Since covid 19 began it has been one of the world’s main topics of disease and illness. Due to concerns and publicity of covid 19, some have forgotten about other growing issues.

High sugar intake is known for causing many health implications such as: obesity, diabetes type 2, inflammation, higher blood pressure, damage to blood vessels in the kidneys, pancreas problems, fatty liver disease, and can cause tooth and gum decay due to plague build up from sugar which in turn can cause heart disease. In addition, it can lead to chromium deficiency – a mineral which helps to regulate blood sugar levels.

It is important to realise that some high sugar foods include: biscuits, chocolate, sweets, flavoured yogurts, fizzy drinks, sports drinks, breakfast cereals, some snack bars, honey, and fruit juices.

While fruit contains the naturally occurring sugar fructose, it has an overconsumption effect on the brain as does processed sugar. This causes sugar craving and addiction, which can lead to depression as well as mentally affect memory performance and learning skills.

Too much sugar intake can cause glucose levels to spike, resulting in tiredness, headaches, dehydration, and blurred vision.

Low sugar fruit and vegetables include strawberries, raspberries, olives, grapefruit, oranges, avocado, lettuce, mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber, and asparagus. Other foods include rolled oats, chickpeas, meat, whole wheat flour, brown rice and vegetable juice.

Nuts such as almonds, Brazil nuts and cashews are high in magnesium which is important for the regulation of blood sugar levels.

Reading food labels, doing glucose strip tests, and blood test kits is a way in which you can monitor your blood sugar and cholesterol levels – blood glucose meter.

Lastly, in order to decrease sugar intake cut back on the amount of added sugar to your diet, or even try a low carb diet as carbohydrates turn into glucose.