Dr Martin classified refined sugar as a poison because it has been depleted of its life forces, vitamins and minerals. "What is left consists of pure, refined carbohydrates. The body cannot utilize this refined starch and carbohydrate unless the depleted proteins, vitamins and minerals are present. Incomplete carbohydrate metabolism results in the formation of 'toxic metabolite' such as pyruvic acid and abnormal sugars containing five carbon atoms. Pyruvic acid accumulates in the brain and nervous system and the abnormal sugars in the red blood cells. These toxic metabolites interfere with the respiration of the cells. They cannot get sufficient oxygen to survive and function normally. In time, some of the cells die. This interferes with the function of a part of the body and is the beginning of degenerative disease." 

 Refined sugar is lethal when ingested by humans because it provides only that which nutritionists describe as "empty" or "naked" calories. It lacks the natural minerals which are present in the sugar beet or cane. In addition, sugar is worse than nothing because it drains and leaches the body of precious vitamins and minerals through the demand its digestion, detoxification and elimination make upon one's entire system.

Refined Sugar Depletes Vital Vitamins and Minerals

So essential is balance to our bodies that we have many ways to provide against the sudden shock of a heavy intake of sugar. Minerals such as sodium (from salt), potassium and magnesium (from vegetables), and calcium (from the bones) are mobilized and used in chemical transmutation; neutral acids are produced which attempt to return the acid-alkaline balance factor of the blood to a more normal state.

Refined Sugar Produces an Over Acid Condition that the body Needs to Continually Fight

Sugar taken every day produces a continuously over acid condition, and more and more minerals are required from deep in the body in the attempt to rectify the imbalance. Finally, in order to protect the blood, so much calcium is taken from the bones and teeth that decay and general weakening begin. 

Excess Sugar Affects Every Organ of the Body

Excess sugar eventually affects every organ in the body. Initially, it is stored in the liver in the form of glucose (glycogen). Since the liver's capacity is limited, a daily intake of refined sugar (above the required amount of natural sugar) soon makes the liver expand like a balloon. When the liver is filled to its maximum capacity, the excess glycogen is returned to the blood in the form of fatty acids. These are taken to every part of the body and stored in the most inactive areas: the belly, the buttocks, the breasts and the thighs.

When these comparatively harmless places are completely filled, fatty acids are then distributed among active organs, such as the heart and kidneys. These begin to slow down; finally their tissues degenerate and turn to fat. The whole body is affected by their reduced ability, and abnormal blood pressure is created. The parasympathetic nervous system is affected; and organs governed by it, such as the small brain, become inactive or paralyzed. (Normal brain function is rarely thought of as being as biologic as digestion.) The circulatory and lymphatic systems are invaded, and the quality of the red corpuscles starts to change. An overabundance of white cells occurs, and the creation of tissue becomes slower. Our body's tolerance and immunizing power becomes more limited, so we cannot respond properly to extreme attacks, whether they be cold, heat, mosquitoes or microbes.

Excess Sugar Affects the Brain

Excessive sugar has a strong mal-effect on the functioning of the brain. The key to orderly brain function is glutamic acid, a vital compound found in many vegetables. The B vitamins play a major role in dividing glutamic acid into antagonistic-complementary compounds which produce a "proceed" or "control" response in the brain. B vitamins are also manufactured by symbiotic bacteria which live in our intestines. When refined sugar is taken daily, these bacteria wither and die, and our stock of B vitamins gets very low. Too much sugar makes one sleepy; our ability to calculate and remember is lost.

Sugar Effects Your Health in Many Ways

Sugar is a major factor in dental decay;  heart disease, obesity, and many many chronic and disabling diseases. On a good note science has shown that removal of sugar from diets has cured symptoms of crippling, worldwide diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart illnesses.

Kicking the Sugar Habit

Changing the quality of your carbohydrates can change the quality of your health and life. If you eat natural food of good quality, quantity tends to take care of itself.

Another important approach is education and knowing which foods in your diet may have hidden sugars, these include cereals, breads, sauces, not just the cakes and cookies that most people associate with sugar.

Reducing sweeteners in our diet is a positive step that each one of us can take. It requires an effort, but reducing our dietary load of sugar and sweeteners is of key importance for our health.

