Oh...sugar!

Why is consuming high amounts of sugar bad for us?

Very few cells in the body make use of sugar. Insuline is a hormone secreted by the body to aid the regulation of sugar in the bloodstream. If you don't quickly use the sugar as an energy source, it is transported to the liver where it is converted to triglyercides, which can then be stored as fat.

Most of us know not to consume large amounts of sweets, fizzy pop and ice cream, as they contain high amounts of sugar. But do you know the amount of sugar your diet contains on a daily basis, without realising?

It’s in the hidden, added sugars that you have to watch out for. These sugars are cleverly buried in foods and drinks that are cleverly marketed as healthy, but these foods aren’t as healthy as you might expect. Also they're not good for most people’s goal to reduce body fat & gain lean tissue.

Check out these foods you wouldn't expect to have high amounts of sugar:

1. Onken 'Fat Free' Yoghurt (100g)

12.5 grams of sugar = 4 sugar cubes

SCPT Tip: Try switching to total 0% greek yoghurt, which also has huge amounts of protein, usually double that of a yoghurt.

2. Tomato Ketchup - 1 tablespoon

4 grams of sugar = 1.3 sugar cubes

SCPT Tip: Make your own by mixing tomato puree with vinegar, onion and garlic powder. No sugar needed!

3. Starbucks Strawberry Smoothie - 16 fl oz.

41 grams of sugar = 13 sugar cubes

SCPT TIP: Find somewhere that offers fresh green veg juices with no fruit juice added.

4. Heinz Tomato Soup - 400g

17.6 grams of sugar = 6 sugar cubes

SCPT TIP: Invest in a blender and try making your own soups at home.

5. Forever Living (Aloe Berry Nectar) - 8oz.

18 grams of sugar = 6 sugar cubes

SCPT TIP: Just stay away from these products in general. Most are pumped full of sugar but cleverly advertised.

6. Herbalife Protein Shake - scoops

14 grams of sugar = 4.6 sugar cubes

SCPT TIP: If you’re going to consume a protein shake avoid high sugar products like this and go for one lower in sugar or look at taking a whey protein isolate.

What can we learn from this?

Don’t just assume something is healthy because is says ‘reduced sugar’ or ‘fat free.' Read the nutrition labels carefully and understand the ingredients in the product your about to purchase/consume, so you know exactly what will fuel or harm your body. At a quick glance, the traffic light code helps you see what food is high in.

Better choices will lead to a better waistline! Try eating healthier and see the rewards to how you feel, look and function.

Which item on the list surprised you by having the highest amount of sugar?

#advice #diet #nutrition