Sugar. How could something that tastes so extremely good be so extremely bad for you? Some may say it’s not fair, but at Dr. Gena Chiropractic, we not only like to stay away from sugar – we feel our best avoiding foods that have a negative effect on our nervous systems! 

Dr. Gena Chiropractic is a leading Fort Lauderdale family chiropractor, with a bustling chiropractic office in Plantation Florida. Dr. Gena and her incredible chiropractic team are not only dedicated to the health of your spine, but your overall wellness, too!

Proper nutrition is one of the five pillars of wellness that Dr. Gena lives by. “We look at the whole picture of someone’s health when taking care of our chiropractic patients. How they’re sleeping, whether or not they exercise, their current stress levels, emotional health, and of course, what they’re eating, all play a major role in how a person is going to feel,” Dr. Gena says.

When you’re adding something to your diet on a regular basis that goes against the pillar of proper nutrition, such as sugar, you are likely to feel it – big time. According to an article in Health.compublished last year, sugar and other refined carbs, like those in white bread and pasta, quickly cause a rise in glucose in the bloodstream, so you might feel extra energized—for a while. But this short-term fix can actually leave you more sluggish later on (when you eventually crash).

Apart from this, sugar has been found to be highly addictive and should NOT be a major part of our diet (especially for kids). “Fructose—the sugar that naturally occurs in fruit and is a component, with glucose, of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and table sugar—lights up the brain's reward center,” says pediatric endocrinologist Robert Lustig, MD, of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco.

“Sugar’s not dangerous because of its calories, or because it makes you fat. Sugar is dangerous because it’s sugar. It’s not nutrition. When consumed in excess, it’s a toxin. And it’s addictive,” Lustig says in his book, The Toxic Truth About Sugar.

Besides these issues, regular consumption of sugar is widely known to cause:

• Premature wrinkles and signs of aging
• Accelerated oxidation process of cells, resulting in a higher probability of organ damage.
• Obesity
• Habitual stress eating

So, why are Americans consuming between 2-3 pounds of sugar EACH WEEK? Well, likely because of how addictive sugar is. But if you want to break the cycle of sugar addiction, treat your cravings wisely. 

“Taking the proactive step to cut refined sugars out of your diet will ultimately be life-changing,” Dr. Gena says. “You’ll be sleeping better, thinking more clearly, and feeling your best.”

When those cravings hit, opt for nature’s sweetest treats. Try nature's sugar in the form of fresh, organic fruits, such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or apples, all of which are very good for your brain, and have the least impact on your glycemic index.

And to live your life fully aligned and feeling great, remember your regular chiropractic visits! At Dr. Gena Chiropractic in Plantation, your health is in your hands, but our hands are here to help.