Monday, January 19, 2009
Obese and Overweight People and Sugar Addicts Worldwide Can Get Back on Dieting Wagon by Joining The Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge, Jan. 16 - 31
Learn Sour Sugar Facts and Get Sweet Benefits by Listening to Experts Dr. Peter Gott, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman, Dr. Nancy Appleton, Dr. Hyla Cass and Others
Millions of Americans who, like Oprah, have fallen off the diet wagon and are now obese or overweight can get inspiration and education for the next two weeks by joining the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge, which kicked off Jan. 16.
This is the first time that health and wellness experts -- including authors of so-called ?competing? sugar books -- have banded together to issue a wake-up call to help obese and overweight people for whom food is their ?drug of choice? (34 percent are obese and 32.7 are overweight in the U.S., according to a new study.
The health experts are speaking out now to deliver the sour sugar news that over-consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates could lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, infertility and Alzheimer's disease. (The experts warn about all caloric sweeteners, including sucrose, high fructose corn syrup and dextrose.)
While most Americans may think they don?t take in that much sugar, the facts disagree. The average American consumes about 170 pounds a year or one cup a day. Figures for people overseas vary, but excessive sugar consumption is also a huge problem in Great Britain and Australia, among others.
But the health experts also bring lots of hope.
Already, millions of people around the world have discovered the enormous benefits of kicking or reducing sugar and refined carbs. For instance, they could lose lots of weight, as well as reverse or prevent type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease and Azheimer's disease.
For years, many celebrities have been savvy about sugar?s dangers and the many benefits you get from eliminating it or cutting back on consumption of it, including Marilu Henner, Suzanne Somers, Daisy Fuentes, Vanessa Marcil, Halle Berry, Mariette Hartley and Susie Coelho, who have all previously spoken to reporters about this subject.
People of all ages and sexes -- even if they don't think they have a sugar problem -- are invited to find a buddy and take the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge for the next two weeks.
The challenge kicked off Jan. 16, at noon, with a fast-paced, two-hour, sugar-consciousness-raising program on the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show
http://tinyurl.com/sugar-out-challenge-radio-show), featuring numerous health experts and authors of sugar books.
The show -- which you can still listen via podcast ? featured such acclaimed health experts Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman, author of "Get the Sugar Out"; Dr. Peter H. Gott, nationally syndicated medical columnist and author of "Dr. Gott's No Sugar, No Flour Diet"; anti-sugar pioneer Dr. Nancy Appleton, author of "Lick the Sugar Habit"; Elizabeth Abbott, author of "Sugar: A Bittersweet History"; Dr. Eric Westman, director of Duke Lifestyle Medicine Clinic; Dr. Hyla Cass, integrative psychiatrist and author of "8 Weeks to Vibrant Health and Natural Highs"; MeMe Roth, founder and president of the National Action Against Obesity; Dr. Woody Merrell, author of "Unleash Your Natural Energy"; Dr. Fred Pescatore, author of "The Hamptons Diet"; Amy Kalafa, co-founder of "Two Angry Moms," which is dedicated to cleaning up the school food environment; Susan Linn, director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood; Dr. Yvonne Sanders Butler, principal of Browns Mill Elementary School in Lithonia, Georgia-the first sugar-free school in the country-and author of "Healthy Kids, Smart Kids: The Principal-Created, Parent-Tested, Kid-Approved Nutrition Program for Strong Minds and Healthy Bodies"; Roberta Ruggiero, founder of the Hypoglycemia Support Foundation; Dr. Larry McCleary, author of "The Brain Trust Program"; Dr. Roberta Lee, vice chair of the Department of Integrative Medicine at Beth Israel's Center for Health and Healing in New York City; the "Nutrition Twins" Tammy Lakatos Shames and Elysse ("Lyssie") Lakatos, authors of "Fire Up Your Metabolism"; integrative medicine practitioner Steven J. Bock, M.D.; and Valerie Berkowitz, R.D. and certified diabetes educator, author of the upcoming book, "The Stubborn Fat Fix"
In addition, happy, successful "Sugar Kickers" participated, including popular low-carb blogger Jimmy Moore, who lost 180 pounds, mostly by cutting out sugar and refined or starchy carbs, and Amanda Lerner, who was delighted when kicking sugar made her shed 25 pounds, as well as get more energy, clearer skin, increased focus, more creativity and an exhilarating feeling of freedom. In addition, her sugar cravings, depression, eczema, candida and fainting spells disappeared.
The Sugar-Out Challenge is coordinated by Dr. Scott Olson, author of "Sugarettes," and Connie Bennett, host of the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show and author of "SUGAR SHOCK! How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life -- And How You Can Get Back on Track (Berkley Books)," which has been endorsed by "Oprah" regular Dr. Mehmet Oz, bestselling author Dr. Christiane Northrup, actress/author Marilu Henner, film producer Harvey Weinstein, fitness expert Kathy Smith and many others. Cardiologist Dr. Stephen T. Sinatra is the contributing author, and Dr. Nicholas Perricone wrote the book?s foreword.
