To be put simply, sugar is an anti-nutrient. Throughout its journey of being processed from its original form, cane sugar, it’s stripped of all the fiber, nutrients, enzymes and any vitamins, thus leaving just empty calories.

Sugar is in most processed foods, which makes it very hard to avoid. The easiest way to get around this is a) don’t buy or eat processed food and b) READ THE LABELS. Sugar has many names and comes in various forms. Here are a few to look out for:

• High Fructose Corn Syrup (the worst!!)
• Fructose
• Lactose
• Sucrose
• Organic Sugar
• Dextrose
• Glucose
• Maltose

As a result, sugar compromises so many natural attributes our bodies inhibit to lead a functional and healthy lifestyle. There are 100’s of negative side affects to regular sugar intake, but here a just a few highlights I want to point out:

1. Sugar can compromise your immune system and impair your defenses against infectious disease.

2. It feeds cancer cells and has been connected with the development of cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, rectum,        pancreas, biliary tract, lung, gallbladder and stomach.

3. Sugar contributes to obesity.

4. Sugar causes food allergies.

5. It can impair the structure of your DNA.

6. It can cause depression.

7. It is an addictive substance – much like drugs, alcohol or nicotine.

8. It can lead to gum disease.

9. Sugar can interfere with your absorption of protein.

10. Sugar can cause a decrease in your insulin sensitivity thereby causing an abnormally high insulin levels and eventually diabetes.

Read more about the 76 Ways Sugar Can Ruin Your Health on Dr. Mercola’s website.

The moral of the story is find a fitness regime that works for your lifestyle and personality AND couple that with proper nutrition. It’s a recipe for INCREDIBLE RESULTS.