Diabetes News

Pity our poor, TV-watching kids. Just about every time they turn on the tube to watch their favorite shows, they're accosted by ads pushing one sugary food after another.

If they're not tormented by commercials trumpeting the scrumptious flavors of certain candies, then they're being nudged to become a fan of the newest sugary cereal.

And if they don't see ads for candies or cereals, then they're teased into submission to chomp some processed-carb crap snacks.

• Children aged 8 to 12 (they call them "tweens") see the most food ads on TV, an average of 21 ads a day, or more than 7,600 a year.
• Teens see slightly fewer ads, about 17 a day, or more than 6,000 a year.
• And children ages 2 to 7 see about 12 food ads a day, or 4,400 a year."

Not suprisingly, the study found that food was the top product advertised. Sure enough, of the food ads that target children or teens:

• 34% are for candy and snacks.
• 28% are for cereal.
• 10% are for fast foods.

And we wonder why our kids are becoming moody, depressed, tired, irritable and fat?

Then, the Kaiser Foundation study found that:

• A mere 4% are for dairy products and
• 1% for fruit juices.

And get this: Of the 8,854 ads reviewed in the study, not one sinle ad targeting children or teens urged them to eat fruits or vegetables.

Duh! Small wonder that why our nation's kids aren't getting enough nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables.

"Children of all ages see thousands of food ads a year, but tweens see more than any other age group,” said Vicky Rideout, vice president and director of the Program for the Study of Entertainment Media and Health at the Kaiser Family Foundation. “Since tweens are at an age where they’re just becoming independent consumers, understanding what type of advertising they are exposed to is especially important.”

The talented, objective, business reporter Duane D. Stanford of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution offers a thoughtful glimpse at Coca-Cola and discusses its new promotional tactics, which apparently have paid off for the company, whose global soft drink sales grew faster last year than they have since 1998 -- this despite falling sales in the U.S.

Duane also explains how the company is now positioning soft drinks as "healthy." (Read on to see my shocked comments about this new wildly creative marketing approach.)

Perhaps because of the fact that I'm a trained journalist, I do respect Duane's measured approach to the subject when he writes:

"To, sell even more sodas, [CEO Neville] Isdell is pushing back against the stigma surrounding carbonated soft drinks, escalated in part by a debate over childhood obesity. He told stock analysts at a recent convention in Scottsdale, Ariz., that he wants to reframe what defines the category. His argument: The decision to drink a diet soda also can be a health-conscious choice."

Health-conscious? Oh please. But back to Duane's more objective assessment:

The reporter also reveals that:

• Coke plans to unveil a new vitamin-enhanced diet soda, called Diet Coke Plus.
• The company began "dropping the term `carbonated soft drink' from its communications last month in favor of the term `sparkling beverages.'"

I'm sorry, but I think "sparkling" is applies only to the bottled water I had at dinner tonight, not soda.

Duane then covers the other side of the issue, which is where my point of view belongs.

He says that:

"Coke's effort to refresh the image of carbonated soft drinks as healthy has been panned by some, who say it's just window dressing."

Then come my remarks:

"I think it's really laughable to try to pass off diet drinks as healthy," said Connie Bennett, author of the book "Sugar Shock," which details health risks of sugary foods and beverages. "They sell water. Why don't they just market that more."

Duane pretty well captured my sentiments.

He also brings up another valid point, which is that:

"Some consumers also "worry about artificial sweeteners in diet drinks, in part because of studies suggesting links between the sweeteners and cancer and other illnesses. The federal government, which regulates artificial sweeteners, has said there is no clear evidence of such links."

You know, despite the fact that I consider diet drinks anything but healthy, you really have to almost grudgingly admire these absolutely outlandish marketing tactics -- which clearly have been designed to make a buck.

I sure hope no one falls for this absurd concept. Diet drinks are not healthy. End of the story.

Yesterday, I entertained myself. More specifically, I embarrassed myself, because I just had to buy six bags of candies at my local drugstore.

That's right: I went out and purchased some the stuff I used to eat quite often.

So awkward did I feel about getting the sugary foods that I so often rail about that I felt a need to justify my actions.

I emphatically told the cashier, "I am NOT buying these to eat. I'm getting them to talk about."

She certainly looked at me askance. She thought I was making this up. (Guess she thought I was a "sugar addict"?)

"Honest, I said."

Well, that piqued the curiosity of the woman behind me in line. She wanted to know whatever possessed me to spend all this money on candy, but then not even eat it! I told her I'd written a book and was going to give a talk.

She sweetly grilled me several times over, and so I pleasantly replied.

Then, she said, "Well, if you're going to talk about sugar's dangers, you really need to buy some marshmallow Easter candies." (You know the ones you peer at suspiciously or rapturously! LOL!)

Darn, I realized, she was right!

So I went back to buy two more bags of pink and yellow marshmallow thing-ys. Oh my goodness, the contents are about as nutrient lacking as you can get! (Yuck!)

