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Sugar Is Your Enemy

Forget eating too much fat, it is sugar that is not only stopping you from losing weight, but also making you gain even more weight!

Sugar is a carbohydrate which is your bodies primary source of energy. Refined sugar is where it is treated prior to consumption where much of the goodness and nutrients have been removed. Refined sugar is commonly found in sweet foods such as cakes, biscuits, read meals, desserts, ice cream etc.

There are two types of carbohydrate, complex and simple. Complex carbohydrates are slow releasing meaning that the energy they contained is released into our system slowly as wee need it. Examples of complex carbohdrate are whole grain rice, beans and lentill. Complex carbohyrates are the ones that you want to be eating if you are looking to lose weight. Sugar on the other hand is a simple carbohydrates which are quick releasing. Examples of simple carbohydrates are white sugar, honey and white bread. Because simple carbohydrates are quick releasing it means that we need to be burning the energy they provide almost immediately, hence why products such as lucozade (simple carbohydrate) is used for intense sport and physical activity.

If we consume simple carohydrates and do not use the energy they provide it is stored and then turned into fat, which is what you want to avoid. Also because simple carbohydrates are quick releasing they do not keep you full for long and you will feel hungry again and need another fix!

You might here people tell you about the amount of sugar that is in fruit and how it should be avoided in order to lose weight. In essense they are correct in that fruit contains sugar, but the sugar is mainly in a form called fructose which needs to be first converted into glucose before the body can use it for energy, hence making it a slow releasing carbohydrate. Fruit also contains all of the vital nutrients need for a healthy body which are removed during the refining process of other simple carbohydrates.

To sum up the key to weight loss is to stop eating refined carbohyrates and stick to beans, vegetables, wholegrains are other complex carbohyrate in your diet. Eat fruit, but do not eat excessive amounts in the idea that fruit is healthy for you (it still contains calories!) and stay out of the bakery and sweet shop!!