SUGAR

At this time of year people are usually regretting the sugar they ate over the holidays beginning with the Halloween candy and continuing through the pumpkin pie and the cookies and fruitcake.  (Okay maybe not fruitcake, but admit to a few extra cookies.)

Cutting back to the pre-holiday levels is a start but be aware of just how much sugar you're consuming.  If you're reading labels you may be surprised at the places where sugar is lurking.  You'll find it in breads, tomato sauces, and many other products that don't need to be sweet.

Retrain your palate by eliminating white sugar and replacing it with natural, whole food, sweeteners such as molasses, agave, rice syrup and  Sucanat, a form of sugar cane that has NOT been processed and bleached beyond recognition the way your table sugar has been.

Artificial sweeteners carry their own health risks and are also to be avoided.  And brown sugar…that's just white sugar with a dye job. 

Being aware of how much sugar is lurking in your meals is a great start towards decreasing your daily intake.