Processed Sugar in the Diet

I came across two interesting articles on processed sugar.

raspberry-cake

The first one is a Sun interview with Mark Cavendish. As you might expect Mark Cavendish is doing everything possible to be in peak shape for the Olympic road race on July 28th. Usually Cavendish takes an ‘unscientific’ approach to diet and training. But, this year he has been following the advice of his nutritionalists and he has cut out sugar from his diet. Cavendish, who lives in Italy, said: “I am already four kilos below my normal racing weight.

“My training and diet have become so specific, I have cut out sugar altogether. “No sweets, no fizzy drinks, no processed foods.

Interestingly Cavendish admits it’s quite a hard change to make. Once used to sugar, the body often craves it.

“But it’s a hard adjustment to make, it puts me in a bad mood, I’m tired. I have always shunned the very clinical style of training, the sports scientists and nutritionists dictating my every move. But I’ve come to realise it was the approach they took in the past which I didn’t like, I always felt like they thought they knew better than me. But the guys I’m working with now are amazing, we get on and I’m following every word of their advice.”

It’s typical Cavendish that he says of the Olympic road race, “If I thought for a single moment I hadn’t done enough to prepare myself for this I’d die inside. ”

The second article was in the Guardian – Why Our Food is Making us fat. This article blames sugar and corn syrup in particular for a massive rise in obesity. People often say obesity is genetic, but if it is genetic why is it a twentieth century phenomenon? Since the 1960s, we are, on average, 3st heavier, and the author puts the blame – not on fat, but sugar. Often low fat products have fat taken out, and sugar put in – and it is this sugar that is making people heavier.

I actually eat quite a lot of sugar from cake and chocolate biscuits. Partly because I really like it and partly because when you cycle a lot you think you will burn it off. But, I do try to limit ‘hidden sugars’ I never drink processed soft drinks, I don’t take sugar in tea or coffee, and I try to avoid buying things like cereal with added sugar.

It’s actually quite difficult to buy food without added sugar in, you really have to read the labels carefully. It kind of annoys me we put so much sugar and salt into ‘savoury food’.

I hope Cavendish benefits from his strict diet. It’s a little worrying if your diet makes you unhappy – though that might be the effects of sugar withdrawal. I think that sometimes it is good to be balanced and remember it is important to enjoy food. But, once you are used to eating healthy going to back to a processed food diet is not so appealing. Your body really gets used to the diet it is used to. However, I think the Guardian article is good, and society would benefit from much less processed food and sugar – and of course getting of the couch and doing some exercise!

p.s. I’m sure the raspberry cake at top is very, very good for you!

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photo credit J.Rawlinson



One Response to Processed Sugar in the Diet

  1. Simon E June 16, 2012 at 10:12 am #

    The influence of processed food high in sugar and sweet drinks is being examined like never before. Fat has been hailed as the big enemy until recently but its effect on us appears to be less insiduous and damaging than sugar.

    It seems that the sugar ‘highs and lows’ do prompt people to crave sweetness and so eat more than they otherwise would so it’s no surprise that ignoring it takes some willpower as well as careful meal planning! However, I think it can help you feel more stable and resist overeating.

    I don’t think anyone would suffer from giving up sweet processed foods for a while, so why not give it a try? You can always go back to your old habits if you want or indulge yourself now and then, but there is truth in the phrase: “You are what you eat”.

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