Mmm, sugar. We all love it, can’t resist it, and often buy it on impulse. But how is sugar affecting our health? Sugar can be the cause of diabetes, hypoglycemia, fatigue, and many other ailments. Still chowing down on Hersheys? Keep reading.

Glucose, sucrose, lactose, and fructose, these are some of the names we’ve all heard before, but what does each one do?

- Glucose is found in fruits, vegetables, and honey, and causes a quick rise in blood sugar (a.k.a. it’s good for short workouts, but you’ll be weak and shaky in an hour.)

- Sucrose is the white sugar we put in our coffee and recipes, and is made from a combination of glucose and fructose. This type of sugar can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar.

- Lactose is the sugar found in milk.

- Fructose is another sugar found naturally in fruits and honey, and is one and a half times as sweet as sucrose but surprisingly has the same amount of calories. A plus of fructose is that the body absorbs it slowly, which will prevent a blood sugar drop.

Now that you know the difference between these sugars, here are some ways to kill your sweet tooth.

- Don’t buy the stuff. When it’s not in the fridge calling your name, you are less likely to crave it.

- Keep away from all sugars as long as possible, since it usually takes about a month to break the habit.

- Read labels! Steer clear of ingredients such as honey, dextrose, fructose, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, sorbitol, fruit juice concentrate, galactose, lactose, polydextrose, mannitol, xylitol, and maltodextrin. Hey, say that five times fast.

- Avoid sodas, which are the number one source of sugar in our diets. Soft drinks make your blood sugar rise and fall too quickly, not to mention they add extra calories to your diet. Another indulgence to avoid is sugary breakfast cereal.

- Visit www.mercola.com/article/sugar/dangers_of_sugar.htm for a list of 124 ways sugar can damage your health, guaranteed to keep you away from the candy bars.

- Still need that sugar high? Well there’s good news; Krispy Kreme is planning a new low-sugar doughnut.

- Another great website, http://quiz/ivillage.co.uk/uk_diet/tests/sugar.htm, has a quiz to test your addiction to sugar.

- Quick Fact: The average American eats about 156 pounds of sugar a year, which is at least double what health experts recommend.

Once again, another Living Well issue, and another health hazard that even baffles me! Sugar has many disguises, but with this guide, you’ll be able to blow your sweet tooth out of the water. Visit back in June for my summer article!

Tracy Tallman
Living Well Columnist

This column is devoted to delivering info that'll keep you living better, naturally, and healthy.

Questions? Feel free at tracy@enliv.com