08/28/2025
Number 11 got me! When I’m tired (which I was for a looooong time), I didn’t make the best decisions when it comes to food. I was fatigued, didn’t want to put effort into cooking or even making a decision… so what did I do?… grab the closest, easiest thing to eat.
Over time, this caused an intense sugar addiction. If a sweet was around, I couldn’t say no. After dinner desserts, ON IT. Candy drawer in full effect and full use!
Now… after doing a detox and changing my habits, I can literally go without it… a true miracle for me! But it took time, effort and dedication to quit sugar, just like when I quit drugs and alcohol. You have to have a new mindset, a lifestyle change and you must be committed!
Here’s your encouragement of the day: say no to sugar today! 😊
Sugar: The Other White Powder
If sugar were discovered today, it would likely be regulated like a dangerous drug. Yet it’s in nearly everything we eat — hidden in plain sight, marketed as “healthy,” and defended by industries with billions at stake.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: sugar is one of the most toxic and addictive substances on the planet. It wrecks your health, silently fuels obesity and chronic disease, and accelerates aging. It’s not just about your waistline — it’s about your brain, your heart, your hormones, and even your skin.
Let’s break it down — and challenge the myths you’ve been told for decades.
1. Sugar ages you — inside and out
That “glow” after dessert? It’s your blood sugar spiking. Sugar binds to proteins in your body in a process called glycation, which damages collagen and elastin — the very things that keep your skin smooth and youthful. Translation: every donut could be shaving years off your face.
2. Artificial sweeteners aren’t the answer
Think you’re being smart by choosing Diet Coke, sugar-free energy drinks, or zero-calorie “healthy” bars? Think again. Artificial sweeteners confuse your brain, trick your gut microbiome, and often increase cravings rather than reducing them. Studies show they may even contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance, and gut dysfunction.
If you’re chasing “sweet without the sugar,” you’re still on the hook. Your brain knows. Your bacteria know. And your metabolism pays the price. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13793
3. Honey, agave, coconut sugar… still sugar
Don’t be fooled by marketing. “Natural” sugar is still sugar. Whether it’s honey, maple syrup, agave, or coconut sugar, it all gets processed by your liver in the same way. Yes, some options contain trace minerals or antioxidants — but not enough to outweigh the metabolic damage of overconsumption. A sugar by any other name still fuels insulin resistance, weight gain, and inflammation.
4. Sugar is more addictive than drugs
Think this is an exaggeration? Studies comparing the brain’s response to sugar and co***ne show sugar lights up the brain’s reward system even more powerfully. Ever find yourself craving dessert even after a full meal? That’s dopamine at work. Sugar is a drug — socially acceptable, aggressively marketed, and devastatingly effective at keeping you hooked.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23232652/
5. Forget salt: sugar is the real heart killer
For decades, we’ve been told to blame salt for heart disease. But recent research paints a different picture. A study in Open Heart showed that consuming 10–25% of daily calories from added sugar increases the risk of dying from heart disease by 30%. Meanwhile, salt’s effects pale in comparison. Yet we’re still told to “cut back on salt” while the sugar industry gets a pass.
6. Sugar is everywhere (even where you least expect it)
Cutting out soda and candy isn’t enough. Sugar hides in bread, ketchup, pasta sauce, soups, “healthy” granola bars, and even salad dressings. Food companies rely on your ignorance — they know sugar keeps you hooked and buying more. Look at a label: if it ends in “-ose” or has more than 3 grams per serving, you’re consuming sugar — whether you realize it or not.
7. Sugar hijacks your brain
From memory lapses to brain fog, sugar damages your cognitive function. Research shows diets high in sugar impair memory and increase the risk of dementia. Feeling forgetful? It may not be age — it may be your diet.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21419142/
8. Sugar, diabetes & lifestyle
Yes, genetics play a role in diabetes. Yes, inactivity contributes. But let’s not sugarcoat it (pun intended): high sugar consumption is a major driver of insulin resistance, weight gain, and type 2 diabetes. This isn’t just about soda — it’s about the everyday accumulation of “hidden sugars” in your diet that silently push your body toward disease.
9. Sugary drinks accelerate cellular aging
Every sip of soda or “sports drink” doesn’t just expand your waistline — it shortens your telomeres, the protective caps on your DNA that determine how fast you age. People who drink sugar-sweetened beverages have significantly shorter telomeres, meaning sugar doesn’t just add pounds… it literally adds years to your body.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25315502/
10. A walk beats the sugar fix
Instead of reaching for a cookie during the afternoon slump, try a brisk 15-minute walk. Studies show it curbs cravings, stabilizes blood sugar, and improves energy far more effectively than a sugar hit. (Bonus: scrolling food pics on Instagram? That actually spikes insulin and triggers “phantom hunger.” Social media = sugar without the taste.)
11. Tired? You’ll crave sugar
Lack of sleep makes your brain hungrier for sugar. When you’re tired, decision-making tanks while cravings skyrocket. That’s why late nights often end in poor food choices. Start your day with a nutrient-dense breakfast (like avocado, eggs, or smoked salmon) and watch your cravings stabilize.
12. Your “RDA” for sugar is shocking
The official recommended limit is 90 grams per day — equal to five bananas or an entire pint of sorbet. But here’s the kicker: the average person far exceeds that without realizing it. Between your morning latte, snack bar, “healthy” yogurt, and dinner sauce, you’re probably doubling it daily. And no, that’s not “balanced.”
13. Sugar kills your libido
Blood sugar spikes mess with hormone balance, lower testosterone, and disrupt circulation — all key for a healthy s*x life. If you’ve noticed less drive in the bedroom, the problem may be less about stress… and more about sugar.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17213280/
14. Most people are in denial about their sugar intake
Ask the average person how much sugar they eat, and they’ll underestimate by half. Food companies exploit this blindness with “low-fat,” “healthy,” or “all-natural” labels. The truth? You’re probably consuming far more sugar than you think.
15. Sugar makes you fat (but not in the way you think)
Yes, calories matter. But sugar is unique. It doesn’t signal fullness like protein, fat, or fiber do. That’s why you can plow through a giant tub of popcorn or a whole bag of licorice and still want dinner afterward. Sugar hijacks satiety, making it easy to eat thousands of “empty calories” without even realizing it.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/195227
The Bottom Line
Sugar is marketed as harmless, even necessary. But the evidence is clear: it accelerates aging, fuels chronic disease, disrupts your hormones, destroys your skin, and keeps you hooked.
And here’s the controversial part: cutting sugar isn’t just about willpower. The system is designed to keep you addicted — from the labels on your food to the ads in your feed. Breaking free means seeing sugar for what it really is: the other white powder.
👉 Ready to quit your sugar habit once and for all? I can help.