It is hard to resist the instant gratification of a sweet tooth when all kinds of sweet temptations are readily available. Unfortunately, too much of a good (sweet) thing can be bad for the body’s chemistry. Harvard Medical School talks about “the sweet danger of sugar” when referring to the many negative effects that sugar has on the body. What happens when you eat sugar? Metabolism is the process by which the latent energy in the foods we eat (with the major macronutrients being carbohydrates, protein and fats) is converted into fuel for the cells in the body. Table sugar is a carbohydrate and is broken down in the gut into glucose and fructose. Glucose is useful, as the cells

When trying to lose weight, there are more diets out there than one can follow in a lifetime!   Sometimes it is not only what you eat, but how much you eat that affects your weight.  Eating too fast can easily lead to overeating. A very simple eating practice originated in Japan, called the 80% rule.  It boils down to getting into the habit of only eating 80% of the food you would normally have on your plate.  Eating slowly, chewing carefully and stopping when you are 80% full gives your stomach enough time (15 – 20 minutes) to tell your brain that it’s full.  You will actually feel more satisfied and have improved digestion.  How to get into the 80%