This is the short list. The actual list could go on for pages! Sugar is also a mood-altering substance, which is no surprise to anyone with a sweet tooth. For all these reasons, it's likely that if sugar growers tried to win FDA approval today, they'd have a tough time getting permission to sell their product.

But the fact is that sugar is everywhere in our diet, and it is dumped into what we eat and drink during food processing. With one-third of our calories coming from sugar and white flour, and the stress of modern life increasing, we are seeing the makings of the "perfect storm" of medical problems. Eating sugar causes blood sugar to surge, insulin to spike, and fat to get deposited throughout your body. Obesity, often accompanied by diabetes and heart disease, is just one more consequence of our high-sugar diet.

The Value of Sugar Detox
I know the value of ridding the body of excess sugar. For more than thirty years I have incorporated sugar detox into treatments for countless patients suffering from chronic health problems. I have also seen thousands of people whose chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were aggravated by their sweet tooth.

I also understand the problem firsthand. A former sugar addict myself, I came down with chronic fatigue syndrome in 1975. Eliminating my sugar addiction was an important part of my recovery.

Sugar addiction is the canary in the coal mine. It usually points to a larger problem that is also dragging you down. We don't have anything against sugar. We simply don't want you feeling poorly and getting sick because of it. In fact, we want you to feel great! And most of you will when you treat the problems accompanying your sugar addiction. Ready to get off of the "sugar roller coaster"? We're happy to guide the way.

The basics of sugar detox are, of course, diet related--the standard method used to overcome sugar addiction. But an even deeper level of treatment is necessary to produce wellness. If you have tried the "cold turkey" approach to sugar addiction without nutritional strategies, treatment guidelines, and support, you probably found success elusive. That's because getting rid of the sugar is but one step in an overall comprehensive approach that must address the mind, body, and spirit.

The problem with many medical self-help books is that they pick off a little corner of the problem and miss the big picture, so often you get frustrated and stop your program without getting well. My goal in writing Beat Sugar Addiction Now! is to give you an organized step-by-step approach for each type of sugar addiction, so you can effectively and easily kick sugar addiction--along with the hidden problems driving your addiction.

The Four Types of Sugar Addiction
To beat sugar addiction, first you'll need to figure out which type of sugar addict you are. Different kinds of sugar addiction have different underlying causes and require different treatments. Here are the four key types of sugar addiction:

Type 1: The Energy Loan Shark. Chronically exhausted and hooked on quick hits of caffeine and sugar

When daily fatigue causes sugar (and caffeine) cravings, sometimes all you need is to improve nutrition, sleep, and exercise. When your energy increases, you won't need sugar and caffeine for an energy boost. This can often be done fairly easily. Instead of "energy loan shark" drinks, optimize nutritional support with a good vitamin powder (I like the "Energy Revitalization System" vitamin powder by Enzymatic Therapy-one simple drink replaces over 35 tablets of supplements). In addition, 2 studies we have done have shown that a special energy nutrient called Ribose (ironically, a sugar-but a healthy one) increases energy by an average of 45-60% after 3 weeks. My daily regimen is to add a 5 gram scoop to the vitamin powder each morning.