Those of us who suffer from low blood sugar attacks know that hypoglycemia is real, despite what some arrogant doctors like to try to tell us. Now, the editors of Prevention Magazine have put together a fantastic book that combines a nutrition/exercise/stress reduction program with the most recent research into blood sugar issues, including the rise of diabetes and heart disease. The Sugar Solution is a 28-day “lifestyle makeover” based upon the glycemic index, with an eating plan, an exercise plan and several dozen recipes all geared towards balancing the blood sugar levels that can cause so much disease and damage.

Presented with plenty of research to back up their claims, the editors who authored this book have included all of the areas needed to avoid blood sugar problems such as weight gain, memory loss, extreme fatigue, and of course the more extreme issues like Type 2 diabetes, full blown diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, as well as heart disease caused by chaotic blood sugar. The eating plan is so easy to follow, with a glycemic chart of which foods will and won’t wreck havoc on your blood sugar, and there is a simple weight lifting exercise program with photos that can get you started (I did all the lifts, and they are a great start for those who don’t lift already), as well as ideas for incorporating walking and aerobic exercise.

Of course, one of the major issues emphasized in The Sugar Solution is probably the hardest for us to follow – reducing stress that send cortisol levels rising and create problems with sleep patterns, weight and overall well-being. This is a well-rounded book, so easy to grasp and follow, and it’s motivating, too, because instead of focusing on vanity or how pretty you will look when you lose weight, it focuses on how you can avoid some truly debilitating diseases just by making some small, but significant lifestyle changes. It’s all about health, but you will also lose weight and look and feel great, too.

Sugar alone is not the enemy. Like money, it is our love of sugar that gets us into trouble. The Sugar Solution can help get you out of trouble - or avoid it in the first place.