Written by Dr. Keegan Johnston, DC ~ Vernon Chiropractor

Shortbread cookies, Nanaimo Bars, hot chocolate, candy canes…the holidays are hard for anyone with a sweet tooth. After all the holiday indulging, it’s not surprising that the top New Year’s resolutions for 2019 are to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle.

Start now by eliminating as much sugar as possible from your diet. Researchers have proven that sugar is a key contributor to weight gain. Plus, excess sugar can lead to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and many other chronic conditions. So, if your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight or to make 2019 your healthiest year yet, start by cutting out the sugar!

Sugar is made up of two molecules: glucose and fructose. Glucose is what your body uses for energy. Fructose, on the other hand, is a molecule that can’t be directly used for energy and so our liver converts it to fat, which then contributes to weight gain and disease.

When you eat sugar, it causes your blood glucose to rise, which can be toxic. So your body produces the hormone insulin to get the glucose out of your blood and into the cells to be used for energy. If this process happens in excess, then over time your body actually builds a resistance to insulin, meaning your pancreas has to work harder to create the same balance. Your body begins storing an overabundance of fat in your body. The result is not just that you gain weight, but also that your body has a difficult time getting the energy out of the fat cells, which means your brain thinks you are hungry and you eat even more. Ultimately, sugar is tricking your brain into thinking you are still hungry, even if you just ate an entire meal. This vicious cycle continues, and when insulin resistance reaches a critical point, it can result in type 2 diabetes.

Staying fit and healthy is definitely challenging, but we’re here for you. On Wednesday, January 16, 2019, from 6:00-7:00 pm, we will be hosting a “Losing Weight with a Healthy Lifestyle” workshop in the Arise Chiropractic Studio. This event is complimentary and is open to all patients and their guests. We will be covering healthy ways to eat, healthy ways to move and healthy ways to think to ensure that you are living your healthiest life. (Led by Dr. Keegan Johnston, DC, and Tracey Cameron, holistic nutritionist).

Please register at the front desk or on the Facebook event page. We look forward to helping you make 2019 your healthiest year yet!