6 sugar myths debunked!

There’s the friend who’ll never eat fruit for fear it’ll ‘make her fat’, the colleague who’s pushing sweeteners like crack, and the health convert who’s drizzling honey on absolutely everything. It’s time we draw the sugar facts from the fiction…

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Step away from these so called innocents! These sugar replacements, eaten in a bid to lose weight, have actually been found to cause inflammation, high blood pressure, changes to healthy gut flora and, you guessed it…weight gain!

Sugary foods satisfy your cravings

High sugar foods put stop to our full hormone (leptin) trigger which sends our ‘stop eating’ signals. Amidst the confusion, our hunger hormone (ghrelin) keeps firing its messages and we’re eating again within the hour. Weight gain and obesity may beckon!

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Fruit comes with a host of added benefits in the form of vital nutrients and filling fibre – it’s pretty difficult to eat 10 apples in a row! That said, guzzling bottled juices is a problem. Without the fibre, we have empty calories which, through overconsumption, lead to weight gain, obesity and insulin resistance.

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Yes, brown sugar may house a few more nutrients than white sugar. Yet brown sugar is simply refined white sugar mixed with molasses. The chemical makeup remains the same, as does the effect on your body. We’re back to fat build up, weight gain, insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes...

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Honey is a real food that’s been accessible to humans throughout history and, in its natural form, has healing properties. BUT honey, found in your ‘sugar-free’ recipes and coating your granola, comprises about 38% fructose – which the body isn’t as efficient at metabolising. This strains the liver and leads to the same symptoms experienced when over-consuming plain sugar. Have in moderation!

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Our definition of what sugar is needs to be expanded; it is not just about this white crystallised stuff! White bread, pastry, pasta and fluffy processed high GL carbs all convert into sugar within minutes of being eaten. And by now you know the effects of overconsumption – more weight gain, insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Got another sugar question on your lips? Let me know in the comments. Meanwhile, don’t forget to share these truths with the sugar-fiends and fruit-phobes in your life!

Nourishing well wishes,

Angelique

Consult your doctor or health care practitioner for any health problems, and before embarking on any new health regimes, using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications or food programmes.

Part of my work in clinic is to identify and address the root cause which is responsible for the symptoms a client is experiencing. The most common underlying condition I see is unbalanced hormones. Once I noticed that balancing hormones leads to the reduction of so many other symptoms, I knew I had to create a simple plan to help people understand and support their hormones.

Follow the plan