Health & Nutrition contributor Stephanie Reed.
In health news. When we are out and about – getting to appointments, busy at work or picking up the kids from school – the biggest challenge we have to eating healthily is when we fancy a snack.
Your belly is rumbling, your energy level is low and you just fancy ‘a little something sweet’ to keep you going. But everywhere you look it seems that the only foods available are super sweet or made from white flour, which, incidentally, behaves just like sugar in the body too.
The Usual Suspects: fizzy drinks (soda), chocolate and caramel bars, doughnuts, croissants, jam tarts and many other packaged cakes and biscuits.
One of the reasons these foods are so high in sugar is that sugar is an excellent preservative, and so gives the ‘food’ a long shelf-life. So, good for business – not so good for You.
Another benefit for business is that sugar is highly addictive. It has been scientifically proven that sugar is more addictive than cocaine! (You can refer to the study at www. plosone.org – Intense Sweetness Surpasses Cocaine Reward)
Therefore, you can’t help but buy these sweet ‘treats’ all the time. Your body is literally craving it. So, good for business – not so good for You.
Some of the health problems linked to sugar include:
Low mood and behavioural problems in children
Type 2 Diabetes
Candida fungus in the mouth. Photo courtesy www.thehealthsuccesssite.com
Obesity
Poor memory
Accelerated ageing
Acne
Fungal infections eg Candida/ thrush
Bloating
Switching to ‘Diet’ versions , such as Diet Cola may not be a great idea either. Sugar substitutes, like Aspartame, have undesirable side-effects and actually cause you to PUT ON WEIGHT! – but I will go into that in more detail in my next article.
Although it takes some planning and a bit of preparation, the best thing is to carry your own snacks with you. Always have something in your handbag or briefcase that is tasty, satisfying and easy to eat.
Snacks- On-The-Go
*Your own homemade chocolate brownies or cereal bars. Super quick and easy to make – no baking. Visit www.therawtarian.com. Then go to the page on Raw cakes, Cookies and Bars for recipes.
* A banana with a handful of almonds is a simple, but surprisingly filling snack. Bananas give you energy. They are rich in Potassium which helps to normalise your blood pressure and heart function. Almonds are rich in Magnesium, Vitamin E and flavonoids. They help to control blood sugar levels , lower the risk of weight gain and protect against cancer.
* A mix of your favourite nuts and dried fruits eg. Chopped brazils, cashews, sunflower seeds with raisins and chopped dried apricots.
* Dates. An easy sugar-fix with beneficial minerals potassium, iron, calcium and manganese
* Fruit that is easy to eat – tangerines, apples, pears, strawberries
* A small plastic box with cooked chickpeas. You could always spice it up with chilli flakes, black pepper and a little salt. High in protein and helps to control blood sugar levels.
* Mini wholemeal pitta breads stuffed with hummus (pureed chickpea dip), avocado and soy sauce.
*Sachets of your favourite herbal tea. Just ask for a cup of hot water wherever you are.
*Sachets of Miso – fermented soy bean paste. Mix with hot water for a warming, healthy, savoury soup-drink.
Always have a couple of these options in your bag and when you ‘get the munchies’ you’ll be happy that you’re snacking on something tasty and healthy.
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