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It’s Sugar Awareness Week! From the 20th to the 26th January, it’s time to rethink exactly what we’re putting into our bodies and what on earth it’s doing to us! Our very own Lesley and Dr Khan are here to weigh in on the matter...
According to the NHS, we should be getting through roughly seven teaspoons of sugar a day. However, the majority of us are getting through double that! Talk about a sugar crush…
So, who exactly has gone sugar-free?
‘My stamina was terrible...’
Adele recently gave sugar the boot in favour of improved fitness and energy levels. The international superstar credits her surge in stamina partly to a significant reduction in sugary tea. That's right - she’s ditched a whopping 10 cups every day and also waved goodbye to alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine. Combining this diet with an intense workout routine has enabled an impressive 7-stone weight loss and for the star to feel 'sexier than ever'.
'Weight loss isn’t the only benefit of a sugar-free diet,' says Harley Street Skin co-founder, Lesley Reynolds. 'Excess sugar puts us at a direct risk of both diabetes and heart disease,' she continues. ‘We should all be more aware of the detriments of over indulging in sugar, but we can start small. Simply opting for a small drop of a natural sweetner in hot drinks - such as Honey or Agave - can add up to a big reduction in our sugar consumption longer-term.’
‘My skin was just getting worse and worse...’
Kourtney K eliminated sugar from her diet entirely when she finally got fed up of the false energy and cellulite. On her website, Kardashian has written, ‘Sugar doesn’t sustain you when you actually need energy, like for a workout.' She also reports finding that consumption of sweet treats leads directly to cellulite, claiming 'when I eat sugar, I find that more [of it] appears’. K-Dash claims a big revelation for her was boycotting sugary alcoholic drinks such as cocktails and liqueurs, explaining 'When I do drink, I go for either tequila on the rocks, beer or wine'.
Lesley asserts that, when out socialising, choosing a dry wine or brut is a great way of cutting excess sugar from daily our lives without sacrificing the luxury altogether. 'A glass of Brut typically has less than 2g of sugar in it- whereas your average glass of wine has anywhere between 10 and 30!' Quite shocking, we know.
‘I was a sugar addict!’
The movie star decided to give up sugar once and for all when she realised she was 'addicted' to the stuff. ‘That was an eye-opener for me,' she said. 'I realised I was craving it like an addict around 4pm every day.’ Amazingly, Hudson has managed to give up sugar altogether by sustaining a high-alkaline diet, putting a lot of her success in doing so down to a belief that "our bodies are one large chemistry experiment". K Hud's diet sees her avoiding many common culinary allergens - such as dairy, gluten and acidic foods - in favour of nuts, tofu, fruits and vegetables. No wonder she still looks so fabulous at 40!
If you’re worried about how your diet may be impacting your skin and overall health, Lesley recommends taking a Food Intolerance Test. ‘Food intolerance can cause anything from breakouts to lethargy and irritability - it helps so much to get an understanding of how your body is responding to what you are putting into it from a chemical perspective.''Even if you don’t necessarily have a sugar intolerance, cutting down will do wonders for your skin,' Lesley asserts.
‘It made me constantly fatigued and faint.’
Subscribers of Goop’s weekly news blast will know that Paltrow has been concerned about the link between over consumption of sugar and various health concerns - eczema, tooth decay and liver disease to name a few - and has been getting inventive with sugar-free receipes since 2010. Gwyneth suggests easily curbing sugar in homemade smoothies by subbing banana with frozen cauliflower. Interesting!
Similarly, Lesley poses the idea that the most simple method of cutting down on sugar is preparedness. 'Sugar is undoubtedly a craving we have all experienced. We need to think "preemptive strike",' she says. 'Keep a supply of fruit and long-life, sugar-free snacks - nuts or seeds for example- in your desk drawer. That way when you're feeling weak, you already have a healthy alternative to hand. This will bide you some time to let that sweet tooth subside!'
Talk to a professional about curbing sugar and other routes to getting the best out of your skin? Why not do so on London’s most-prestigious medical strip - for free. Call (020) 7436 4441 or click below to book your complimentary consultation with Lesley today!