(By the way, right before I purchased more junk food, I learned that this woman behind me who'd been grilling me was a reporter from Newsweek magazine. Hmm. Well, I'd be happy for a mention or an article in that illustrious publication. After all, TIME saw fit to write about my book SUGAR SHOCK!)

I'll tell you later how my talk with the candies went. Basically, I'm going to offer some tips to people at my book signing so they don't let those sugary foods hold such power over them.

Oh, and P.S. I slept quite well, completely unaffected by the fact that all these candies were sitting in (unopened) bags in the next room.

See, you can maintain a distance from the stuff. Your sugar habit does not have to control you.

Coca-Cola is getting into some very clever, if not misguided marketing tactics to somehow convince John Q. American Public that there's a place in the diet for both empty-calorie, sugary soft drinks and/or chemical-laden "diet drinks."

Not only that, but Coke is "on a mission" to tack on the phrase "health and wellness" onto Diet Coke and other "no-calorie" drinks. You can learn about these marketing ploys, thanks to Duane D. Stanford of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who was in Scottsdale, Arizona recently, where he attended the annual conference of the Consumer Analyst Group of New York.

Mind you, I wasn't in Scottsdale myself, but journalist Stanford heard Coke CEO Neville Isdell share insights into the soft drink company's marketing approaches to offset flat sales of its carbonated soft drinks.

For instance, in his astute article, entitled "Coke tries to shift obesity focus off its drinks," Stanford reportsof the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Isdell announced plans to broaden the debate over the obesity epidemic so Coke can "get the target off our backs."

What?

Yes, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Duane Stanford, Isdell branded millions of us who are health-minded as "targets"! And he wants us to quit revealing the truth about Coke's products, including seemingly innocent ones named "Coke Zero" or "Diet Coke Plus."

Reportedly, one way Coke plans to "get the target off our backs" is to use different terminology for diet drinks. Indeed, rather than rightly referring to them as "carbonated soft drinks," Coke wants us to name them "sparkling beverages." Hmm. Sounds a bit deceptive to me.

Reporter Stanford explains that:

"Coke executives say `carbonated soft drinks' have been stigmatized, and executives are using the new term to pull in an emerging generation of drinks that use light carbonation in everything from purified water to green tea. If the term `sparkling' sticks, then soft drinks like Diet Coke would be mentioned in the same breath as the company's Dasani carbonated water."

Ah, come on, most of us are savvy enough not to be duped by this new term. Well, gee, I sure hope people will be smart enough not to fall for that.

It would be a tragedy to consider soft drinks healthy! In fact, as I've discussed here previously, some studies even suggest that these "diet drinks" lead to weight gain, not weight loss.

Other Coke plans include spending "money on everything from nutritional studies to awareness campaigns about diet and exercise," the AJC reporter explains.

And Coke also wants to draw people's attention away from soft drinks and toward sedentary lifestyles, even singling out video games as part of the problem.

Read journalist Stanford's article now.

Live in the Northeast? Wanna learn how not to get duped by those often misleading food labels? And have some fun laughing at Connie, the "Ex-Sugar Shrew"-turned-"Sugar Sleuth"?

Watch me on the "Your Morning" show on CN8, The Comcast Network, when anchor and managing editor Connie Colla interviews me out of Philadelphia at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow (Tues., Feb. 6) about foods with hidden sugars. (Cool, I get to chat with another Connie!)

Tune in to get helpful, juicy pointers so you can choose foods that don't contain all those unnecessary sweeteners.

Don't fret if you don't live in Philly. As the CN8 website explains, this network has a tremendous reach.

In fact, more than 9 million Comcast cable homes in 12 states and 20 TV markets from Maine to Virginia to Washington, D.C., will be able to to catch my interview tomorrow.

CN8, as its website explains, offers "a unique brand of live, interactive television delivered over its own fiber-optic network."

To clarify, you'll be able to watch me on CN8 Tuesday morning in any of the following areas:

• Albany
• Baltimore
• Boston
• Burlington
• Charlottesville
• Hartford-New Haven
• Harrisburg
• Harrisonburg
• Johnston-Altoona
• New York
• Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh
• Portland
• Providence
• Richmond
• Roanoke-Lynchburg
• Salisbury
• Springfield
• Washington, D.C.
• Wilkes Barre-Scranton

We're sure to have an eye-opening segment...

But I'll give you a little hint now though.... Why avoid all these hidden sugars? Well, all those sweeteners can really add up when you're unknowingly consuming them all day long, all week long, and all month long.

Indeed, excess sugars you're unwittingly taking into your wonderful body can lead to a whole host of problems. (I reveal the shocking scooop about sugar in my new book SUGAR SHOCK! from Berkley Books.)

You'll see me talk about buying:

• Yogurt
• Cereals
• Crackers
• Marinara sauce
• Salad dressings
• Peanut Butter
• Energy or snack bars
• And a surprise or two

After my TV appearance on CN8, I invite you to join in the discussion here. And, if you'd like some shopping help, you'll be able to get my Sugar-Free Shopper's Guide, too.

