I can’t sugar-coat these facts!
We all know that too much sugar is bad for our waistlines and heart health but eating too much sugar can affect our brains too.
Negative side effects include brain fog, trouble concentrating and even anxiety. Sound familiar? If these symptoms are part of your raft of peri-menopausal symptoms, reducing your intake can be a good place to start.
Sugar from natural sources is not usually a concern but sugar is added to so much of the prepared food we buy that is is worth trying to cut out processed foods from our diets, checking labels and being aware of all the ‘sneaky’ names for sugar so that we can cut back on the sweet stuff.
Sugar is a master of disguise and comes under such a variety of names to make it easier for manufacturers to hide it in their products.
Just googling all the names for sugar can make you feel overwhelmed and give you a head-rush! Go on, try it, I dare you!
Here are three helpful tips to help you cut down on sugar.
Reduce your caffeine intake
If you drink caffeinated drinks, even without sugar in, you can experience highs and lows in your energy levels that may have you reaching for sugary foods.
Eat dark chocolate
If you have a sweet tooth indulge in a bit of mood enhancing dark chocolate which contains at least 70% cacao. As well as containing important trace elements, it also includes antioxidants which include polyphenols that support gut health and help to reduce inflammation.
Increase your protein intake
A high sugar diet has been linked to increased weight gain and appetite but a diet that is high in protein and fibre has the opposite effect of promoting fullness. So stock up on protein-rich whole foods such fish, eggs, full fat dairy products, avocados and nuts.
Cutting back on sugar is an important way of supporting our well-being during our peri-menopause. It is well worth eliminating sugar as the culprit if we have any significant cognitive disturbance.
Try the tips above first and see how easy it can be to change the way you feel.