It seems like we are starting to make a dent. I have been seeking to increase public awareness about the dangers of sugar for many years now. As I emphasized in my previous NY Times best-selling book, The No-Grain Diet, it is not the carbs that are the major issue, it is the type of carbs. That's why the low-carb craze, which did not make this distinction, failed for many.

Avoiding sugar is certainly a crucial component of a healthy lifestyle, but, as is often the case, instead of doing so by consuming a naturally low-sugar diet based on whole foods, some people are still trying to find ways to keep eating what they like and avoid the negative consequences. They believe that modern technology will magically allow them to, quite literally, have their cake and eat it too.

Unfortunately, consuming foods that contain artificially or naturally sweetened substances can cause serious distortions in your biochemistry.

None of these "foods" are a natural part of the human diet, and, when consumed, they can all cause problems. For more information, please take a look at these links:

• Splenda
• Aspartame
• White sugar

If you have a craving for sweets, rather than trying to find "healthier" ways to continue indulging in them, it is in your best interest to learn ways to relieve your cravings.

There are a number of factors that you will need to address to successfully achieve relief. The obvious one would be to stop eating any of the products to begin with. Just as with cigarette smoking, with sweets there are powerful addictive forces present, and, frequently, unless complete abstinence is achieved you will not be successful in overcoming your sweets addiction.

Complete avoidance of sweets is often necessary, as the hormones insulin and leptin likely play an important role in your cravings and understanding how can also be helpful.

If you are unable to achieve abstinence from sweets it is likely the emotional connection to cravings may be an important factor for you. One of the most profound methods I know of for diminishing the effects of food cravings is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). EFT is the psychological acupressure technique I routinely use in my practice to help people reduce their cravings.

EFT is based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments for over 5,000 years, but without the invasiveness of needles. Simple tapping with the fingertips is used to input kinetic energy onto certain meridians on your head and chest while you think about your specific craving.

We actually have a new EFT training course that founder Gary Craig is teaching on the telephone on June 4, so if you aren't yet familiar with EFT, this is a great way to learn it.

Related Articles:

The Secret Dangers of Splenda (Sucralose), an Artificial Sweetener

Artificial Sweeteners Ruin Your Body's Ability to Count Calories

The Sweet Tooth