Fructose As a Weapon of Mass Destruction

Fructose, also called fruit sugar, was once a minor part of our diet. In the early 1900s, the average American took in about 15 grams of fructose a day (about half an ounce), most of it from eating fruits and vegetables.

According Harvard Medical School, today we average four or five times that amount, almost all of it from the refined sugars (sucrose) used to make breakfast cereals, pastries, sodas, fruit drinks, and other sweet foods and beverages.
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Researchers point to the fact that the rise in obesity, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in our country parallels a significant increase in dietary fructose consumption

Can Sugar Be More Addictive Than Cocaine?

Too much of anything can be bad for your health, sugar included.

While a healthy diet contains a significant amount of naturally occurring sugar (in fruits and vegetables, for example), the problem is that we’re chronically consuming much more added sugar in processed foods.
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So, what happens when the brain is exposed to excessive amounts of sugar as is the case with the Standard American Diet (SAD)? In this case, more is definitely not better.

Don’t Mess with Your Immune System

The immune system is made up of many different kinds of cells that protect the body from germs, viruses and other invaders. These cells need to co-exist in a certain balance for good health to be maintained. Many factors, including diet, lifestyle, and exercise can tip this balance, creating immune cells that can harm, rather than protect, our bodies.

Here are a few habits that may leave you vulnerable to disease:
You’re ALWAYS stressed

Science News: Sleep Disturbances are Linked to Metabolic and Endocrine Dysfunction

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and wellbeing. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety.

During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. In children and teens, sleep also helps support growth and development.

The damage from sleep deficiency can occur in an instant (such as a car crash), or it can harm you over time. It also can affect how well you think, react, work, learn, and get along with others.

Science News: The Link Between Your Gut Bacteria and Your Painful Joints

According to a new study published in JCI Insight, bacteria in the gut, known as the gut microbiome, could be the culprit behind osteoarthritis, a condition that plagues people who are obese.
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What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is also known as the “wear and tear” arthritis. It is characterized by loss of joint cartilage that leads to pain and loss of function primarily in the knees and hips.