Welcome to Takeover Tuesday!
Susan has offered to give away two eBooks: a copy of 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates and a copy of Christian Study Guide for 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the… Click To Tweet
Q & A with Susan regarding 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates…
Q: Have you struggled with health issues?
A: Yes, when I was fifty I lost my health. An abscessed tooth poisoned my body which caused ten medical diagnoses and two surgeries. Medical professionals were unable to help me recover completely, so with my nursing and health science background I researched extensively and figured out how to reclaim my health. I understand the destructive nature of poor health, and want to help others regain their health.
Q: What are the statistics regarding the health of Americans?
A: Unfortunately, half of Americans live with a chronic health condition, 40 percent suffer from obesity. Lifestyle choices of diet and exercise can help change these statistics.
Q: Do you believe there are root causes when a person gets hooked on sugar and refined carbohydrates?
A: Yes, I believe it is due to a candida overgrowth, food addiction, or emotional connection with food. Resolving the root issue of an unhealthy eating behavior is key to success.
Q: What exactly is a candida infection and how does a person know if they have one?
A: A candida infection is an overgrowth of yeast in the gastrointestinal tract. If you crave sugar, alcohol, and processed foods, you might have an imbalance in your gut flora. An imbalance means the beneficial microorganisms (probiotics) have been killed off by antibiotics, steroids, and unhealthy chemicals in foods. Unfortunately, this allows yeast (Candida Albicans) to overgrow. My book 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates describes how to perform a simple test to determine whether you have an overgrowth of the yeast. If you do, the book explains that you should take a probiotic supplement and an anti-Candida cleanse to kill the yeast.
Q: Tell us more about food addiction.
A: Sugar causes the release of dopamine in the brain, which is part of our bodies’ feel-good reward system. We enjoy the surge from dopamine, so we keep eating carbs. Sugary foods include a food item with greater than ten grams of sugar per serving. Refined carbohydrates include rice, wheat, instant mashed potatoes, instant oatmeal, cereals, potato chips, crackers, etc.
Over time, an overconsumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates rewires the brain’s neural pathways and results in a person’s addiction. The brain’s hijacking triggers binge eating despite its consequences of weight gain and health problems. Therefore, getting off sugar is more complex than it may seem. It is no longer about willpower and self-discipline but a biochemical addiction. We can untangle the brain’s rewiring to reset it back to normal, but it requires implementation of all the steps to get off sugar.
Q: Why is wheat bad for us?
A: One of the worst carbohydrate culprits is wheat because a polypeptide in wheat crosses the blood-brain barrier, which separates the bloodstream from the brain, and binds to the brain’s morphine receptors. Opiate drugs (morphine, codeine, heroin, cocaine) bind to these same receptors.
Regrettably, people become addicted to sugar and carbs. In fact, their brain’s circuitry goes haywire when they encounter these addictive foods, and their mind assigns supreme value to that food. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain found that addicts’ neural circuitry kicks into high gear when the brain desires the product of addiction.
From a physical perspective, we can become addicted to sugar, wheat, and refined carbohydrates through a biochemical addiction in the brain, or through the cravings caused by Candida, or both.
Q: What inspired you to write 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates?
A: So other people could benefit from weaning off of sugar and carbs. My sister did. When my sister was diagnosed with gluten sensitivity she asked me—the health nut of the family—to help her improve her diet. So I created seven steps for her to follow and she successfully eliminated wheat and gluten. However, the following summer she contracted rosacea which is linked to sugar consumption. This time, she asked me to help her get off sugar and through using the seven simple steps she was successful. Eliminating the sugars in her diet healed her rosacea.
Q: What type of results can someone expect from getting off sugar and carbohydrates?
A: Within one week energy level and clarity of mind increase and weight drops. My sister’s joints stopped aching after two weeks. One reader lost fourteen pounds in three weeks. Another reader wrote:
“I am feeling so much better. I’ve had no digestive issues this week at all! I’m even enjoying eating my veggies now. I think my body is finally accepting the sweetness of fresh fruit to satisfy my sugar cravings. I’m not craving sugar as much as at first. I’ve lost a total of 15 pounds, but I’m deliberately focusing more on the health aspect than the scale. That’s just a nice bonus! Thank you again for this book and your support!”
Q: Can getting off sugar and carbs help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s?
A: Yes. High blood-sugar levels (from consuming too much sugar and processed food) is a contributing factor to dementia. A low-carbohydrate, anti-inflammatory diet helps to prevent these diseases of the brain, and that is what this book is all about.
Thanks for being here, Susan. You provided a lot of helpful information.
About Susan…
Susan U. Neal, RN, MBA, MHS, is an author, speaker, and certified health and wellness coach whose background in nursing and health services led her to seek new ways to educate and coach people to overcome health challenges. Her passion and mission are to improve the health of Americans.
Her award-winning Healthy Living Series includes:
- 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates
- Christian Study Guide for 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates
- Healthy Living Journal (awarded “2019 Best Inspirational Gift Book”)
- Healthy Living Series: 3 Books in 1
Her latest publication is Solving the Gluten Puzzle. You can find Susan on SusanUNeal.com.
Rules for giveaway can be found here.
This book interests me in so many ways. My blood sugars run on the high side, so I’d like to get them down. I was a gestational diabetic when pregnant with my last child. Alzheimer’s runs rampant in my family. I’m the “poster child” of someone who would benefit from this book/program!
It does sound like this is a perfect book for you. Good luck!
Yes, it sounds perfect for you. My sister lowered her blood sugar level from a pre-diabetic state to completely back to normal in three months.
I’m big into staying fit and active as well as finding new recipes with whole foods. I’m very interested in the science behind eating well and exercising.
This sounds like something you’d enjoy, Danielle. Good luck!
I read her book, I have made lots of changes it.
I would like to get one more for a friend.
Thanks for letting us know what you think of it, Maria. Good luck!
Hello Maria, You should check out my Holiday Bundles that I’ve put on sale at https://susanuneal.com/product-category/holiday-bundles
Looks fantastic. I am an a R.N. and have lost 30 lbs and want to lose 20 more…it is a struggle, especially to maintain.
Congratulations, Donna! That’s quite an achievement. Yes, it’s definitely a daily struggle. All the best on the rest of your weight loss.