Serving as advisory board members to the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge are MeMe Roth of the National Action Against Obesity and low-carb blogger Jimmy Moore.
The Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge also included a 24-hour helpfest on Twitter, where short, educational, motivating tweets were sent from www.Twitter.com/TwitAsYouQuit.
The Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge continues for another two weeks of sugar-consciousness raising, with overweight and obese people, as well as sugar addicts, hypoglycemics and diabetics, encouraged to particiapte in an Internet-based viral campaign by sending out a link of the Gab With the Gurus podcast with health experts to friends and loved ones around the world --
http://tinyurl.com/sugar-out-challenge-radio-show "Most people don't realize that whenever you eat or drink foods or drinks from a bottle, can or package, you're probably getting sugar or high fructose corn syrup," says "Sugar Liberator" and Sugar-Out Challenge co-coordinator Bennett, a journalist, certified health counselor, speaker and life coach.
"Of course, you get sugar and other sweeteners from candy bars, soda and cookies, but you also get it from less obvious sources like yogurt, whole grain cereal, peanut butter, salad dressings and mayonnaise," continues Bennett, who, before kicking sugar in 1998 "needed" frequent sugar "fixes" to meet her article deadlines.
"People who want to lose weight as their New Year's resolution and to get back on track need to know that your weight will lift right off if you just cut out sugar and refined carbs"
The Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge co-planner Scott Olson, N.D., a Colorado-based naturopath, adds, "People assume that diseases are a normal part of aging, but that's not true. Many illnesses are caused by the sugary foods and drinks and refined carbohydrates that we put into our mouths. Our mission is to get people and medical authorities to admit to this reality"
The Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge is taking place virtually, on the Internet, and in the media:
= To join the challenge, sign up anytime by posting a comment at
http://tinyurl.com/sugar-out-sign-up or click on the "Sign Up for Sugar-Out Challenge" button (on the upper nav bar)
= Listen to a 2-hour show/podcast on the Gab With the Radio Show on Blog Talk Radio with notable health and sugar experts. Just go anytime to:
http://tinyurl.com/sugar-out-challenge-radio-show = Get inspired by the TwitAsYouQuit campaign on www.Twitter.com/TwitAsYouQuit (It was Jan. 16-17.). If you don't know about Twitter, join Twitter for Newbies program on Jan. 20 on Bennett's Gab With the Gurus Radio Show -- www.GabWithTheGurus.com.
The goals of the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge are:
= To wake Americans and others around the world to the sour truth about the huge amounts (about 170 pounds per year) of sugar, high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners that they are consuming -- often without knowing it.
= To educate people about the many dangers of sugar overloading, which could lead to more than 100 health problems, including obesity, heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, sexual dysfunction, Alzheimer's disease, failing memory, mood swings, depression, anxiety, severe PMS, heart palpitations, acne and premature aging.
= To motivate challenge-takers to eliminate sugar and other sweeteners, starting Jan. 16 and until the end of January (at the least begin the phase-out) so that they can lose weight, feel and look more youthful, boost their energy, diminish depression, concentrate better, rev up their sex drive and improve their general health overall.
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To take the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge that began Jan. 16 and continues until Jan. 31. Here's how to participate:
1) Join at
http://tinyurl.com/sugar-out-sign-up or click on the sign-up button at www.SugarShockBlog.com
2) Listen to the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show at
http://tinyurl.com/sugar-out-challenge-radio-show 3) Sign up at Twitter (if you don't have an account yet) and begin following short posts (up to 140 characters) at www.Twitter.com/TwitAsYouQuit. Participants are also urged to post encouraging words to fellow participants. Boost sugar consciousness by reading the short posts or "tweets" As with the radio show, people are encouraged to send the @TwitAsYouQuit address to people around the world until the end of January.
