You are what you eat, yet what you eat can be influenced by many factors.  When attempting reduce added and free sugar intake, and eat well overall, it is useful to be aware of what may be driving your food or drink selection. The reality is, there are many of forces at play! Here are … Continued

Less loved or glamorous than other organs in the body, we feel the liver is due more attention and respect! The liver undertakes numerous physiological processes (over 500 vital functions!) to keep the body healthy, including storing glucose to be later used for energy; producing bile for fat breakdown and utilising fat-soluble vitamins; forming proteins … Continued

The gut microbiome. You’ve probably heard of it. It is the community of trillions of microbiota (also referred to as microbes or microorganisms) residing in the intestinal tract, their genes, and the products they produce. The microbes coexist with us so we can function. Amazing.  The composition of different bug populations residing in the gut … Continued

Credit: Canva Our brain is our best friend. A friend we often take for granted!  To keep the brain healthy, we need to eat healthily. That means more whole foods, less ultra-processed foods, and limiting consumption of added and free sugars. Why? Read on.  Activating reward centre When eating sugary foods, the brain’s reward system … Continued

Identifying added and free sugars by learning how to read labels takes a little practice, though worth doing. By building awareness of where and how much added sugar is hiding in food and drink, we are less likely to over consume. This is important as too much of the sweet stuff increases the risk for tooth decay, type 2 … Continued

We get asked a lot about alternatives to sugar. This is warranted, as individuals look for ways to reduce intake but confronted with mixed messages about the health effects of consuming sugar substitutes.  Are they helpful or harmful? For a simple answer, here is what we advise:  Alternative, intense sweeteners and sugar substitutes are fine … Continued

However, an often overlooked – yet important – component of the food experience is how we eat it. Is it rushed and on-the-go? Has it been prepared with care and love? Is it shared with those you care about? Dinner is a perfect opportunity to enjoy a homemade meal slowly and at the table with … Continued

Mid-afternoon is here and the chocolate craving steam train is ready to steer you toward your nearest 7-Eleven. Despite all your best intentions, you jump on board, and for a moment you feel the energy-slump lift, only to slump again shortly after. Sustaining energy throughout a day can be a challenge. We have demanding lives … Continued

A celebratory cake is likely to contain some sweet stuff, and the occasional slice for most is perfectly okay! However, adding to that the sugary foods typically found at a kid’s birthday party can result in sugar overload. Here we have a selection of no added sugar food and drink ideas perfect for a party, … Continued

Let’s not beat around the sugary bush – soft drinks are not good for health. Period.  Initially, regularly knocking back liquid sweet stuff can result in energy and mood fluctuations, tooth decay, and disturbed sleep.  Over time, the impacts are extensive and significant. Long term, regular drinking of the sweet stuff can contribute to non-alcoholic … Continued