Do you realize that the average American consumes an astounding two to three pounds of sugar each week? Sugar is disguised in many different forms such as sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), and high-fructose corn syrup. Sugar is used in many foods you wouldn't consider to contain sugar. Sugar is added to bread, mayonnaise, peanut butter, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, and in many microwave meals. Some restaurants even add sugar to their French fry batter. Sugar is used to add or enhance flavor.

In the past 20 years, our sugar consumption has increased to a whopping 26 pounds per person per year! The rate of people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer have increased as well.

Sugar is an empty-calorie food. It contains zero nutrition. If you want to lose weight, foods containing large amounts of sugar are detrimental to our weight loss, maintenance, and overall health. We are eating less food so it is important to make certain what we eat counts nutritionally to our bodies,

Have you ever noticed that when you eat an item that contains mostly sugar or simple carbohydrates, you want more? You don't feel satisfied. You want more and more. Sugar and simple carbs are not satisfying or allow you to feel full. Eating sugar is a vicious cycle of eating and wanting more resulting in excess calories and weight gain. When you cut your consumption of sugar, you lose the taste for it. Lose the habit of sugar for successful weight loss.

The "glycemic index" measures how specific foods affect blood-glucose levels, with food being assigned a numbered rating. The lower the rating, the slower the absorption into the digestive process. This slower absorption provides a more gradual, healthier infusion of sugars into our bloodstream. On the other hand, a high rating means blood-glucose levels are dumped into our bodies quicker. This "dump" stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin to drop blood-sugar levels. The drop of blood-sugar levels results in rapid fluctuations which are not healthy because of the stress they place on the body.

Sugar has many negative consequences to impact our health. Some of the dramatic ones are:

* Sugar can suppress the immune system.

* Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.

* Sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.

* Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs).

* Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs).

* Sugar can cause kidney damage.

* Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.

* Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.

* Sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose.

* Sugar can lead to tooth decay and periodontal disease.

* Sugar can speed the aging process.

* Sugar can increase total cholesterol.

* Sugar can contribute to diabetes and osteoporosis.

* Sugar can decrease insulin sensitivity.

* Sugar can dramatically increase the amount of fat in the liver.

* Sugar can cause hypertension.

* Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance.

* Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.

* Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly. Sugar may be sweet to consume but the results to our body and health are not so sweet. The ultimate sweetness of all is weight loss success and to enjoy our good health.