The Effects of Sugar on Weight

Flip through the pages of any given food or fitness magazine and you’ll likely come across a number of different diets. Some say carbs are the enemy, others say fats, but when it comes down to what we should be avoiding, few could argue that the real culprit is added sugar.

It’s worth noting that many foods naturally contain sugars. Fruits, for example, contain natural sugar in addition to their fibre, water, and nutrients. Our bodies need sugar as well; we use sugar as a fuel source, but generally speaking we get enough sugar from the natural foods we eat. It’s when sugar is added to foods that the true troubles begin.

Added sugars do little more than provide calories with no other nutrients. These empty calories increase blood sugar, which triggers an insulin release. High levels of insulin in the body, which would occur from regular intake of sugary foods, help lead to weight gain. Not only that, but sugary foods trigger our appetites, only causing us to eat more. Unfortunately, food manufacturers are well aware of this phenomenon, and routinely add sugar to their recipes in order to stimulate our appetites, leading to our increased consumption of their products.

Say what you will about complex carbohydrates or fats, calorie restrictions or intermittent fasting, but one thing is certain: We should all be consuming less added sugars.

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The Mental Side of Staying Fit

There is much talk these days of diet plans and exercise routines, new year’s resolutions and lifestyle changes that will have you physically fit and looking your best. But for all the talk of physical fitness, it may be easy to forget that there’s a mental aspect to fitness as well, and it’s every bit as important. Here are three tips to help stay mentally fit, and to generally feel better.

Make time for friends and family. We’re all busy people in a hectic world, our jobs are demanding and at the end of a long day it may be tempting to just curl up on the couch for some binge watching. That said, social contact is an important part of staying mentally fit, and it’s how many of us recharge our batteries. Making time for friends and family helps improve mood and increase energy levels.

Find your personal rituals. It’s the smallest things that can make the biggest differences. Personal rituals, anything from an evening walk to an afternoon cup of tea, can help us feel grounded and provide structure to an otherwise hectic and overwhelming day, which goes a long way towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Keep exercising. Yes, exercising is every bit as important to mental health as it is to physical health, and it’s a big part of the overall fitness picture. The benefits of exercise spread far beyond physical fitness, and exercise goes a long way in improving sleep, improving mood, and increasing overall energy levels.

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