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Carol Simontacchi, CCN, MS

Carol Simontacchi, CCN, MS, is the host of "Your Personal Health," a nationally syndicated radio show that airs on over 200 stations. An online columnist for Vitalcast.com, she is a certified clinical nutritionist in private practice in Portland, Ore., and the author of a number of books on nutrition. She lives in Vancouver, Wash.

It is easy to say, "Stop eating sugar." It is another thing to enjoy life without it. Having "broken my sweet tooth" many years ago, I can honestly say that once you get past the withdrawal period, and bring the body into biochemical balance, you will not miss sugar. In fact, you will feel so "out of order" by eating sugar, your body balance becomes self-regulating. You do not indulge in sugary sweets simply because you feel better without them.

Sorry about that but, it is the truth. The research confirms the fact that sugar increases diabetes and inflammatory markers in the blood. Inflammation is a factor in the development of diabetes. In a child study of type I diabetes, researchers found that inflammation is a predictor of juvenile-onset diabetes. (Chase 2004) Inflammation is also linked to Type II diabetes (adult onset). Does sugar intake lead to the development of this deadly disease—or is sugar linked to...

Last week, we discussed the touchy subject of sugar cravings and artificial sweeteners, and the influence of diet soft drinks on weight. (It increases it.)

According to the Vancouver Sun, obesity is partly to blame for the rise in joint surgery. They were, of course, writing for their Canadian audience, but it is just as true in the US. If that is true (and it doubtless is), it is not difficult to understand. Added weight increases stress on the bones and joints.

In case you think that headline is an unwarranted scare tactic, I didn't make it up.

I borrowed it from an article published in the Houston Chronicle. They got their information from the researchers at the University of Texas San Antonio, who did a study of middle-aged adults who drink soft drinks. Are you ready for this?

Do you drink diet soft drinks, in the hopes it will diminish the circumference of your waistline? Forget it. The study monitored the weight...