Not long ago we saw a headline that perked up our spirits. It read, "Doughnut chain's next-year forecast falls short."

Healthier days ahead, right? Wrong.

Further reading revealed the fried-dough seller's profits actually grew by 34 percent. It was just that financial forecasters thought they would do even better!

People, wake up! This stuff is killing you!

"But, Doc," you say, "I have to have it. Just one!"

We know how hard it is to go cold turkey, and we want to help you get over your junk food addiction as fast as you can. Try these three tricks.

Trick No. 1: Schedule snacks two to three hours after each meal. Then you won't get blindsided by fat and sugar cravings - that's what a fast-food addiction is, after all. You can block those urges by eating (instead of a doughnut) plain, low-fat Greek yogurt with fresh or frozen fruit (no sugar added) or some lean protein, such as sliced turkey. This keeps blood sugar levels steady, easing cravings and helping you lose weight!

Trick No. 2: Become a label reader. Stay clear of anything with added sugars or syrups, trans or saturated fats. And beware of power/energy/nutrition bars and energy drinks: They may contain taurine, sugar, excess fats (even good fats have 9 calories per gram) and sometimes alcohol.

Trick No. 3: Choose smart sweets. Dried (prunes) or fresh fruit (cherries) give you the sugar boost you're looking for and benefit your bones and cardiovascular system. Nuts (walnuts, almonds) are loaded with protein and healthy, appetite-satisfying fats.

© 2014 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.