4) Get educated and inspired by reading quotes from supporters of this first-of-a-kind Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge. Just visit:
http://snipurl.com/sugar-out-supporters ---------------------------------------
ABOUT THE GREAT WORLDWIDE SUGAR-OUT CHALLENGE COORDINATORS --
CONNIE BENNETT, C.H.H.C.:
== Connie Bennett is the author of the book "SUGAR SHOCK!," with cardiologist/anti-aging expert Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. "SUGAR SHOCK!" has a foreword by Dr. Nicholas Perricone and endorsements from Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Christiane Northrup, former presidential candidate/former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, actress/author Marilu Henner, film producer Harvey Weinstein and numerous other experts. Bennett -- who is a journalist, certified health counselor, sugar-liberation expert, speaker and life coach -- is a former sugar addict, who was once besieged by 44 baffling ailments, including ferocious headaches, crippling fatigue, troubling "brain fog" and severe PMS. More than 10 years ago, in 1998, she reluctantly kicked sugar on doctor's orders and within days, she felt "reborn," becoming more energetic, focused, cheerful and more. Bennett has helped thousands of people around the world break free from their addiction to sugar and "much-like sugar carbs" such as breads, crackers and chips. She is based in New York. Her website is www.SugarShock.com; her radio show on Blog Talk Radio is www.GabWithTheGurus.com and her blogs are www.SugarShockBlog.com and www.GabWithTheGurusBlog.com
ABOUT SCOTT OLSON, N.D.:
==Dr. Scott Olson is a naturopathic doctor, an expert in natural medicine, as well as a writer, researcher, speaker, health adviser, health coach and author of the book "Sugarettes," which spotlights the addictive, nicotine-like nature of sugar. He was once overly attached to much-like-sugar carbs such as breads, chips and crackers. He is based in Denver. Dr. Olson specializes in treating people with sugar addiction, cancer, type 2 diabetes, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. His website is www.OlsonND.com
Experts Support Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge
?People like Oprah who want to lose weight as their New Year's resolution and to get back on track need to know that your weight will lift right off if you just cut out sugar and refined carbs. It's that simple. Just read food labels before you eat or drink foods or beverages out of bottles, cans or jars. Better go, and choose ?real food? that isn't processed.? -- Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C., Sugar Liberator, Speaker, Health Counselor, Life Coach, Author, "SUGAR SHOCK!" and Co-Coordinator, Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge
"People assume that diseases are a normal part of aging, but that's not true. Many illnesses are caused by the sugary foods and drinks and refined carbohydrates that we put into our mouths. Our mission is to get people and medical authorities to admit to this reality" -- Scott Olson, N.D., Author of "Sugarettes", Naturopath and Co-Coordinator, Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge
"Cholesterol is not your enemy when it comes to heart disease. It's sugar. Cholesterol may be found at the scene of the crime, but sugar is the major perpetrator, not cholesterol" -- Cardiologist Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., contributing author of "SUGAR SHOCK!"
"Sugar and high glycemic starches rapidly convert to sugar when eaten, and they cause a highly destructive pro-inflammatory response in our bodies. This is the single greatest precipitator of aging and age-related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, certain forms of cancer, and wrinkled, sagging skin" -- Nicholas Perricone, M.D., C.N.S., Board-Certified Dermatologist and Bestselling Author
"You are brilliant, Connie! Thanks for showing everyone what 24 hours without their "drug of choice" feels like. Fingers crossed that you will change thousands of lives in one day!? ? JJ Virgin, Ph.D., C.N.S., Nutrition & Fitness Expert & Former Nutrition Consultant to Dr. Phil's "Weight Loss Challenge"
"Dramatically reducing refined carbohydrate intake is one of the greatest health challenges the U.S faces in the next decade, as we seek to restore our national health and health care system" -- Woodson Merrell, M.D., Chairman, Department of Integrative Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center & Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and author of "The Source: Unleash Your Natual Energy, Power Up Your Health and Feel 10 Years Younger"
"Sugar is so last millennium! We now know that refined carbs and sugar get us high (great fun for the moment!), then wreck our moods, endocrine system and, ultimately, our health. It's time to Sugar-Out this Friday and every day after. And for crying out loud, don't teach your kids to use sugar to get high. Instead give them the natural highs that come with playtime, holding hands and laughter. The Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge: what a great idea!" -- MeMe Roth, Nutrition Adviser, National News Pundit and President, National Action Against Obesity
"Sugar Disease -- with its progressive manifestations of hypoglycemia, insulin resistance and, finally, diabetes -- is America's leading health problem. Coming to grips with this epidemic would go a long way towards eradicating the chronic diseases that threaten to undermine our nation's health and sink our economy" -- Ronald Hoffman, M.D., Medical Director, Hoffman Center in New York City, and Host of Health Talk on WOR
"Many so-called mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, addiction and even bipolar illness have a strong relationship to blood sugar imbalance, caused by eating -- you guessed it, sugar! These often-serious conditions can be overcome by eliminating sugar, eating a healthy diet, and taking specific supplements, as needed. I have helped many of my patients and readers replace medication using this natural approach, with excellent results! . . . " -- Hyla Cass M.D., Integrative Psychiatrist and author of "8 Weeks to Vibrant Health and Natural Highs"
"It is so much easier to prevent obesity, sugar addiction, and Type II Diabetes than it is to reverse these problems (although they ARE reversible!). Education is the very best medicine we have. When we bring healthy school food into the curriculum, we connect kids with their environment; we get them active in school gardens and in tasting and trying real, whole food; and we get them thinking differently about what goes into their bodies. Lots of new research shows that better food makes kids better learners, improves classroom behavior, attendance and athletic ability. Let's bring this conversation into every Board of Ed meeting, every state assembly, and front and center of the new Federal administration!? -- Amy Kalafa, Co-Founder, Two Angry Moms and producer of "Two Angry Moms" film, which shows parents what they can do to clean up America's school food environment.
