Sugar: The Sweet Lie That’s Slowly Killing Us

Sugar is killing you slowly, and the worst part? You’re probably addicted without even realizing it.

Sugar is everywhere. It’s in your coffee, cereal, snacks, and even foods you’d never suspect—like your “healthy” salad dressings. It’s woven into the fabric of our lives, marketed as a harmless treat, a reward, a comfort. But let me tell you something—sugar is poison. It’s not harmless. It’s not innocent. It’s a slow, insidious killer, and the worst part is, it’s a killer we invite into our homes, into our bodies, and our lives. I don’t eat sugar. Not a bite. And because of that, people mock me. They call me “extreme,” “over the top,” or my personal favorite, “no fun.” But you know what’s not fun? Diabetes. Heart disease. Cancer. Sugar feeds all of it.

Look, I get it. Sugar is seductive. It’s sweet, it’s comforting, and it’s everywhere. From the moment we’re born, we’re conditioned to crave it. Think about it—what do we give babies when they cry? Sweetened juice. What do we serve at every celebration? Cake. What do we drown our bad days in? Ice cream. Sugar has been weaponized against us, and most of us don’t even realize it.

Big Food companies know exactly what they’re doing. They’ve engineered sugar to be addictive. It lights up the same pathways in your brain as cocaine. Think I’m exaggerating? Look it up. MRI scans show that sugar stimulates the brain’s reward system in a manner nearly identical to that of hard drugs. So yeah, when I say sugar is evil, I mean it.

People joke about my “no sugar” rule, but I don’t care. I’ve seen what sugar does. I’ve seen it rot teeth out of people’s heads. I’ve seen it destroy bodies from the inside out, turning vibrant, healthy individuals into sluggish, sickly versions of themselves. I’ve seen the insulin needles, the amputations, the funerals. And I’ve felt it, too—those crashes, those mood swings, that sluggish, heavy feeling that comes after a sugar binge. It’s not worth it. Not to me.

Do you know what sugar does to your body? Let me paint a picture. The moment you consume sugar, your blood glucose spikes. Your body panics and releases insulin to bring it back down. But here’s the kicker: that spike is followed by a crash. You feel tired, irritable, and hungry again. So what do you do? You reach for more sugar. It’s a vicious cycle, and it’s no accident. The food industry has designed it this way. They want you addicted because addiction equals profit. Meanwhile, your pancreas works overtime, your liver stores fat it doesn’t need, and your body is quietly marching toward insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.

But it doesn’t stop there. Sugar doesn’t just wreck your body; it messes with your mind. Studies show that sugar consumption is linked to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. It literally shrinks your brain. Think about that the next time you reach for a donut. Is that fleeting moment of sweetness worth your long-term health? For me, the answer is no. It’s a hard no.

Now, let’s talk about the social aspect of sugar because this is where people love to get defensive. When I say I don’t eat sugar, people act like I’ve insulted their entire existence. “Oh, come on, live a little!” they say. “It’s just one cookie!” No, it’s not just one cookie. It’s a gateway. It’s the first step back into a cycle I’ve worked hard to break.

People don’t get it because sugar is so normalized. If you tell someone you don’t smoke, they applaud you. If you tell them you don’t drink alcohol, they respect your discipline. But if you tell them you don’t eat sugar, they act like you’re a lunatic. Why? Because sugar is socially acceptable. It’s the one addiction no one wants to talk about.

But let’s talk about it. Let’s get real. Sugar is not food. It has no nutritional value. It’s empty calories that do nothing for your body except harm it. It’s like pouring gasoline on a fire and wondering why it burns. And the worst part is, we give it to our kids. We start them young, handing them sugary cereals and fruit snacks, conditioning their palates to crave sweetness. By the time they’re adults, they’re hooked. It’s no wonder we have an obesity epidemic. It’s no wonder Type 2 diabetes is on the rise. We’ve created a society that runs on sugar, and it’s killing us.

I refuse to be part of it. I refuse to let sugar control me, my health, or my life. And if that makes me “extreme,” so be it. I’ve seen the other side. I’ve lived it. I’ve felt the sluggishness, the brain fog, the lack of energy. And I’ve also felt what it’s like to be free of it. To wake up clear-headed and energized. To run, bike, and lift weights without feeling like I’m dragging a corpse behind me. To live without the constant hunger and cravings that sugar creates. That’s freedom. That’s what discipline tastes like.

I’m not here to preach. You can eat whatever you want. But don’t fool yourself into thinking sugar is harmless. It’s not. It’s a slow death disguised as a treat. It’s the smiling assassin sneaking into your coffee, snacks, celebrations, and comfort foods, whispering lies about how you “deserve” it. You don’t deserve that. You deserve better.

Start small if you’re ready to break free from sugar’s grip. Cut out one thing at a time—swap soda for water. Skip the dessert. Read labels—you’ll be shocked at how many foods are loaded with hidden sugars. And when people mock you, let them. They don’t understand what you’re doing, and that’s okay. You’re not doing it for them. You’re doing it for you. For your health. For your future. Because sugar isn’t just bad—it’s evil. And you don’t need it.

Stay disciplined. Stay resilient.

Jim Lunsford

Disclaimers:

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