Sugar Makes You Stupid!
Eating too much sugar can interfere with learning and damage your memory. US scientists recently published a study which shows that rats who consumed high fructose corn syrup (HFCS – a common ingredient in American processed foods) over 6 weeks had trouble remembering the route through a maze which they’d previously recalled with no problem. It has long been known that what you eat affects your body but now it seems it affects your brain too.
While HFCS is not widely used in Australia, it is around so read labels carefully. Plus it is pretty similar to ordinary sugar anyway and most people could do with reducing the amount of sugar in their diet regardless of type. The best place to start is with the processed foods to which it is commonly added. Not just the obvious ones (cakes, biscuits, soft drinks) but items such as white bread, cereals (even Rice Bubbles are 10% pure sugar!), vitamin/sports drinks, tomato sauce and anything labelled ‘low-fat’.
And don’t think ‘natural’ sugars are any better; fruit may have many wonderful, nutritional benefits but it also high in sugar. Most adults shouldn’t eat more than 2-3 pieces of fresh, whole, unprocessed fruit a day. And try balancing the sugar out by combining it with some protein eg nuts or cheese (I love a small chunk of tangy cheese with a crisp, green apple).
If the fruit is processed (in smoothies, juices, fruit bars, dried fruits), however, the kilojoules can http://medicine20.org/ easily double without the benefits of high fibre, minerals and vitamins. For example, a plain medium Boost juice contains 54g of sugar! All natural? Yes. Good for you? Well…!
If you would like any help with diet and nutrition, from healthy cooking tips to a full eating plan, then contact me, Sally, on 0404 366 363. I’d love to hear from you.
