Liking sugary sweets is not a bad thing- they DO taste great!  But, as the old saying goes, “Everything in moderation.”  It’s when you can’t control the urge to eat just one more brownie or people start to call you the Cookie Monster that you know you’ve got yourself a SWEET TOOTH. 

Sugar is what your body burns for the energy you need to carry on from day to day.   So essentially all foods become sugars once they are taken into your body- the difference is how quickly they break down into sugars.  In fact, it’s the glucose (a fancier name for sugar) levels in your blood that determine when you’re hungry or even what foods you are craving.  So, yeah, sugar itself is not the problem- it’s what happens when you take in more sugar than your body can easily store. 

The excess sugar is saved up in the one storage area of the body that always has room for more- FAT CELLS.  The sugar just builds up in and those fat cells just keep on expanding.  That’s why no matter what diet you try out, you’ll always be told to cut out the sugary treats like chocolate and ice cream.

Another good reason to rein in your sugar cravings is your TEETH.  There are certain kinds of bacteria that live in your mouth all the time.  These bacteria aren’t bad themselves, but they too LOVE sugar.  Whenever you eat something sweet or drink a sugary soda these bacteria go nuts feasting.  The result is an acidic waste product that is a direct cause of TOOTH DECAY.   

So, what can you do when you’re starved for a snack? Try a piece of fruit, rice cakes or rye wafers, with sugar free jam, wheat free or sugar free cookies, or some non-dairy ice cream. Unless you’d like to munch on a carrot or a piece of celery! The bottom line is, if you’re really serious about wanting to look good and feel good, say GOODBYE to or at least go easy on the amount of cookies, candy bars, ice cream sundaes, chips, fries, hot dogs, and burgers. Say HELLO to salads, apples, peaches, fresh vegetables of every kind and lean not-fatty meats.

Take the time to look at the label on the packages or cans of food you buy or eat. These labels will tell you the amount of fat and sugar contained in them. Try to buy or eat those foods, which contain the least amount of sugar and fat. If you eat well, those around you might follow.