Health benefits..hopefully

This topic contains 4 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by Mark Mywordz 9 years, 8 months ago.

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Babs1812

1:28 pm
26 Mar 15
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Hi, I am a 48 year old female who has been able to eat pretty much anything all my life without gaining weight. Although I eat very healthily, with the occasional treat and meal out, I have noticed a steady increase in my weight over the last three years. I do not need to lose that much weight, (approx 21lbs), but all the other diets I have tried have not made any difference to my weight even though I have stuck to them rigidly. I have just recently been diagnosed with ‘fatty liver’ following a blood test with abnormal liver function results. I have been advised to lose approx 21lbs. I’m hoping that this way of eating will not only help me to lose the weight, but will also prove beneficial for my overall health

annette52

4:52 pm
26 Mar 15
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Hi Babs,
Can I recommend that you have a look at a book called ‘that sugar book’ by Damon Gameau? This is a book about the experience of a man who is in good health, but decides to see what the effect of consuming 40 tsp/day of sugar(the normal consumption of Australians, Brits are down to 36) hidden in perceived healthy foods?

He develops a fatty liver and weight and inches. Then he reduces the sugar in his diet and loses weight, inches and reverses his fatty liver.

I had stopped chocolate and cakes this week for 3 days and have felt so much better. I have had half a cake and 2 biscuits this afternoon and have felt rubbish all afternoon.I feel tired and sluggish, and feel the need to have more sugar to lift me up.

I have learnt that low fat seems to mean high sugar in many foods. World Health Guidelines are that we should not consume more than 6 level tsps of sugar a day. A food that is more than 20g/100g is considered high sugar.

Start reading labels. Sugar is added to soup, baked beans, fruit juice and even fruit flavoured water and many savouy ready meals.One kitkat chunky is 22g sugar!

Babs1812

10:42 am
27 Mar 15
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Hi Annette52,
Thanks for your message. I have heard of this connection before, and I’m sure it will make interesting reading. It’s not uncommon to hear that when you have sugar, you end up needing more of it to keep you going. I eat very little in the way of cake, biscuits, chocolate, although I do eat a lot of fruit, and have honey on cereal. The hidden sugars are a nightmare! It’s a constant battle to be on top of it all!
Glad I had no plans for a kitkat chunky anytime soon!

annette52

5:29 pm
27 Mar 15
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Hi Babs,
Honey has more calories per level tsp than granulated sugar. Try weighing your usual amount of cereal and then work out the sugar content from the packet. You may find that you can make some changes that will make all the difference. What ever you do though, DO NOT have a smoothie or fruit juice-loaded with sugar. I couldn’t believe that a small bottle of fruit juice could have 8 tsp of sugar!

I picked up a pack of southern fried chicken as a quick meal for my chaps. I was stunned how much sugar was in each chicken portion.It was very high. I will be making my own, I am sure that I have a recipe somewhere.

I am learning that if a product claims to be low fat then it is likely to be high in sugar. I am also learning that many savoury products are full of sugar too. I am not a fan of vegetables, but make my own vegetable soup and sweeten it with a parsnip. Then I portion it up and freeze it in single portions.

Hidden sugar is public enemy number 1.

Mark Mywordz

6:30 pm
27 Mar 15
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Hi Babs,
A lot of fruit = a lot of sugar! Perhaps you should eat less fruit, although it is obviously good to eat some. And, as Annette said, honey is worse, though it also has som health benefits.