Did you know it’s Sugar Free February and that drinking water can help to lower blood sugar levels by diluting the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood stream. By drinking water lots of water you can reduce your blood sugar as it indirectly will reduce insulin resistance and help reduce hunger.Sugar Free Feb is championed by Cancer Research UK and is linked to a month of fundraising for the charity with its annual high profile sugar-free campaign. Follow the link to get involved, read handy hints and tips, recipes and downloads, helping you to cut out sugar and raise money from this deserved cause.It is proven that going sugar-free does deliver some encouraging benefits in making long-term health changes. Some say going sugar-free is harder to do than Dry January!
How to go sugar-freeUnlike the low-fat diet of yesteryear, the sugar-free one is principally low in starchy, easily digestible carbs but packed full of disease-fighting vitamins and flavonoids. With its roots in a Mediterranean style of cooking, a sugar-free way of eating is derived from the habits of people living in the Med and can be applied to a wide range of cuisines from Chinese to Indian to Mexican. For this reason, people find it easier to stick to (unlike the low fat one) because it’s easy and enjoyable – and affordable.Whether you are following a purposeful sugar-free diet to balance blood levels or just cutting out refined sugars as found in cakes, biscuits, fizzy drinks, tomato sauce and fizzy drinks; the wellbeing benefits are numerous.Top tips for less sugar Just following these key principles for a low carb, Mediterranean-style way of eating for a healthier you!
- Minimise or avoid the white carbs – white bread, white pasta, potato, white rice, and processed cereals.
- Cut down on refined sugar, sugary drinks and desserts, and be careful about your intake of artificial sweeteners, too.
- Eat more veg! Make sure veg makes up half your plate. You can also make veg based smoothies to drink more veg and fluid.
- Have some fruit but just a couple of portions per day. Fruit is high in natural sugars.
- Eat plenty of high quality proteins found in meat, oily fish, eggs, and seafood.
- Enjoy your dairy products and the healthy fats and oils, such as olive oil, yoghurt, nuts, avocados, coconut (but choose the non-sweetened varieties).
- Use vinegar in your cooking! It’s a powerful ingredient linked to weight loss, suppressing appetite and maintaining healthier blood sugar levels.
Drinking more water helps keep you feeling fuller for longer and cuts the need to eat more and snack. Combined with watching your portion sizes and enjoying an increased exercise regime, going sugar free could be life changing!
Why drinking water is importantDrinking water will help the body to flush out excess glucose as part of a lifestyle program, especially when a problem with blood sugar has been flagged up, by keeping you feeling fuller and stop you turning to naughty snacks and fizzy drinks.Having fresh filtered drinking water on tap is a great way to remember to keep fluids topped up, and stop you from reaching for a less healthy alternative.A top tip is to remember to increase your water intake to reduce the effect of calorie cutting such as tiredness and headaches. If you feel hungry try drinking a glass of chilled and filtered water or a cup of herbal tea – often hunger feelings are really signs of dehydration!Filtered and chilled water from a plumbed in water cooler or drinking water fountain tastes great and therefore helps you to drink more.
Multi-function, 2 in 1 and 4 in 1 instant hot taps give you boiling and chilled, hot and cold filtered water from the one tap. KettleTaps are a convenient way to make all your hot and cold drinks and flush your body.Keep a reusable bottle at your desk and in your bag to keep topped up. Refill and reuse saves on single-use plastic purchases and helps the environment. Install plumbed in drinking water stations for your team and refill reusable bottles to save plastic pollution.
As an enthusiast and expert in the field of nutrition and wellness, particularly with a focus on sugar-free lifestyles and the impact of hydration on blood sugar levels, I bring a wealth of knowledge to help you navigate the intricacies of Sugar Free February and its associated health benefits.
First and foremost, let's address the claim that drinking water can lower blood sugar levels. This is indeed supported by scientific evidence. Staying well-hydrated is crucial for overall health, and it plays a significant role in managing blood sugar levels. When you drink water, it helps dilute the glucose in your bloodstream, indirectly reducing insulin resistance and curbing hunger.
Now, delving into the concept of Sugar Free February, it's championed by Cancer Research UK, a reputable organization. Engaging in a sugar-free lifestyle during this month involves cutting out refined sugars found in various sources such as cakes, biscuits, fizzy drinks, and more. The campaign is not only about personal health but also includes fundraising for cancer research.
The article suggests that going sugar-free delivers encouraging benefits for long-term health changes. This is in line with the growing awareness of the negative effects of excessive sugar consumption on various aspects of health, including the risk of developing chronic diseases.
To successfully go sugar-free, the article recommends a diet low in starchy, easily digestible carbs, drawing inspiration from a Mediterranean-style of cooking. This approach emphasizes a variety of cuisines, making it both enjoyable and affordable for individuals.
The top tips for a sugar-free lifestyle include minimizing white carbs, reducing refined sugar and sugary drinks, incorporating more vegetables into your diet, consuming high-quality proteins, enjoying dairy products and healthy fats, and using vinegar in cooking, which is linked to weight loss and maintaining healthier blood sugar levels.
The importance of drinking water is highlighted throughout the article. Besides its role in diluting blood glucose, water helps keep you feeling fuller for longer, reducing the temptation to indulge in unhealthy snacks and drinks. The recommendation to increase water intake is supported by the suggestion that feelings of hunger might actually be signs of dehydration.
Practical tips for maintaining hydration include having access to fresh filtered water, using plumbed-in water coolers or drinking water fountains, and utilizing multi-function instant hot taps for convenience. Keeping a reusable bottle at hand is also encouraged to reduce single-use plastic purchases and environmental impact.
In summary, adopting a sugar-free lifestyle in February has potential health benefits, and staying hydrated by drinking water is a key component of this journey. The advice provided in the article aligns with established principles of healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
