Fig Leaf Fitness

“As a nation, we’ve got a problem with sugar . Our damaging relationship with the sweet stuff is the impetus behind the creation of SugarScience , a new Web site from researchers at University of California San Francisco. Thanks to their extensive analysis of more than 8,000 papers about the health-wrecking properties of too much sugar, they’ve gathered compelling evidence about just how harmful sugar can actually be. “ LIQUID SUGAR IS WREAKING HAVOC ON AMERICANS' DIETS “ Sugar in a liquid form via beverages like sodas, energy drinks, and sports drinks is the largest single source of added sugar in Americans’ diets, according to the USDA . “ SODA IS TERRIBLE and it’s “ Time to kick that cola habit to the curb: Chugging one can of soda per day can increase your risk of dying from heart disease by almost one-third, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine . Even worse, a study in Current Diabetes Reports showed that, compared to drinking sugary beverages like sod...

If you want to eat for long-term health, lowering inflammation is crucial. Inflammation in the body causes or contributes to many debilitating, chronic illnesses — including osteoarthritis , rheumatoid arthritis , heartdisease , Alzheimer’s disease , Parkinson’s disease , and even cancer . Recent research finds that eating this way not only helps protect against certain diseases , but it also slows the aging process by stabilizing blood sugar and increasing metabolism. Plus, although the goal is to optimize health, many people find they also lose weight by following an anti-inflammatory eating pattern. What is inflammation? Let’s clear the air: Inflammation is a totally normal bodily function. It is generally triggered by the immune system when it recognizes an invader or damage to tissue that must be kept under control. The immune system stimulates different cells and proteins—like white blood cells—to help eliminate the threat of an outside invader and ...