For the last two weeks we had to cut fat out of our diet. For the next two weeks we will try eliminate sugars. Here is why we need to learn to cut sugar from our diet. The main problem is fructose. Fructose does two things to our bodies.
#1 -Fructose makes us eat more
Our bodies are designed to eat only as much as we need and will tell us when we are full. However with fructose this is not the case and we overeat.
#2- Frustose converts directly to fat
The way fructose is converted in our bodies means its not used up front as energy but converted directly to fat.
This week stay away from the following:
- fruit
- sweets
- chocolate
- ice cream
- table sugars
- fruit juice
- sauces i.e. tomato sauce etc
- any condiment
- flavoured yoghurts
- honey
- soft drinks
Eat more of this:
- Green vegetables
- nuts (unsalted)
- healthy grains
- eggs
- Green tea
Is sugar not natural?
Yes it is but we are designed to eat very little so fruit should be kept to a minimum and we must not over indulge. The addition of sugars to our cereals etc is not natural and we should avoid it. So sugar may be natural but the amount we intake is not.
Why should we cut fruit out? Its good for you!
Fruit contains fructose and as I said above fructose stores immediately as fat in our bodies. Fructose is fructose no matter the package it comes in. We are designed to metabolise a small amount of fructose a day so the maximum we should eat is 1 -2 small pieces of fruit. Our ancestors didn't eat fruit juice or four pieces of fruit a day, these were seen as a rare treat. Try eat low fructose fruits such as kiwi, blueberries, raspberries, mandarins, strawberries and oranges. I would eat fruit with high fructose in moderation (pineapples, grapes and bananas).
Sarah Wilson of "I Quit Sugar" advises that if you suffer from any of the below symptoms you should definitely try cut down on sugar
- energy slump in the afternoon?
- crave something sweet after lunch?
- stomach feels bloated?
- if you eat a slice of cake or sweet and want more?
- are you podgy around the middle and slim everywhere else?
If you say yes to any of the above you need to cut sugar from your diet.
Remember fat doesnt make you fat, sugar does.
