Sugar & Spice but too much Sugar is not very nice!

According to The  Guardian online added sugars, as opposed to naturally-occurring sugars, in processed foods are a primary driver of the obesity epidemic and have direct metabolic effects

Did you know?

That there is a big difference between natural and added sugars. Natural sugars are naturally occurring in whole foods like fruit and come with added health benefits like fiber and antioxidant. Think of this as a more balanced sugar kick. Added sugars  however are added during the processing of packaged foods and do not provide any nutrients (besides calories) just a rapid sugar high and a major energy slump soon after.

Unfortunately many food manufacturers put lots of hidden sugars in our food,

We have one and only body so it’s our job to find them! Although you may expect to find lots of added sugar in cakes and biscuits, you may be surprised to find hidden sugars lurking in the soup and sauces aisle, the crisp and cracker aisle, and even the “health foods” aisle!

Sugar, in all forms, is a simple carbohydrate that the body converts into glucose and uses for energy. If we use this energy it will not be be harmful for example having your cake and eating it is it ok, if you balance it out with a nice hot yoga class. However lots of sugar dense food with no exercise will result in weight gain. This happens because the energy you didnt use for that hot yoga class, transfers from unused glucose to fat.

Myth V Truth

We know no one ever became fat eating fruit but if you already have a high sugar diet the sugar from the fruit will combine with your already high glucose levels and result in low energy and possible weight gain. This is why sometimes to lose weight it is beneficial to start off with a sugar detox to literally wipe that sugar slate clean. This allows you to  balance your glucose levels and lose weight, then having that little treat in the future won’t be as detrimental.

As discussed the effect on the body and your overall health depends on the type of sugar you’re eating, the hidden sugars are the refined ones and the ones to watch most!

Refined sugar comes from sugar cane, which are processed to extract the sugar.

It is typically found as sucrose, which is the combination of glucose and fructose, we know we  use white and brown sugars to sweeten cakes and cookies but we do not expect to find it in our “healthy” foods like crackers and cereals this was the greatest shocker for me and created my drive for developing a refined sugar free health plan. I wanted to encourage people to not just  look good on the outside but to feel good on the inside.

How the body metabolizes natural sugars  like those found in fruit and milk differs from how it metabolizes the refined sugar added to processed foods. The body breaks down refined sugar rapidly, causing insulin and blood sugar levels to skyrocket, which causes you to feel high for a short period and then crash and burn.

Who has felt hungover after eating too much sugar?

I know I have and this can be caused by that takeout with the refined sugar sauce as well as the sugar laced dessert, which is just literally sugar overload!

In addition because refined sugar is digested quickly, you don’t feel full after you’re done eating, no matter how many calories you consumed, which resultS in low energy and overeating.

The fiber in fruit however does the opposite and slows down metabolism, as fruit in the gut expands to make you feel full, as well as boosting you with antioxidants to help you feel energised!

We eat more refined sugar today than our parents and grandparents did three decades ago, which has resulted in increasing obesity rates among adults and children. Obesity is not just affecting our body confidence it is also becoming detrimental to our health, and has been associated with certain cancers, including breast and prostate

Clinical Oncology Dietitians at the cancer centre.com recommend eating whole foods that are low in refined sugars. Whole foods refer to foods that are either unprocessed, such as fruit and vegetables, or minimally processed, such as whole grains.They say the big picture is being a healthy weight and making healthy food choices. Sounds simple doesn’t it? However it is something so many of us are struggling with, especially as so many supposed ‘healthy foods’ are laced with sugar.

The dieticians at the oncology centre go on to say,  “It’s about eating a diet with whole foods, lean proteins, complex carbohydrates and non-starchy vegetables! If you don’t know where to start with this our LYS FIT Plan is all the above and more whether your vegan or a meat eater we got you and your health is paramount to us!

We are creating a community who are vibing high because the nutrition is starting on the inside, the outside part when those abbs start to pop are just the no refined sugar sprinkled on the top.