By Cyreia Sandlin - email

Millions of Americans consume tons of sugar every day, and it's virtually impossible to escape what some health experts call a toxin destroying our bodies.

In the past 20 years, Dr. Paul Bradley says he's seen a startling increase in obesity and diabetes. He said two decades ago only half of the country was overweight, now, more than two-thirds of the country is overweight.

One reason for this, he believes? Sugar.

BEAUFORT CO., SC (WTOC)- Two Lowcountry schools have been named among the toughest in the country.

For the third year in a row, both Bluffton High School and Hilton Head High School made The Washington Post's list of America's Most Challenging High Schools.

The schools are selected based on a formula that takes the number of advanced placement - international baccalaureate and advanced international certificate tests given each year - divided by the number of seniors that graduated that year.

BEAUFORT CO., SC (WTOC)- The polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday for Lowcountry voters to cast their decision in South Carolina's First District Congressional Race. 

According to the most recent polls, former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford just may pull off his comeback.

A poll released on Monday by Public Policy shows Sanford has erased the nine point lead his democratic opponent Elizabeth Colbert Busch had just two weeks ago, and that he has now taken the lead by a point.

The polls will be open until 7 p.m.