Breakthrough drugs, cutting-edge supplements, and fad diets are evolving daily. Despite all of the "medical advancements," Americans are getting sicker and packing on the pounds. It is estimated that the health of American citizens ranks 12th among the 13 most industrialized countries. The good news is that there is one very inexpensive secret that can help anyone, young or old, lose fat while building muscle and preventing heart disease, high blood pressure, type II diabetes and even cancer. This one secret alone dispenses with having to count calories or prepare complicated meal plans.

While this secret may appear obvious at first, its true nature and its benefits are rarely, if at all, spoken about by world-renowned health practitioners and authors. Conservatively speaking, if this secret is applied and becomes habit, it can make you look and feel 10 years younger without ever touching another prescription drug. What is the secret? The secret is quitting sugar. Whiter than cocaine and deadlier than any illicit drug, sugar is the silent killer sitting in your kitchen.

Care to debate this fact? The use of sugar, known as sucrose, is the main culprit in obesity. Today, approximately 800 people will die from obesity. Cancer cells love sugar like your wife loves chocolate. When given sugar, cancer grows like a wild fire on a windy day. Today, 1500 people will die from cancer. Currently, 16 million Americans have type II diabetes and it is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that this rate is growing. The culprit? Take a guess, sugar!

So, the next time you reach for the low carb/high sugar health bar with an Atkins label on it, think twice. Moreover, if you're drinking fruit juice (contains fructose, a component of sugar) with your meals on a regular basis, be ready to accept the consequences. And lastly, when your two year old begs for that ice cream cone or Coca-Cola, consider that sugar has been implicated in at least 124 negative health consequences, as reported by Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., Author of the book "Lick The Sugar Habit". So stop focusing 100% of your attention on the carbohydrate and fat content listed on your food's label and look for grams of sugar.

Of course, if you are going to quit something, it must be replaced with a healthy alternative. Unfortunately, this alternative is NOT aspartame, sucralose or neotame, which are often touted as sugar alternatives. The alternative is the stevia plant. Stevia extract effectively replaces sugar by offering a great sweet taste without eliciting ANY negative side effects! In summary, if it tastes sweet to the tongue, and it's not sweetened with stevia, spit it out and you could very likely look and feel 10 years younger without spending a dime.