"As a certified nutritional microscopist (live and dried blood analysis, trained by Dr. Robert O. Young), I have seen the devastation caused by the fermentation of sugar in the body. You see, sugar will either burn as a fuel (because you have enough oxygen present) OR since our body has limits to how much oxygen we can intake . . . sugar that cannot have oxygen to be able to burn will ferment which increases acidity considerably" -- Rick Panson, Certified Nutritional Microscopist, Raw Food Creator of Raw Jaw Foods and Water Filtration/ionization Consultant
"Sugar is a major cause of inflammation in the body and therefore a cause of many modern diseases. I support your efforts fully!" -- Gerianne C. Geszler, M.D., The Center for Health and Restoration, Inc., Fayetteville, North Carolina
"I'm excited to be a part of Connie Bennett's and Dr. Scott Olson's First Annual Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge, because kicking my sugar habit five years ago saved me from morbid obesity and certain heath destruction" -- Jimmy Moore, Founder of the Livin' La Vida Low Carb Blog, who lost 180 pounds.
"I am a registered nurse . . . and I have avoided sugars for 10 years now. I think that The Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge is a great idea. Let's all decrease our sugar intake so that we can increase our intake of nutrient rich, delicious foods that will leave us healthy and satisfied. We'll feel better, look better, live longer, be more efficient, think more clearly and enjoy more" -- Laura Stanley, R.N., Author, "Don't get Diabetes: a short and simple guide"
"Sugar isn't just bad for our bodies. When we consider its history - how it changed the nature of meals, fueled the Industrial Revolution, generated a brutal new form of slavery, jump started the fast-food revolution and fueled the obesity epidemic through soft drinks, we realize that sugar is also toxic to society in general. The Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge is a great way to begin to challenge the supremacy of the seductive sweet stuff" -- Dr. Elizabeth Abbott, author of "Sugar: A Bittersweet History"
"Connie, Dr. Olson and these other health experts participating in this Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge could help cure the single largest cause of many diseases in America by exposing the fact that highly refined and processed foods and beverages are killing us, because they're full of harmful, refined sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup that can . . . lead to obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, as well as cause insulin harm and many forms of nutrient depletion. In my opinion, corn [from which you get ubiquitous high fructose corn syrup] is to real food what porn is to fine art. You, your family, your friends, your colleagues, your associates, your clients and your fellow citizens are being led to early disease and death by processed food and beverages . . . to be further harmed by Big Pharma drugs" Want to get well? Stop consuming any product or brand with refined sugar (cane or beet), high fructose corn syrup, fructose (which is not fruit sugar), agave (which is criminally fraudulently labeled and is chemically refined hydrolyzed high fructose insulin syrup), etc. It's shocking how much sugar we consume. The per capita consumption of refined sweeteners in the U.S. is almost 190 pounds per year when a century ago, it was less than 6 pounds per year. Perhaps it's so popular, because after air, water and salt, refined sweeteners are the least costly (for-profit) bulking ingredient in the food and beverage chain. We are what we eat and will die (much faster, costlier and more painfully) when we eat junk, fast, take-out, processed, refined, food or beverages, full of bad-for-you sweeteners. We need to eat real foods in their natural state" -- Russ Bianchi, Managing Director and CEO, Adept Solutions, Inc., a global, natural product development firm
"Connie, you are doing more for the world than any doctor or scientist. Keep it up" -- Jeraldine Saunders, author of Hypoglycemia: The Complete Health Care Handbook
"We must focus on educating the public about the significant health benefits of eating whole and unprocessed foods to combat the growing public health epidemic of obesity" -- Jill R. Baron, M.D., Primary Care and Holistic Medicine Specialist New York, New York
Thoughts on Sugar From Other Experts, Who Endorsed
Bennett and Dr. Sinatra's Book "SUGAR SHOCK!"
"When I finally decided to turn my life around through exercise and better nutrition, one of the first things I did was give up eating refined, processed sugar" -- Former presidential contender and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
"Too much sugar and refined carbohydrates could make you very sick ? and maybe even kill you" -- Dr. Joseph Mercola, founder, www.Mercola.com, the number one ranked natural health Web site
"Millions of people, including me, have been plagued by their relationship with sugar" -- Film producer Harvey Weinstein ("Chicago," "The English Patient," "Pulp Fiction," "Life is Beautiful," "Good Will Hunting,? and other movies)
Read endorsements for "SUGAR SHOCK!" here:
http://www.sugarshock.com/endorsements.html