Episode 1 | Sugar’s Secret Connection to Inflammation and Cancer

Heather Paulson, ND, FABNO 

Inflammation is at the root of many chronic illnesses such as arthritis, autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, and even cancer. Dr. Paulson will address the sugar-inflammation connection and also how sugar suppresses the immune system.

We will learn

• Why we are so attracted to sugar
• How sugar triggers inflammation
• Inflammation and weight gain
• The link between sugar and cancer

Episode 2 | Avoiding the Sugar Trap, Simple Steps to Stay on Track to your Sugar-Free Summer

Kendra Becker-Musante ND, APRN

3 flavors in the mouth stimulate the pleasure center of the brain, and “sweet” is one of them. Dr. Kendra Becker reveals what the stumbling blocks are when trying to quit sugar, and how to overcome them.

We will learn:

• Why your body craves sugar
• How to “detox” from sugar –‘cold turkey’ or baby steps?
• Why artificial sweeteners make cravings worse
• How to deal with your kids’ sugar cravings
• How to keep your blood sugar stable to avoid cravings
• Safe snacks to eat when craving sugar

Episode 3 | Hidden Reasons for Sugar Cravings and Addiction

Delayne Gratopp, ND 

We crave sugar for many reasons. Boredom, emotional eating, flavor are a few that we already know. There are some lesser-known biochemical and neurological reasons we crave, and even become addicted to sugar that we will explore with Dr. Delayne Gratopp.

We will discover:

• Medical/physiological reasons for sugar cravings
• Identifying biochemical basis of sugar addiction
• Testing to determine underlying factors of sugar and carb cravings
• Supplements and nutritional support for eliminating sugar addiction

Episode 4 | Hormone Havoc and Sugar

Pamela Frank, ND 

Hormones are messenger catalysts for many functions in the body from pre-puberty to post-menopause. Fertility, hair growth and hair loss, skin health, appetite and mood are some of the processes that hormones regulate. Sugar wreaks havoc on these processes and affect our health.

We will learn:

• How exactly sugar affects hormones
• Sugar’s role in hirsutism (excessive hair growth) and hair loss
• Sugar as a causative factor in PCOS and other hormone problems
• How to negate the effects of sugar
• Foods that balance our hormones

Episode 5 | Ditch the Sugar for Sweeter Looking Skin

Amy Bader, ND

We know that sugar can affect our waistlines, and that it causes inflammation throughout the body. What you may not know is that sugar also causes premature aging of cells and organs, including your skin. Dr. Amy Bader shares with us the science of how sugar causes wrinkles and sagging skin so you can make choices for beauty inside and out.

We will learn:

• What science currently knows about how sugar and diet effect the skin
• The reasons sugar causes premature aging and wrinkling
• What does the hormone insulin do to the skin?
• What foods promote healthy, youthful skin?

Episode 6 | How Sugar Damages Your Body – A Look at Insulin, Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Jody Stanislaw, ND, CDE Certified Diabetes Instructor

Sugar, as we know it is not actually a food, and has serious effects on our organs and nervous system. Understand the complicated process of maintaining healthy blood sugar to protect your health

We will learn:

• What the body has to do to keep blood sugar levels normal
• What happens to the brain when blood sugar levels run too high?
• The nerves and nervous system?
• The kidneys and live?
• The eyes?
• How to avoid type 2 diabetes
• How to manage type 1 diabetes

Episode 7 | Sugar’s Impact on Your Thyroid

Pamela Langenderfer, ND 

The thyroid is often called the “master gland” as it regulates metabolism, growth, body temperature, strength and brain health among other systems. Learn how sugar and refined carbohydrates impact thyroid dysfunction including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease.

We will learn:

• How and when to do a thyroid self exam
• How sugar and artificial sweeteners affect thyroid health
• What foods to eat for a healthy thyroid
• What foods to avoid to protect your thyroid
• Useful lab tests
• Chinese Medicine and thyroid health

Episode 8 | Sugar’s impact on Body Mass, Sleep and Athletic and Sexual Performance

Marc Bubbs, ND

Dr. Marc Bubbs focuses on specific topics that affect men and the men in our lives. Sugar and refined carbohydrate intake, including alcohol, affect athletic performance, sexual performance and mental focus. Sugar also affects men’s hormones in different ways than it affects women’s. As Sports Nutrition Lead for Canada Basketball, Dr. Bubbs will share his clinical insights in helping men and athletes eat right and perform better.

You will discover:

• The prevalence of sugar in today’s diet
• How sugar disrupts insulin and thus leptin, the hormone that regulates hunger and satiety
• How sugar impacts weight loss
• Sugar’s effect on sleep
• How sugar impacts testosterone

Episode 9 | Healing Your Relationship With Sugar – Self-Help for the Sugar Addict

Millie Lytle, ND

Sugar cravings are both biochemical and emotional, which can make quitting sugar hard to do. Research indicates that sugar can be as addictive as drugs like cocaine. With Dr. Millie Lytle we explore the difference between cravings and addiction and how our relationship food impacts our health on many levels.

We will learn:

• What happens in your body when you eat sugar?
• How do you know if you are addicted to sugar, have a “bad relationship” to sugary foods, or just like it?
• What are the keys to overcoming sugar cravings and even sugar addiction?
• What is the solution to emotional eating?

Episode 10 | Kids and Sugar Both on and off the Spectrum

Jared Skowron, ND

Children are wired to seek sweet flavors because of energy demand of their growing brains and bodies. Naturally sweet foods from veggies and fruits are designed for these energy needs while refined carbs and processed sugar put an unnatural stress of their organs and nervous system. Children with spectrum or developmental disorders can be especially sensitive.

We will discover:

• How sugar affects memory, focus and mood in children
• Mineral and vitamins that are depleted by consumption of sugary foods and soda
• How unbalanced blood sugar can affect growth and learning
• Nutrition for healthy brain and gut development throughout childhood

Episode 11 |Can you trust your gut when it is telling you to eat sugar?
Dr. Deanna Berman

70 million suffer from digestive issues from heartburn and GERD, to irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS) and Crohn’s disease. A healthy digestive tract is not only crucial to nutrient absorption, but more 80% of our immune system lies in our gut! Poor digestion can also affect mood as 95% of the body’s serotonin is in the bowels! Join me as Dr. Deanna Berman shares with us the many ways that sugar can affect our digestive health.

We will discover:

• The real cause of most digestive issues such as gas, bloating, IBS, GERD, SIBO, crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, etc
• What sugar does to the digestive system and how to repair it
• How artificial sweeteners affect digestion
• What is the right diet for digestive health
• What sweeteners are ok to eat and how often