NEWS, VIEWS, & REVIEWS
We hope you’re as amazed and inspired by our cover star’s transformation as we are! We loved Siobion’s story so much that we just had to put her on the cover: she is living, walking, talking, dancing proof of what living low carb can do – a far cry from the overweight, depressed woman hiding away in her bedroom that she once was. It’s amazing what we are capable of when we put our minds to it, isn’t it?
We all have a turning point, and Siobhan’s was that she didn’t want her daughter to remember her as a sad person. So she did something about it, with determination and grit – and the results don’t just speak for themselves, they shout!
Speaking of turning points, we think South Africa as a country has just reached one too: we’re very happy with the 11% tax on sugary drinks (now called the Health Promotion Levy) that started on 1 April this year. Apparently the amount raised by the levy will be around R1,9 billion a year, which will definitely come in handy for our busted coffers. But what it will hopefully also do is make a lot of people stop and think before buying sweet drinks. It’s difficult to over-emphasise just how bad they are for us: they contain so much sugar in such a concentrated form that they can quickly overload the pancreas and liver, and there really isn’t any doubt any more that in the long-term this can cause insulin resistance and obesity.
One 2010 study found that drinking just one to two sugary drinks a day could increase your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes by 26%. So in South Africa, where we have an enormous – and increasing – problem with diabetes and obesity, the levy seems like a no-brainer. According to Statistics SA, around 10 000 new cases of Type 2 diabetes are picked up at public health clinics every month. In 2015, more than 25 000 South Africans died of diabetes … and we also rank among the top 10 consumers of soft drinks worldwide.
The craziness just has to stop, and the Health promotion Levy is a good start.
Another good start is LOSE IT. As usual, this issue is packed with inspiration and information on everything from how to cure, not comfort, depression with food, to why women should lift heavy weights and an extremely informative quiz that will tell you whether you’re short of key nutrients or not. And, for some of us the most important bit: 40 brand new, tried and tested, absolutely delicious recipes – with some really special treats for a fabulous Easter.
Hope you have a happy, relaxing and fulfilling break. Let’s do this! The LOSE IT team