), and when the liver gets too much fructose, it gets converted to fat. Table sugar, or “sucrose”, is 50% glucose and 50% fructose.  Coconut sugar is typically 70% sucrose.  Which means half of that 70 is fructose.   Pretty not simple...I know...

At 16 calories a teaspoon, for both table and coconut sugar, it appears that neither is any better for you on a calorie restricted diet. I do feel that the lower absorption rate can help you overcome some of the sugar crash you could get from your morning coffee. In the end, I would say it’s a good addition if you like the taste and the more natural production process appeals to you. It’s not going to cure your sweet tooth, but could be a good band-aid for the peaks and valleys that come with a white sugar fix.