HEALTH NOTE

RECENT research shows our brains crave sugar because it activates two distinct reward centres, stimulating both a desire to taste something sweet and a desire for calories.

Nutritionist Dr Marilyn Glenville advises cooking from fresh to avoid hidden sugars and cutting out fizzy drinks, as the average can contains around 35g of the sweet stuff.

“Considering our daily recommended sugar intake is 30g, fizzy drinks make it extremely easy to push this intake over the edge,” she says, suggesting instead trying juices for herbal teas or some water with slices of lemon.

You can also seek out alternatives to sugar for sweetening your tea and coffee or for using in baking.