Sugar is How We Say I Love You and It’s Killing Us

What do you expect for birthdays and most gatherings? Desert! Cake! Sweets! What is something nice you do for friends and family when they are sick? Bring them a delicious little something, but that very something may be the reason why they continue to be sick or got sick in the first place.

Sugar. I’m an addict. As much as I’ve tried to quit, my addiction keeps coming back again and again. Sugar feeds candida and every time I’ve gone to my yearly (now every three years) exam, they’ve diagnosed me with a yeast infection, given me a pill, and sent me on my way. What they didn’t mention is that sugar, alcohol, and carbs (think bread and pasta) have put me into this situation. The pill they prescribe might help clear up the infection, but it won’t do much in the long run to help keep me free of yeast. That’s my job, and it’s where I’ve been failing miserably for years. At least now I know I shouldn’t eat sugar, but the struggle to be sugar free is incredibly difficult.

It’s both difficult for me to stop myself from eating cookies, ice cream, and cake and to avoid the hidden places sugar hides in the American diet. Say no to processed foods, say no to ketchup, say no to fruit. Fruit? Depending on what sources you are listening to, yes, sugar has fruit in it that can encourage yeast growth.

I find alcohol easier to resist than sugar. Even as I’ve typed this article I’ve had the thoughts: a sangria would be nice, I’d like some alcohol, and ice cream. We keep alcohol in our house…