Rebecca thinks about hidden sugar
Reducing sugar intake isn’t something many of us consider when thinking about self-care, and yet the physical and mental health benefits are staggering.
After a tough day I often used to find myself reaching for the chocolate, and although it provided the Dopamine hit I was craving, in the longer term I wasn’t feeling great.
I started to look into the benefits of a low carb (sugar) lifestyle, and I found that reduced sugar intake has been anecdotally linked to improvements in mental health, gut health, sleep and inflammatory disorders, amongst other things.
I was shocked when I discovered that there are over seventy-five different names for sugar and that many of these are hidden in everyday ‘healthy’ foods, including simple things such as dry seasonings.
Are there any simple swaps that you could make to reduce your sugar intake? A couple that I have found helpful are swapping milk chocolate for a couple of squares of 80% dark chocolate, or swapping fruit juice for water with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, you could even try it with sparkling water.
If you have children at home, perhaps you could go on a sugar hunt together and see who can find the most unexpected food with hidden sugars?
If you wanted to investigate reducing your sugar intake, I have listed some helpful resources below:
• To get started you can download the Freshwell App or visit their website https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/ for more information.
• https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/science
• The Obesity Code, a book by Jason Fung (you can access this for free via your local library or the Borrowbox App).
• Colne Valley Low Carb Support Group (Facebook).
Please do always consult your GP before making any big dietary changes.
