CUTTING DOWN ON SUGAR
THE UK IS ON THE BRINK OF A TYPE 2 DIABETES EPIDEMIC, SO IT’S TIME TO BE A LITTLE LESS SWEET TO OURSELVES AND CUT OUR REFINED SUGAR INTAKE
Sometimes our body gives us a wake-up call that we can’t ignore. It happened recently to Emma Willis and, as a result, she decided to ditch junk food, specifically refined sugar. The Voice UK host had been feeling seriously below par, describing her symptoms as ‘stress, inflammation in my body, being puffy and bloated... I was just knackered’.
After visiting a nutritionist and having tests, Emma, 43, made the decision ‘to reassess everything’, overhaul her diet and reduce her sugar intake.
It’s a story that Davina Mccall is all too familiar with. Now 51, the TV presenter explains: ‘I did some research and realised I was a slave to sugar. We need a certain amount of carbohydrates in our diets, but we don’t need added sugar. Stop eating it and you stop mood swings, bad skin and weight gain.’
Reality star Kourtney Kardashian’s experience is similar. ‘I try to avoid sugar – especially refined sugar – for so many reasons,’ she says. ‘It’s addictive. I notice that after I eat it, I need it. Sugar doesn’t sustain
you when you actually need energy. Also, when I eat sugar, I find that more cellulite appears. I don’t drink soda – ever!’ Other A-listers who have ditched sugar from their diet this year include Simon Cowell, Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez. With a staggering
10 per cent of the NHS budget already allocated for treating diabetes, it’s time to take a look at refined sugars and how to avoid them.
IS SUGAR REALLY THAT BAD FOR YOU?
An estimated one in 15 people in Britain now have diabetes, and 90 per cent of them have type 2, a condition that’s largely influenced by lifestyle choices. Excess sugar consumption is linked to health-related issues including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and dementia. Nutritional therapist Nicola Moore tells OK!: ‘Most of us are eating too much sugar simply because it’s so frequently included as an ingredient in the foods we most commonly eat. Checking food labels can really open your eyes to this. If sugar (or glucose, fructose, lactose, syrup, honey or maple syrup) is one of the first ingredients listed then you know it makes up a large proportion of that product.’
WHY IS SWEETNESS OUR WEAKNESS?
Author and sugar expert Leisa Maloney used to be really addicted to sweet treats. This was her motivation for setting up her Make Me Sugar Free programme, which
helps clients quash their sugary cravings and switch to a healthier diet. ‘Christine Mcguinness has joined the programme because she says that sugar has always been her one weakness,’ reveals Leisa. ‘When she doesn’t eat sugar, she says she has so much more energy.’ The reason for Christine’s energy boost? Leisa explains: ‘When you eat a lot of sugar, you’re constantly creating spikes in your blood sugar. But these are followed by slumps. This means that your energy levels are all over the place. Cutting sugar from your diet keeps your blood sugar nice and steady, giving you a regular release of energy.’
HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?
‘The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends no more than 25g or six teaspoons of sugar for a woman and 35g or nine teaspoons of sugar for a man per day,’ Leisa tells OK!. ‘Too many people fail to stay within these guidelines because sugar is hidden in so many foods.’
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GIVING SUGAR THE BOOT?
As well as weight loss, cutting back on sugar can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes and cancer, Leisa says. ‘Keeping blood sugar levels steady throughout the day can also lead to better quality sleep.’ There are beauty benefits, too, with Leisa revealing: ‘Sugar breaks down the hormones elastin and collagen, which help keep our skin elastic and plump. Most people notice they have better skin when they stop eating sugar, sometimes in as little as three days.’