As a species, we're pretty dependent on sugar. But sugar's great. How would we possibly get through a 12-hour shift without it?! Or any shift, for that matter.
For those of us who are still ambling on with their New Year, new me bullshit - I've got some good news for you. You CAN stave off your sugar cravings. According to a nutrition expert who worked closely with Conor McGregor on his diet, anyway. And let's be honest, for someone with that kind of celebrity on his books, when Georges Lockhart speaks - you listen.
The interview, hosted by Quest Nutrition, is an impressive 40 minutes long. But the stuff about sugar comes in at 1:15...
He basically says the secret is cinnamon.
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Although you don't want to consume it like this:
He explains: "It's kind of like a catch-22 because sugar kind of craves sugar.
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"The more sugar you eat, the more sugar you're going to want. A lot of times if you're not even hungry you'll taste something like a little piece of a candy... and be like 'yeah, I want more'...
"It's like the never-ending thirst."
He says that to stop your cravings, you should mix water with cinnamon and psyllium husk.
I dunno. Getting a Milky Way from the shop sounds a lot easier.
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A lot of people's diets contain too much sugar but it's not just from things like fizzy drinks and sweets; added sugar can come from salad dressings, pasta sauce and even yoghurt. So even if you think you're being health, you can be tricked into consuming too much sugar.
If you give added sugar up, though, what happens?
Well first of all, it depends on how much sugar you consume. If you regularly have lots of sugar, you could experience withdrawal symptoms that are similar to those coming off drugs. No, seriously.
These include anxiety, restlessness and even depression. However, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives.
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Remember, there are healthy sugars - like in fruit etc. but added sugar can be detrimental to your health. Cutting it out of your diet will yield such positives as these...
Your heart will get stronger
Your risk of dying from heart related issues will dramatically reduce. According to research by James J. DiNicolantonio, PharmD, a cardiovascular research scientist at St. Luke's Mid-Atlantic Heart Institute.
He said: "Added sugar chronically raises insulin levels, which activates the sympathetic nervous system, increasing blood pressure and heart rate. Within a few weeks' time, you might expect to see a 10 percent decrease in LDL cholesterol and a 20 to 30 percent decrease in triglycerides."
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We don't understand most of those words but it sounds really positive.
You'll be less spotty
A study has shown that when people who don't usually drink fizzy drinks consumed one a day for three weeks, their inflammation levels increased by 87 percent. That's shitloads more zits. If you have a girlfriend who loves popping spots (don't deny it, loads do) then she'll be thrilled. You? Not so much.
Your risk of diabetes is much lower
This is probably a given. We know that obesity can lead to diabetes, but even if you're thin you are at risk if you consume loads of sugar.
You'll feel happier
Sugar gives you energy. However, when that goes, you're left with a bit of a dip in your mood. That said, a couple of weeks after ditching sugar, your mood improves considerably without the ups and downs. Win.
You'll nap less and sleep at night better
As we just mentioned in the point hitherto, sugar crashes do happen - and this can lead to sluggishness. If you give up added sugar, you'll be more alert during the day and sleep better at night.
You'll remember things
Do you ever struggle with your memory? Well apparently, diets that are high in added sugar lead to memory problems. Now all those times you walk into a room and forget why you're in there make sense.
You'll lose weight
Probably the most obvious point on the list, but you'll be consuming fewer calories (unless you stock up on carbs to compensate) so you'll lose weight without even noticing.
I should probably point out that at the time of writing this, I'm drinking a can of coke. It's easy to look at the positives, but putting it into practice is slightly more difficult.
Maybe it's worth a shot, though? Pass the cinnamon.
Featured Image Credit: PA ImagesTopics: Conor Mcgregor, Diet