We're talking more and more about the harmful effects of sugar, and yet... we've never eaten as much sugar as we do today. In France, the average consumption of sugar per year for 1 person is 35 kilos, whereas it was 5kg in 1830!
And the symptoms of sugar addiction are now part of everyday life for many of us: we always end meals with a dessert, we crave sweet things at the slightest sign of fatigue... And we find it hard to apply moderation when it comes to sweet things!
And if you try to replace them with low-fat products ... that's not necessarily a good idea...
The "light" product segment is a goldmine for manufacturers, yet they generally contain more sugar than their non-light equivalents (fat is removed, taste is lost = sugar is added to make the product more palatable).
The sugar lobby is very powerful: we've never consumed so many low-fat products, yet there's a growing trend towards weight gain.
And if sugar is bad in our daily lives, it becomes a real enemy in long-distance sport, often leading to hypoglycemia and forcing us to eat constantly.
So how can we avoid eating too much sugar ... or even give it up? Even when you're exercising?
The mechanism? Less sugar, more energy
Sweet foods have a high glycemic index. This means that sugar is released into the bloodstream at a very fast rate, leading to a sharp rise in blood sugar levels.
In turn, blood sugar levels will boost your energy levels, as the sugar in your blood will fuel your cells. However, when blood sugar levels fall (once the body has absorbed all the sugar), you'll run out of energy and your body will have only one goal: to eat more sugar to get a boost.
So are all sugars bad?
When we talk about giving up sugar, we're really talking about fructose. Fructose is what drives us to eat more, is stored directly as fat, and makes us ill because it inhibits the immune response, affects our body's mineral balance causing deficiencies, impacts fertility, causes reflux and digestive disorders, and can also cause adrenaline surges, hyperactivity and concentration problems!
Does it work the same for men and women?
Yes, absolutely! Women need fat and protein, especially if they're athletic!
Camille recommends two excellent books on the subject: ROAR by Dr Stacy Sims (not yet translated) and "J'arrête le sucre" by Sarah Wilson, which includes lots of tips and recipes for giving up sugar and saying goodbye to those little cravings.