ADVERTISING: Advertorial — DR. WENDY CUNNINGHAM: Kick the sugar habit

Did you know that the average person consumes 170 pounds of sugar each year, and sugar is eight times more addictive than cocaine? With everyone trying to protect themselves from COVID-19, it is especially important to know how sugar affects the immune system. It may be one of the most important things you can do while trying to stay safe and healthy through the coronavirus pandemic.

Excess sugar depresses immunity. Studies have shown that downing 75 to 100 grams of a sugar solution (about 20 teaspoons of sugar, or the amount that is contained in two average 12-ounce sodas) can suppress the body’s immune responses. Simple sugars including glucose, table sugar, fructose and honey caused a 50% drop in the ability of white blood cells to engulf bacteria. In contrast, ingesting a complex carbohydrate solution (starch) did not lower the ability of these white blood cells to engulf bacteria. The immune suppression was most noticeable two hours post-ingestion, but the effect was still evident five hours after ingestion. It is so crucial to know that while we are sheltering-at-home and trying to safeguard our health, that we are not sabotaging our immune system by loading up on sugary treats.

Why is sugar so hard to kick? Sugar promotes cravings. The more sugar you eat, the more sugar you want. A high sugar food or drink raises the blood glucose level, which triggers the outpouring of insulin. This excess insulin lingers in the system, triggering a craving for more sugar, thus adding to the vicious cycle of blood sugar spikes and crashes.

Having strategies and guidance to cut sugar out of your diet will increase your success. Luckily, the timing could not be more perfect to change your habits. There is an online summit called Get Off Your Sugar going on live now (March 23-29) with focus on different topics each day. You can register to watch in the safety of your own home for free at http://getoffsugarsummit.com/event. It will cover a variety of topics related to sugar and your health, including strategies to cut sugar out of your diet. Use your quarantine time wisely to improve your life!

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For more information, contact Dr. Wendy Cunningham at haydenhealth@gmail.com.