The correct answer to the following question will shock you: Would you survive longer on a diet of just water OR on a diet of water and refined sugar?

The answer: You would survive longer on just water.

Sound impossible? Just ask the five sailors who were ship wrecked in 1793. The ship was filled with sugar, thus giving the marooned five a diet of sugar and water. When they were finally picked up, nine days later, they were in a wasted condition due to starvation. The story of the five sailors intrigued French physiologist Francois Magendie to conduct a series of experiments in which he fed dogs a diet of sugar. All of the dogs died. Magendie proved that as a steady diet, refined sugar is worse than nothing.

How can sugar be worse than nothing? Plainly put, refined sugar is an anti-nutrient. It starts out as sugar cane, and then goes through an extensive refining process that destroys all of the enzymes, fiber, vitamins and minerals. What you're left with are empty, naked calories. The problem is that your body needs the enzymes, fiber, vitamins and minerals that were taken out in the refining process in order to metabolize sugar and use it as energy. So it takes those nutrients from your own body.  So while you are enjoying that chocolate bar, sugar is draining vital nutrients from your body. Like a sweet parasite. And it doesn't end there…

• Sugar creates false hunger (as a result of the insulin rush and then ensuing plummet in your blood sugar levels), which makes you overeat. This means a constant struggle with your weight in which you never seem to achieve your ideal size.
• Sugar promotes aging (due to the advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, that occur when insulin levels are consistently elevated as a result of eating too much sugar). Sugar has even been dubbed the negative fountain of youth.
• Sugar weakens your bones - making you vulnerable for osteoporosis, and weakens your teeth - making you vulnerable for cavities (both due to the calcium being pulled from your bones and teeth in order for your body to process sugar).
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• Sucrose
• High fructose corn syrup
• Fructose
• Lactose
• Organic sugar
• Maltose
• Dextrose
• Glucose 

Your doctor feels like a broken record. That's right - he's sick and tired of telling you how important exercise is to your health because you don't listen. He's sick of explaining how so many of your health problems will improve or even disappear as the result of a consistent exercise program. He's tired of tallying your controllable risk factors which include physical inactivity and obesity. So why does he continue to give you the same lecture? Because he's seen exercise change lives...he's even seen exercise save lives.

A Doctor's Perspective

Dr. David Shilling MD has been a family doctor for over 30 years. In that time he's given a fair number of patients the exercise lecture...with good cause.
He's seen firsthand the healing power of exercise. Exactly what kind of healing? Dr. Shilling shared the top five benefits that he's seen patients experience as a result of exercise:

1. Feel Great: The first thing that patients tell Dr. Shilling after starting an exercise program is how much better they feel. “People don't realize how bad they feel. They get used to feeling bad. Then when they start exercising they feel so much better.”  Your energy levels boost and you feel great.

2. Pain Be Gone: Next patients notice a reduction in aches and pains. Chronic muscle and joint pain that they've lived with for years begins to fade. For some, joint replacement surgery is postponed. For others, arthritis pain is reduced. Your muscles and joints feel better than ever.

It's time for some more quick tips that you may find interesting:

Shop Fit

Don't go to the grocery store with an empty stomach. Your cart will mysteriously fill with extra, unnecessary foods that will end up crashing your good intentions.
Make a list before you go to the store. You'll be able to think rationally at home before you're surrounded by tasty, FITNESS destroying foods. Plan out your meals for the week ahead of time, then shop specifically for those items. This will cut out the junk, and save you calories and money.

Want Anti-oxidants? Go Blue!

Blueberries are being called a "super food" by many nutritionists. Recent research has shown that blueberries are the fruit with the highest antioxidant activity. They have even been shown to improve memory and coordination and to slow the development of degenerative diseases. Snack on fresh or dried blueberries instead of processed sweets – not only are they healthier, you'll also lose weight.

That's Nutty 

Recent studies confirm that nuts are an important part of a healthy diet. Nuts promote a healthy heart, improve digestion and help ward off cancer. Of course, nuts need to be eaten in moderation, as they are a calorie dense food. Incorporate a small handful of raw almonds into your daily diet, and reap the healthy benefits of nuts.