Is brown rice syrup a healthy choice?
refined sugars on a regular basis makes you hungry and you have little chance of innate appetite regulation when you include these processed foods in how you eat.
Personally, I prefer to use fruit such as dates or Manuka honey as sweeteners (sparingly though). This is because these are less refined options (foods with less ‘‘human intervention’’) so they still contain some beneficial nutrients. For example, in addition to sugars, dates also way we eat. Nutritional aspect aside, the relentless guilt that can come with consuming something that is perceived as ‘‘bad’’ or ‘‘unhealthy’’ can be just as damaging to your health as the actual food.
So rather than thinking of foods (including sugars) as being ‘‘good’’, ‘‘bad’’, ‘‘healthy’’ or ‘‘unhealthy’’, view them as being nutritious (or not). People are healthy, or they aren’t, and the more nutritious foods we choose, the healthier we will be. Remember, it’s what you do every day that impacts on your health, not what you do occasionally.
Dr Libby is a nutritional biochemist, best-selling author and speaker. The advice contained in this column is not intended to be a substitute for direct, personalised advice from a health professional. See Dr Libby live during her upcoming ‘WhatAmI Supposed To Eat?’ tour throughout New Zealand. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit drlibby.com