We are all too aware how important it is to lower the levels of salt in our diet, but it ‘s as important to keep the levels of sugar we consume in check. It ‘s well publicized how much salt is contained in packaged and pre prepared food. But what many are not aware of is that to offset the high levels of salt many manufactures also add sugar to their foods.
And to make matters worse research has shown that sugar is actually addictive, which is great news for food manufactures because you will buy more of their products, but it ‘s bad news for us as the consumer.
Lowering the levels of sugar in your diet may not be easy and taking the time to check how much sugar is contained in the foods you buy can be time consuming, but the benefits make the effort worthwhile.
You’ll find it easier to lose weight. You ‘ll have more energy. You won ‘t experience as many of the sugar rushes that are often most prevalent in the morning when we eat processed breakfast cereals. You will also find it easier to concentrate as the day progresses. And most importantly; you will be less likely to suffer from degenerative diseases normally associated with ageing.
But the question still remains how can we stop our sugar cravings?
1 – Awareness
Often what may on the face of it seem like a healthy option just isn’t. One of the best examples is with low fat yogurt; it may indeed be lower in fat. But because the fat has been removed it means that the flavor has to. To make up for this manufactures will add sugars or artificial sweeteners. Let ‘s face it even though their product may be low in fat, if it doesn’t taste nice they won ‘t sell many.
The best advice I can give is to look at the ingredients that has gone into the product you are about to purchase. But beware; the labels may not always indicate that the product contains sugar, instead they may use terms like syrup or sweetener. A handy tip here is to look for ingredients that end in these 3 letters, “ose”. Ingredients like lactose and glucose all contain hidden sugars and are something you should be aware of.
2 – Eat Fresh
Processed foods are packed with added salt and sugar, one of the best ways to avoid these is to change your diet to include more whole and fresh foods. The more processed foods that you can drop from your diet the less likely you will be to unknowingly consume processed salt and sugar.
3 – Watch What You Drink
Like the hidden sugars that can be found in the processed foods we buy the same can be said of the drinks you add to your shopping basket. It ‘s no secret that some soda ‘s (not mentioning any names) can contain up to 10 spoons of sugar per can. But what is more worrying is that some commercially produced fruit drinks are just as bad. If you like your tea or coffee with 2 spoons of sugar, then the levels of sugar you are consuming throughout the day can be quite worrying. Do the math on how many cups you drink a day and I ‘m sure you will be quite surprised at the amount of sugar you are actually consuming.
The simplest solution is to drink more water.
4 – Exercise
Eating a sugary treat is often something we turn to when we are feeling a little down or we are looking for a pick-me-up. But exercise can offer you same the boost, and you won ‘t be feeling guilty afterwards either! Even a few minutes of exercise a day can help in the release of endorphins and boost serotonin in your system. It ‘s not quite a natural high, but it will help to boost your mood throughout the day.
Like we have already discussed, if you are actively trying to lower your levels of sugar it comes with its own list of benefits, but remember trying to cut sugar our of diet completely is often futile and there is nothing wrong with the occasional desert. What should concern you more is the continual intake of processed sugar in all its forms.
About the author: This article was provided to us by Jean, the owner of a site dedicated to the fun and colorful world of bento boxes (which are a great way to brighten up your lunch time).