Bear in mind that we only have a few minutes for my interview, but you can get all kinds of helpful info on deciphering those food labels and in dispelling food-label misconceptions in my new book SUGAR SHOCK!, which is available at bookstores and online retailers nationwide.

My Special Invitation to You: Act on Wed., Jan. 17 to feel better and get exciting gifts.

Dear Friends, Blog Readers, Colleagues and All of You Kind Enough to Pop By:

I'm thrilled, because some really wonderful, cutting-edge experts, whom I greatly admire -- including Dr. Joseph Mercola, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Jonny Bowden, Dr. Fred Pescatore, and Dr. Liz Lipski -- are kind enough to send out special e-mails to their fans on (or before) Wed., Jan. 17, inviting them to purchase my book, SUGAR SHOCK!

These healthy heroes of mine -- plus dozens of other wonderful authors and experts in a variety of fields -- are sharing the fact that I accidentally discovered a wow of a secret that could boost your moods and bring you good health, too.

They're telling their followers about how after my years of needlessly suffering, I discovered one simple change that banished all 44 of my mysterious ailments. As I now happily reveal: My mood swings disappeared. My severe fatigue vanished. My horrible headaches took a hike.

Why? Because I cut out sugar. That's right: I kicked my sugar habit.

And, as my friend Dr. Jonny Bowden -- a hotshot, savvy nutritionist -- points out in his letter to his followers: "If you (or your doctor) still thinks there's no such thing as carbohydrate addiction, then you definitely want to read this book."

These absolutely wonderful supporters also point out that my book SUGAR SHOCK! (Berkley Books) dishes the sour scoop about sweets.

For instance, Jonny kindly observed: "Connie really did her homework. She's interviewed some of the top experts in the field and put together a really compelling, personal story that you need to hear."

My friends and supportive colleagues also point out that SUGAR SHOCK! tells the full sugar story. What's more, they tell their fans, my book "gives you hope and valuable tips so that you, too, can break free, boost your moods, get more energy, and more."

Anyhow, my friends are encouraging those subscribers to their e-mail lists to act on Wed., Jan. 17 (until 11:59 p.m.) to participate in this exciting offer and get a tremendous amount of free gifts from leading experts in the field, including Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Fred Pescatore, Dr. Joe Mercola, and many others.

As I've gratefully pointed out previously, SUGAR SHOCK! -- which has a foreword from bestselling author Dr. Nicholas Perricone -- has received praise from a Who's Who of cutting-edge doctors and nutritionists, including medical consultant Dr. Stephen Sinatra.

Just check out what three experts said:

* Frequent Oprah guest Dr. Mehmet Oz, coauthor of the # 1 bestseller, YOU: On A Diet:

"[SUGAR SHOCK!] spills the beans on the shocking impact of simple carbohydrates on aging and
quality of life..."

* Renowned expert, Dr. Joseph Mercola, founder of the wildly popular Mercola.com:

"If you can't say `no' to foods made with sugar or processed, white flour, then you will want to read Connie Bennett's SUGAR SHOCK! ...it is loaded with many practical tools and resources..."

* Dr. Mark Hyman, author of the New York Times bestseller, UltraMetabolism:

"Read this book. It could save your life."

So, I invite you, too, to join the fun. Follow these experts' advice.

Order SUGAR SHOCK! anytime on Wed., Jan. 17, to get the scoop on sugar AND get exciting, special gifts from many authors and health experts.

Just check out the amazing gifts you get -- worth more than $1,377 -- just when you purchase my $10 book. Just visit http://SugarBookPromo.com now.

Warmly,

Connie

P.S. Look: I really like to think that this one book could make a huge difference in your life. You see, I wrote the kind of book that I would have loved to have back in 1998 when I had to kick sugar on doctor's orders.

P.P.S. Get more energy, improved concentration, and better health now. You deserve to feel the best you can feel! Just visit http://SugarBookPromo.com now and then grab your copy of SUGAR SHOCK! today while you can still claim the dozens of valuable gifts.

P.P.P.S. Now share this empowering book this with a friend or loved one, too. Imagine how great you'll feel when your loved one raves about all the benefits she or he received! The rewards you get from sharing this book SUGAR SHOCK! can be greater than the great deal you get on this book.

Again, I invite you to act Wed., Jan. 17, by going to http://SugarBookPromo.com

Read this fascinating New York Times story from reporter Andrew Martin about how the New England chain of Hannaford Brothers rated the nutritional value of nearly all the foods and drinks at its stores using its new Guiding Stars system. Surprise, surprise: Of the 27,000 foods reviewed, a whopping 77 percent received no stars, meaning these foods aren't healthy --- despite claims on the package indicating otherwsie. Not surprisingly, this 0 ranking goes to many, if not most, of the processed foods that bill themselves as good for you. As Times reporter Martin observes, the 0 ranking includes: V8 vegetable...