Children have already exceeded the maximum recommended sugar intake for an 18 year old by the time they reach their tenth birthday, according to Public Health England (PHE). This has led to the latest government anti-obesity push – English and maths lessons will now include anti-sugar messages. For example, students will use times tables to work out how much sugar is in different items of food, which they will then compare to the recommended daily allowance.
However, many of us could benefit from learning a thing or two about sugar – it isn’t only contributing to the obesity crisis, it is having an impact on our everyday lives. Don’t worry, you don’t have to go back to school, we are here to help…
1. Be a role model
As well as teaching about the dangers of sugar at school, we should be giving out the same message at home – we don’t just inherit genes from our parents, we inherit lifestyle preferences, too.
2. Don’t be fooled
Always read the labels! Have a look at the different foods you buy – you may be shocked at how to many foods contain sugar, not just the sweet ones.
3. Lack of sleep
According to The National Sleep Foundation, the more sugar you eat during the day, the more often you’re going to wake up in the middle of the night. Swap your sugary snack for foods that are rich in Magnesium – known as nature’s tranquiliser. Magnesium is an essential mineral that the body does not produce. You receive magnesium through your diet – Magnesium-rich foods include dark leafy greens, seeds and nuts, squash, broccoli, legumes, unprocessed whole grains and dark chocolate.
4. Increased stress levels
Stress and sugar can become a vicious cycle – you may not be able to control the stress but you can control how it affects you physically and also you can make sure you are not making it worse. Try to keep your blood sugar levels and adrenaline levels stable by eating something every three hours.
5. Break outs
We all know that consuming too much sugar can contribute to break outs. When snacking, also opt for walnuts – they are a good source of essential fats, zinc, vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium and protein — all of which are nutrients your skin needs to stay healthy.