Sugar is added to different foods under many different names, as shown below:

Avoid These Sugar Substances Added To Foods

• Artificial Sweetener
• Corn syrup
• Dextrose
• Fructose
• High-fructose Corn Syrup
• Honey Malt syrup 
• Maple sugar
• Sucrose

Avoid Sugar Foods and Snacks

• Artificial Juices 
• Breakfast Cereals
• Cakes and Candies
• Corn Syrup
• Cookies
• Doughnuts
• Ice Cream
• Jams
• Jellies
• Pies
• Puddings 
• Sugar
• Soda Pop
• Sorbets
• Sweetened Drinks
• Sweets
• Cakes

Avoid Hidden Sugar in Foods

• Baking Mixes
• Breads
• Canned Fruits
• Crackers
• Cheese Dips 
• Frankfurters
• Frozen Vegetables
• Ketchup
• Luncheon Meats
• Prepared Seafood
• Pickles
• Peanut Butter
• Relish
• Salad Dressings
• Soups
• Sausages
• Soups
• Sweetened Yogurt
• Tartar Sauce

Sugar Withdrawals

Although sugar addiction is common, sugar withdrawal is usually physically mild, with periodic strong cravings. Emotional attachments and withdrawals may be more pronounced. For those who are sensitive to refined sugar or sweeteners, or who consume them in large amounts various symptoms of abuse and withdrawal may occur. Some of these symptoms include fatigue, anxiety and irritability, depression and detachment, rapid heart rate and palpitations, and poor sleep. Most symptoms if they do occur, last only a few days.

Most people who have kicked the sugar habit find that they no longer tolerate sugar very well.

Stabilizing Blood Sugar

A diet that is rich in whole grains and other complex carbohydrates, vegetables, and protein foods can also help stabilize blood sugar and minimize the desire for sugar.

The Sugar Cycle Trap

People who eat too many carbohydrates are often protein deficient. This creates a condition where the more sugar they consume the more they crave sugars and carbohydrate foods. Conversely, eating a diet that focuses on protein and vegetables is a good way to minimize sugar cravings. If you do not tolerate sugars and sweet foods well, then few fruits should be eaten and fruit juice avoided.

Breaking the Sugar Eating Habit

You can change what you eat. You can shed addictions to sugar or other specific foods and begin substituting them for healthier foods. By breaking the sugar addiction you can lose weight, and be healthier in the process. However, like breaking any bad habit, it will require a commitment, a desire to change and motivation and time to allow for physiological readjustment and even withdrawal to take place. It is said that to break a habit it takes about 21 days of dedication, so that should be a good goal to try to stick to your plan.

Helpful Vitamins/Minerals and Herbs

• B-Complex vitamin supplement. With extra B1, B3, B5, B6, B12 and pantothenic acid. Has a stabilizing effect on the nerves and blood sugar.
• Vitamin C for stress, either taken as a powder, or as tablets. 
• Chromium is good to take because it enhances the action of insulin.  
• Essential fatty acids Omega 3's and Omega 6's.
• Chlorella is the world's richest natural source of Chlorophyll.
• Multi-minerals containing calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, iodine, chromium and zinc.
• Vanadyl sulfate, a trace element that mimics insulin, has been found to restore elevated blood glucose to normal in diabetic animals. In chemically induced Type II diabetes in rats, vanadyl sulfate lowered the insulin requirement by up to 75%.Vanadyl sulfate can reverse diabetes in rats for up to 20 weeks after supplementation ceases. Short-term treatment with vanadium, prior to and for a two-week period following the induction of diabetes, eliminated hyperglycemia in rats, even after withdrawal from treatment. The researchers stated, 'This property of vanadium would appear to be useful in the treatment of prediabetic and newly diagnosed patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In humans with Type II diabetes, low doses of vanadyl sulfate increased insulin-mediated glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis, and suppressed endogenous glucose production. This resulted in decreased lipid oxidation rates and reduced plasma free fatty acid concentrations.

• The spice cinnamon improves blood glucose and reduces triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL, the bad cholesterol, in patients with type 2 diabetes according to a recent study in Diabetes Care.
• Gymnema sylvestre, known as the "sugar destroyer", is showing up in more and more over the counter weight loss products and blood sugar balancing formulas. The main focus of gymnema research is blood sugar regulation and glucose metabolism. It has been used in India for treatment of diabetes for about 2000 years. Today in India it is being used to treat primarily type II diabetes and type I as well. The herb has shown to reduce blood sugar, glycosylated haemoglobin and glycosylated plasma proteins when used for 18-20 months. The effect is gradual rather than immediate with conventional drugs. The active components responsible for lowering glucose are the gymnemic acids. It is also said that the herb reduces cravings for sugars. Some believe that the sugar taste blocking feature has a factor in not only the reduction in cravings, but the hypoglycemic reactions as well.