This is the most painful blog post I've ever had to write. But, dear reader, I feel that I owe you an explanation of why I've been absent so often and for such long stretches of time during the past year.

Last fall, my strong, energetic, astute, health-conscious mother...

Are you angry with yourself because you can't seem to turn down tempting desserts or other empty-calorie carbs -- even though you began your day determined to eat cleanly?

Are you discouraged because, over the years, you haven't triumphed over your sugar or carb addiction?

You're in good company....

The personable, larger-than-life fitness guru and anti-sugar pioneer Jack LaLanne passed away recently at the age of 96.

As you'll be able to learn from listening to my Tribute to Jack LaLanne show, what's so remarkable about the Superman-like health...

Recently, right before the Christmas holidays, a 27-year-old woman with a promising future as an investment banking associate at Citi Global Markets and a committed local philanthropist jumped to her death from an Upper West Side apartment building in New York City, blocks from where she lived.

Although police...

Now that my 6-week program, the Sweeter Holiday Summit -- featuring 35+ amazing experts from a variety of fields -- is now over, it's my pleasure to share 3 Breeze Through the Holiday Tips.

Here's the first one tip, which is designed to help you if you're tempted to...

If you're like millions of Americans, yesterday you overate at your Thanksgiving meal. Many of you may feel discouraged that you indulged in excess and that your waist is expanding because you "lost control" at your family gathering.

But I'm here today to tell you to celebrate -- even if...

Even though Thanksgiving is a holiday dedicated to gratitude, for millions of Americans, appreciation takes a back seat to high-calorie, carb-rich, sugar-filled foods, sweet drinks and alcoholic beverages.

Unfortunately, overeating on Thanksgiving is the norm for many. What's more, for many, that feast marks the beginning of a downhill food...

With Halloween coming soon, it's expected that millions of children and their parents will do candy hoarding and sugar gorging, which will inevitably hurl them into Sugar Shock. Let's just face it -- with all the forces urging us to go for sweets (think:...

Have you heard about the rats who found sugar or saccharin more tantalizing than cocaine?

That's right, in a fascinating study, most of the critters studied -- a whopping 94 percent -- wanted sugar or saccharin, not cocaine.

As many of you restless, must-have-time-off vacationers venture out into nature, the wilderness or the beach for one last summer hurrah, I encourage you to be careful.

Please, for the sake of your health, don't lie on the grass, run barefoot in fields or...

Whenever journalists, radio hosts or TV reporters interview me, they ask me what I mean by the phrase "Sugar Shock."

I've given this considerable thought, because I spent years researching and writing my book "Sugar Shock!."

Here's how I...

Recently, both DeGeneres and Jeff Garlin spoke out against sugar and declared that they were off the sweet substance, as I recently wrote about in this opinion piece for AOL News.

Sugar...

Have you fallen off the diet wagon? Did you turn to those candies, cookies or other culprit carbs that you'd promised yourself you'd give up? Are you angry at yourself for being so "weak" and caving into those darn cravings?

Often, new...

If you're like most people, you're often tempted by gorgeous, mouth-watering, nutrient-poor "treats"--dazzling donuts, colorful cereals or sugary soda.

As if that wasn't enough, many of you succumb to other enticements. For instance, you may skimp on sleep; excessively drink coffee,...

While 'tis the season to be merry, for many of us, it's also a season for stress, anxiety and angst, which leads us to behave in ways we're sure to regret later. During this time of year, people often resort to bad habits--they may...

It's inevitable.

On Halloween, while children don fun, festive costumes to go trick-or-treating as their favorite characters, well-meaning adults all across America will entice some 36 million kids into overdosing on sugar-laden candies.

In other words, our nation's children will be hurtled into sugar shock.

Even if parents...

If you're one of millions, who is trying to lose or maintain weight, overcome your sugar addiction or be more cheerful, this holiday season from Halloween to December 31 must be hell for you.

Every year, around this time, we're surrounded by candy corn, chewy sweets, little candy bars...

It's only fitting that I begin as a Huffington Post blogger soon before Halloween, a spooky holiday, when many of our country's adults feel that it's un-American NOT to give out sugar-loaded candies.

In fact, this year, adults are expected to fork over an estimated $1.89 billion for...