Page 78 - Masala E-magazine Vol 9 Issue 6 Junel - July 2018

HEALTH

HERE ARE SE VEN WAY S T O

AVOID HIDDEN SUG ARS

1 Natural sweeteners

Natural sugar substitutes and sweeteners, like coconut sugar, honey,
dates and Stevia, can be replaced as a part of our daily intake, but in
moderation. It is also best to avoid artificial sweeteners, so on your next
trip to Starbucks, make sure you opt for brown sugar rather than artificial
sweeteners for your Café Latte.
2 Pick your breakfast wisely

Since many of us are used to having cereals and packaged breads for
breakfast, totally cutting them out would be a difficult change. To make
things more comfortable, we can add more healthy fats and protein, such
as unsweetened yoghurt, avocados, nuts and seeds, to keep the cravings
down and keep us fuller for a longer period throughout the day.
3 Stop drinking sugar

Ideally, solid foods, rather than sweetened fruit shakes or frappes, should be providing you
with the most calories. However if you still crave a liquid pick-me-up, an ideal alternative would
be sugarless drinks, such as unsweetened green tea, black coffee or cucumber and mint
infused water.
4 Snack attack

Thai or Indian, the range of snacks available here is amazing! Those that
are found commercially are unhealthy to consume every day, regardless
of the brand. Try to have nuts and fresh fruits rather than potato chips or
sweetened popcorn.
5 Update your F&B order

When placing an order for a blended fruit shake from your local vendor,
specifically tell them to keep it unsweetened. When ordering items at
a restaurant, be careful when you ask for som tam, pak boong or even
curries, as all of them have been flavoured with sugar to balance the dish.
So pick wisely!
6 Read labels carefully

Sugar or no sugar, it is important to know what your body is
taking in. Read the food labels carefully to identify any hidden
sweetness. Nowadays, there are many alternatives to each type
of food and many brands have gone organic, especially when it
comes to the ingredients they use.
7 Homemade food

Like we all say, there is no food better than mum’s, and this is
not only true because of the taste, but also because mums use
the best ingredients for their kids. With homemade meals, we
have total control over what we put in, minimising the amount
of added sugar and oils. Making your own dressings, sauces
and breakfasts can also go a long way, not only for you, but for
generations to come.

78 Masala Magazine
JUNE - JULY 2018