It's tough to ditch sugar from your diet. Anyone who's tried to switch to real, wholesome foods or follow a sugar detox plan knows how challenging it can be. But why does kicking the sugar habit feel like battling an addiction for some people?

Sugar is everywhere in our diets, from sweet desserts to everyday foods like bread and sauces. This high consumption of sugar comes at a time when more and more people are getting diagnosed with diabetes. Many of us know there's a link between sugar and diabetes, but the details can be a bit fuzzy. In this article, I want to explain some of the lingo we hear about all the time when it comes to sugar balance and the downstream effects of not being able to manage it properly. Words like insulin, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes and diabetes. I want to set the stage so you understand what’s happening inside your body so you can better understand your own symptoms.

Are artificial sweeteners “bad” for you?

Short answer, yes. Artificial sugars (and many other more “natural” sugars too) are addictive and toxic and contain no nutritional value whatsoever. Most are inflammatory inside your body.

But the whole story is a little harder to explain.

Excessive refined sugar consumption has risen to staggering levels globally, not just here in Canada. This has a multitude of negative consequences regarding our overall health. When that habitual daily sugary beverage or snack comes with a side of risks like diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer, it's cause to rethink what you’re putting in your mouth.

Thankfully not all sugars are damaging to your health, and nature provides plenty of options. You can enjoy lots of nutritious, healthy foods that don’t contain added processed sugars, which reduces your risk for chronic diseases and better supports your overall health.