Looking for ways to beat your sugar addiction? This article will help. It is easy to become hooked to sugar, because it is addictive and stimulates the same pleasure centres in the brain that cocaine and heroin do. Like any addiction, it can be tough to wean yourself off, but if you want to feel healthier, it’s a good idea to kick the sugar habit.
Most guidelines suggest that we eat too much sugar and would be better off if we halved the amount of added sugar we consume on a daily basis. In the UK, the recommendation is that adults do not consume more than 30g of 'free' sugars a day, that’s roughly equivalent to seven sugar cubes. Children need less than this. One fizzy drink contains 6-8 teaspoons of sugar – that’s the whole of an adult’s recommended daily intake.
Fruit contains fructose, which is metabolized differently than a huge bag of Liquorice Allsorts. However, you can eat too much fruit and should be careful to restrict your intake to a few servings a day. Eating too much fruit has been linked to increased belly fat, which increases your chance of type 2 diabetes. Also, go easy on grapes or cherries, which have high sugar content.
The truth is that we don’t need as much sugar as we think. We need glucose to give us energy, but we can get that naturally through eating foods such as wholegrains, vegetables and fruit. We don’t need fructose as much, and this is found naturally in fruit and honey. Some experts believe that we don’t need as much fruit as is often suggested and although it is a good source of fibre and vitamins, too much can give you an insulin spike. As a general rule, the higher the water content of the fruit, the less sugar. Oranges and melons are better than bananas in this case.
If you’ve decided to give up sugar you may be tempted to turn to artificial sweetener. This is a bad idea. The diet versions of food and drink (especially sweets) tend to contain aspartame, sucralose, saccharine — even stevia — and large amounts of these will make you desire even more sweet food. Your palate is changed. Find other ways to satisfy cravings.
When you decide to opt for a sugar-free existence you need to commit. Go through your cupboards, your fridge and your freezer and get rid of anything that contains sugar – or is sugar! This is your environment – you have the choice.
If you have a real craving for something sweet, it may be that your body has a deficiency. For example, if you crave chocolate, this may be because you need an increase in your levels of magnesium. You can find magnesium in dark leafy greens, tofu, legumes and nuts.
On the other hand, it is worth considering that cravings tend to be driven by the brain’s need for “reward” – and not the body’s need for food. If you can have a nibble of whatever you are craving and stop there, all well and good, but if you’ll binge on your craving, then you mustn’t give in. If your craving means you’re hungry, eat a proper meal. If you think you need a reward or some emotional solace, then find a better way to deal with this that does not mean consuming sugar.
Taking exercise lifts your mood, stimulates your hormones and raises your metabolism. By exercising – especially if you do it outside – you are rewarding your body and producing a natural high that should prevent your craving. You may be thirsty but make sure you sate your thirst with water and don’t reach for an energy drink.
Summer is upon us and the holidays are here. Many people want to go into summer in the best shape they have ever been. Read here how you can do it!
Learn how to recognise the signs of stress and avoid slipping into a burnout or a bore-out
Why do you feel butterflies at the start of a new romance, and how can you keep the flame burning in a long term relationship as the spark starts to fade?
Read the complete article
Do you sometimes feel your achievements are not the result of your hard work and skill but are just luck? And do you fear that one day, someone will reveal you as an imposter or fraud? You might have imposter syndrome!
Being happy is something everybody strives for, but unfortunately there are a lot of people who go through life unhappily. A lot of people take life how it is.
Read the complete article
Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety affect around 1 in 6 people at some stage of their life. Despite it being such a common problem, many sufferers wait months or even years before seeking help.
There’s a mountain of advice about foods you shouldn’t eat when you’re trying to lose some kilos. Biscuits, cakes, pastries and sweets are all best avoided: they’re high in calories and don’t offer much in the way of nutritional value.
Children's imaginations know no limits and their dreams are a mix of hopes and fantasies, the real and the magical, the impossible and the achievable.
Sexual desire is a complex interaction of hormones, emotions and well-being. When your partner is not as interested in sex as you are, it’s rarely a rejection of you as a person. So it’s essential to be as empathetic as you can regarding your differing libidos.
Have you considered yoga? There are many advantages to practicing yoga. It is a holistic practice benefitting you physically, emotionally & mentally.
Are you unsure which Bach flowers can help you? Contact Tom for free advice.
