So What's The Problem With Sugar

Sugar messes with our hormones and leads to sleep issues, hot flushes, mood swings, anxiety, brain fog, weight gain and more!

So What’s the Problem with Sugar?

You probably haven't spent a tonne of time wondering what happens to your body after you eat something sugary – it goes in there with all the rest of the food you consume and keeps you alive – end of story.

Well, sugar is definitely needed to stay alive. Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy and play an important role in the functioning of the internal organs, the nervous system, and the muscles, but our systems do not need sugar in the quantity that we are used to.

BUT... Added sugar is the single worst ingredient in the modern diet.
It provides calories with no added nutrients and can damage your metabolism in the long run.

Eating too much sugar is linked to weight gain, hot flushes, anxiety, poor sleep, mood swings, brain fog, and various diseases like obesity, type II diabetes, dementia and heart disease.

For health reasons, Public Health England suggest that none of us should get more than around 5% of our total daily dietary energy from sugar. Before food processing, when sugar was mainly obtained from fruits and vegetables, people consumed about 30 grams of sugar per day.

Today according to Public Health England the average English adults intake is 93.2g per day.

This is 19.17% of food energy intake, or 18.23% of total energy intake.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the average American consumes 126 grams a day, which is about 25 teaspoons or 126 pounds of sugar yearly (55 lbs. of which is high fructose corn syrup).

And Canadians consume slightly lower amounts at 89 pounds. The World Health Organization would like to see the number get down to 25 grams a day for both men and women (6 1⁄4 teaspoons).

The main problem, the WHO explained, is: “Much of the sugars consumed today are ‘hidden’ in processed foods that are not usually seen as sweets. For example, one tablespoon of ketchup contains around 4g (about one teaspoon) of free sugars. A single can of sugar-sweetened soft drink contains up to 40g (about 10 teaspoons) of free sugars.”

High amounts of sugar can wreak havoc on our immune systems, hormones, and digestion. Some of the negative effects are premature ageing, weight gain, fatigue, bone loss, mental fatigue, depression and it is a major contributing factor to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

How much sugar do you consume in a day?

At first thought, you probably think, "not that much."

Let's have a look, starting with breakfast. For example, you begin your day with toast and marmalade or a bagel with peanut butter and a small strawberry yogurt - for a total of around 33 grams of sugar.

At mid-morning you have a large cup of coffee from your favourite coffee shop (double/ double) - 34 grams of sugar.

For lunch you decide to go easy on the calories, so you have a salad with Italian vinaigrette and a slice of wholemeal bread - that's another 14 grams of sugar.

For an afternoon pick-me-up, you have a can of fizzy pop - 39 grams of sugar.

And then for dinner, you have some pasta with grilled chicken and store-bought tomato sauce - that's 9 grams for the sauce and about 2 grams from the spaghetti.

The GRAND TOTAL: 131 grams of sugar or 32 teaspoons (roughly 3⁄4 of a cup)!

That's an eye-opener for sure.

Sugar is labelled as addictive because it stimulates the brain in a way that is similar to cocaine and alcohol, causing the release of the feel-good chemicals dopamine and serotonin.

When sugar is consumed in large quantities it has several effects: 

It causes people to eat it, despite the negative consequences like weight gain, fatigue, and moodiness

Tolerance will develop, and more will be needed for the same effect, this equals cravings
Some people have trouble functioning without it and have a “stash” available when their energy plummets
Upon quitting sugar withdrawal, symptoms may appear

This last one is why this is "a challenge," as it may be difficult to stay on track when the cravings hit – but that's one of the problems that my 5 Day Sugar Free Challenge solves .

I have provided emergency fixes and a very detailed and easy to follow meal plan and recipes. With some advanced planning, a trip to the grocery store and a positive attitude, you will come out the other side feeling great!

Join my 5 Day Sugar Free Challenge that will show you how to reduce the added sugar from your diet.

You’ll get a step-by-step action plan and coaching (from ME!) that will help you accelerate your results!

Sign up for my 5 Day Sugar Free Challenge HERE — it’s ready and waiting for you!

Categories: : Sugar, Weight gain, Sleep issues, Hot Flushes, Anxiety, Mood swings