'A calorie is not a Calorie'

New research has come out claiming that sugar is even more harmful than previously thought.

The study, published in the journal Obesity, proves to lead scientist Robert Lustig that, 'a calorie is not a calorie'.

Test subjects were given starchy, unhealthy foods to replace the sugary ones they were used to and they reported that most aspects of their metabolic health improved.

So, here's how our Specialist Activity Instructors here at 'Lose Weight Feel Great' suggest we kick the habit...

'Sugar is addictive and once you have some, it's very hard to not keep on scoffing. As a nation we are consuming more of it than ever.

'If you want to become healthy, eliminating sugar from your diet is one of the most effective ways to get there.

'Sugar causes our body to crave more sugar in two ways - through our hormones and through the brain. When we eat sugar, the hormone leptin (which tells your body to stop eating) is not elevated - which means you'll crave more.

'And don't forget, sugar comes in many forms, such as refined sugar, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, high fructose corn syrup, juice concentrates, brown rice syrup, organic cane juice, fructose and molasses.'

Top 5 tips for eliminating sugar:

  1. Eliminate all processed foods. Opt for fresh, whole, seasonal foods.
  2. Read food labels correctly. Apart from the obvious sugars such as brown sugar, high fructose corn syrup and honey, be careful of any ingredient containing the letters '-ose', such as ribose, dextrose or xylose, which are also all sugars.
  3. Beware of 'natural' sugars: Even if it is in a natural form, it's still sugar and will impact your blood sugar levels in the same way.
  4. Avoid fruit juice and all sweet drinks. Fruit juice is void of any of the fruit's fibre, which is essential to lowering the impact of the juice on your blood sugar levels. Opt for whole, fresh organic pieces of fruit instead.
  5. Exercise. It sounds simple but exercising and being active will help you crave less sugar

Posted on Wednesday 13th January 2016

Wigan Council issued this content on 2016-01-13 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 2016-01-13 11:58:28 UTC

Original Document: http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Health-Social-Care/Lose-Weight-Feel-Great/Blog/Eliminate-sugar.aspx