Monday 23 March 2015

Truth About Sugar..........A Great Watch

Did anyone watch the Truth about Sugar on BBC 1 on Tuesday? If not then try watch it on BBC i player or carry on reading as I thought I would share some of the information that came up in the programme. It was really interesting to watch.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend that we have no more than 6 tsp of sugar a day. This is refined sugar found in processed foods/sweat treats/drinks etc and not natural sugar found in fruit. Sugar in fruit doesn't count towards your daily allowance.

When sugar is refined it goes through a process which makes it more concentrated. All fibre and roughage is stripped away to produce pure energy. By refining sugar it allows the body to consume a large amount of calories very quickly without making us feel full. As it doesn't keep us feeling full then we consume more calories in the long run! If we were to have 6 extra teaspoons of sugar a day over the recommended amount then that would lead us to put on 1/2 stone of fat a year!

It also looked at the effects sugar had on the brain and what caused cravings. Our DNA is hard wired to seek and enjoy food, which back in hunter gatherer days this was fine as food was sparse. However with food and sugary foods easily accessible to us then it becomes a habit rather than a necessity to eat these foods in large amounts. When eating sugar it stimulates the part of the brain which gives us a reward which makes us crave more. It is a case of breaking the having and having strong will power!

The answer for those sweat cravings is to have a piece of fruit.....that way you are getting your natural sugars along with vitamins, minerals and fibre :)

One thing that was covered in the programme was the amount of sugar that is included in savoury foods and cereals......


  • Bran Flakes - 3 tsp in a bowl
  • Baked beans - 6 tsp
  • Bottle of ginger beer - 20 tsp
  • Bottle of orange juice - 8 tsp
  • 1/2 litre of flavoured water - 18 tsp
  • 1/2 litre sport drink - 15 tsp
Now taking all this into consideration we are probably consuming more sugar than we realise! So remember in this case you  CAN'T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT!


Wednesday 4 March 2015

Sugar Hangover

Have you ever suffered from a Sugar Hangover?

I recently completed the LifeForce 21 day Transformation plan – which is a healthy eating plan that cuts out everything which is bad for you, including one main criminal which most people have in their diet…….SUGAR!

Sugar is something which most of us consume on a daily basis without thinking twice about or thinking about what it is doing to our bodies. When I mention sugar I mean the simple sugars which are found in cakes/buns/biscuits/chocolate etc.  Sugar supplies the body with ‘empty calories’ with no nutritional benefits. The more sugar we eat then the more our body craves it. If we eat too much sugar we have something called a sugar high……once the initial excess of sugar has gone it triggers a crash which can leave us feeling hungry and wanting more sugary foods!

After eating clean for 21 days I felt fantastic….. I didn’t crave any sugary foods, I was waking up before my alarm (which never used to happen) I had loads of energy and my training was improving. My skin had a fresh glow too J On the plan I did have natural sugar which is found in fruit……fruit is packed with vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants so it provides nutritional benefits to the body.

On the final day the last meal was a ‘cheat meal’. I was at a Christening and I had my first ‘hit’ of sugar as I had a piece of christening cake and a cupcake. I felt a bit hyper afterwards. I then went out for a meal and had savoury and sweet picnic bench. I had a complete sugar overload. I was driving home and I felt a bit ‘spaced’ out. I went to put petrol in my car and nearly put in diesel! I got home I felt sick, a bit jittery and then had a headache. The next morning I struggled to get out of bed and felt really sluggish! I couldn’t believe the negative effects sugar had on my body after being so ‘clean’ for 21 days.

The symptoms of a sugar hangover are not too different from that of a hangover caused by alcohol.

Some of the symptoms of a sugar hangover include:-

  • Fuzzy thinking
  • Fatigue or sleepiness after meals
  • Headache
  • Bloating or extended stomach after meals
  • Constipation/Diarrhoea
  • Skin problems
  • Mood swings

Now too much sugar, just like alcohol affects your kidneys, liver, stomach and small intestines. Dehydration electrolyte imbalances and disruption in sleep patterns are some of the negative effects of too much sugar. So if you have been feeling fatigued, suffer from headaches and constantly crave sugary foods then look at your diet and see how often you eat sugar loaded foods. Sugar is also a culprit for excess fat storing around our mid sections……..so next time you reach for that doughnut just remember the negative effects it can have on your body, mood and how you look.

What we eat in private we wear in public!

If you want to try eating clean, boosting your energy levels and change your eating habits then check out our website for further information on LifeForce.

Andrea
Owner of Fit 4 Force