Motivation Monday

"The viscous cycle of sugar addiction" 

 Here are some of my top reasons to join Stellar Performance for "sugar free spring" and reduce sugar in your diet.......
 
1. Sugar causes blood glucose to spike and plummet
Unstable blood sugar often leads to mood swings, fatigue, headaches and cravings for more sugar.
 
2. Sugar increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease
Large-scale studies have shown that the more high-glycemic foods (those that quickly affect blood sugar), including foods containing sugar, a person consumes, the higher his risk for becoming obese and for developing diabetes and heart disease.
 
3. Sugar accelerates ageing
It even contributes to that tell-tale sign of ageing: sagging skin. Some of the sugar you consume, after hitting your bloodstream, ends up attaching itself to proteins, in a process called glycation.
These new molecular structures contribute to the loss of elasticity found in ageing body tissues, from your skin to your organs and arteries. The more sugar circulating in your blood, the faster this damage takes hold.
Eek!!!!
 
4. Sugar affects behaviour and cognition in children
What about kids' ability to learn? Between 1979 and 1983, 803 New York City public schools reduced the amount of sucrose (table sugar) and eliminated artificial colours, flavours and two preservatives from school lunches and breakfasts. The diet policy changes were followed by a 15.7 percent increase in a national academic ranking (previously, the greatest improvement ever seen had been 1.7 percent).
 
5. Sugar increases stress
When we're under stress, our stress hormone levels rise; these chemicals are the body's fight-or-flight emergency crew, sent out to prepare the body for an attack or an escape. These chemicals are also called into action when blood sugar is low. For example, after a blood-sugar spike (say, from eating a piece of birthday cake), there's a compensatory dive, which causes the body to release stress hormones such as adrenaline, epinephrine and cortisol. One of the main things these hormones do is raise blood sugar, providing the body with a quick energy boost. The problem is, these helpful hormones can make us feel anxious, irritable and shaky.
 
6. Sugar takes the place of important nutrients
A study in the USA showed people who consume the most sugar have the lowest intakes of essential nutrients––especially vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, vitamin B-12, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and iron. Ironically, those who consume the most sugar are children and teenagers, the individuals who need these nutrients most.
 
Thanks to everyone that registered for the challenge kicking off today. Your body will thank you for it.
 
You've got this!
 
Dani
xx