‘lactose’ which is a sugar found in dairy products. Whilst this is a
more natural occurring sugar than say the sugar found in biscuits it
still is made up of the same composition of fructose and glucose.
So basically, whether it’s in a piece of fruit, a fizzy drink or a pastry,
sugar is made up of the same two components: fructose and glucose.
The molecule structure and composition of sugar molecules is the
same no matter where they come from. Lets not get confused that
the sugar found in cake has the same effect on the body as say the
sugar found in fruit (which it doesn’t). For one thing, fruit offers
good stuff like vitamins, antioxidants and water whilst cakes, lollies
and biscuit offer zero nutritional benefits.
When it comes to choosing what to eat the old adage ‘you are what
you eat’ and ‘everything in moderation’ couldn’t ring truer. It’s
important to ‘eat the rainbow’ when it comes to a healthy mix of
fruits and vegetables so we get all of our essential vitamins and
minerals plus the all important fibre requirements to aid digestion.
Sweet processed treats and alcohol should be limited to special
occasions or on the weekends. In the health and wellness world we
educate our clients to understand that 70% of how you look is what
you are eating and drinking and the other 30% consists of what you
are ‘doing’ .
If you are looking to detox off processed sugar start by making
some small changes every week. It could be something as simple
as cutting back your alcohol consumption from Monday to Friday or
not eating dessert every time you go out for dinner. Over time you
will notice your sugar cravings have all but disappeared and you
wont even think twice about eating it nor miss it. The benefits of the
weight you lose, how much more energy you have and the clarity
of your thoughts will be motivation enough to cut back or ditch the
sugar for good!
whilst no one on the Mediterranean diet underwent a relapse.
The Mediterranean diet focuses on eating whole foods including
vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, wholegrains, fish and olive oil whilst
being low in red and processed meat and alcohol is kept to a
minimum. Whilst only a small study it is promising.
3
Sugar can damage your heart:
It has been noted that sugar can cause contribute to
cardiovascular disesase, however, a 2013 article in the Journal
of American Heart Association displayed strong evidence that
sugar can actually affect the pumping mechanism of your heart and
could increase the risk of heart failure. The findings specifically
pinpointed a molecule from sugar called glucose metabolite glucose
6-phosphate (G6P) that was responsible for changes in the muscle
protein of the heart. These changes could eventually lead to heart
failure.
4
High sugar diets can age you:
I used to remember my mum telling my in my youth that
drinking lots of alcohol will age you. I used to think this was
her one of her many attempts of trying to keep me away from
it. Now I understand that the sugar content in alcohol and many
processed foods ages our cells and causes many of them to die
prematurely. Excess processed sugar can cause dark circles around
your eyes, wrinkles, dehydrate your skin and can fast track the
ageing process.
Basically, sugar bonds with proteins in your body in a process called
glycation. They also harden collagen and elastin, and prevent your
body from making more. All these effects mean your skin looses
elasticity, lines and wrinkles start to set in, and signs of visible
ageing become more apparent.
5
Beware Sugar is hidden in most things that we eat:
Whilst many of us strive to avoid eating processed sugar like
chocolates, lollies, cakes and pastries sugar is also in a lot of
everyday foods that we consume. For example dairy products such
as milk, yoghurt, cream, butter, ice cream and cheese all contain
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