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Creating a meal to please kids that is also healthy can be a challenge. Children and teens can have a discerning palate and a preference for particular (often less healthy) foods. It is not surprising. We are faced with endless marketing of hyper-palatable ultra-processed and packaged foods, many of which contain added and free sugars while offering … Continued

  Kids love sweet stuff. In fact, humans are wired to desire it.  For most of history, humans evolved to seek out sweet tastes. Finding sweet, ripe foods offered an easy energy source, therefore, an evolutionary advantage.  In the modern-day developed environment, foods high in added sugars are readily available and abundant. It is difficult … Continued

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

While a little added or free sugar is okay for most, come the festive season we are often bombarded with excessive offerings of the sugary stuff. In addition to what is already hiding in everyday and seemingly ‘healthy’ foods, at this time of the year – with gatherings, supermarkets, and gifts brimming with sweetened food … Continued

In times where social distancing, lockdowns, and Zoom hangs have become the new normal, typical holiday and Christmas activities and gatherings may look different. What mightn’t change is the mountain of sugar you find yourself exposed to. While a little added sugar is okay, it can be easy to go overboard! Here are a few … 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

Halloween – there is no doubt we are all familiar with the ‘trick or treat’ occasion! With events of the past two years, how communities ‘trick or treat’ may look different compared to years past. But one thing that is likely not to change is the ‘treat’ being (more often than not) loaded with added … 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

We are well aware that too much added and free sugar isn’t great for health, impacting mood, energy, the liver, and also the health of your heart. In fact, research has found that those who consume at least 15% of their daily energy from sugar – found in the obviously sweet stuff, such as cakes, soft … Continued

If you have concerns about heart health, you should pay attention to added and free sugar intake. Excess consumption isn’t good for heart health, in part due to the impact on the liver. The liver and the heart Development of non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease (NAFLD) has been linked with high intake of added sugars, particularly sugar-sweetened beverages, even … Continued

Small changes can have incredible impact, as has been proven by an exceptional New Zealand school. In 2006, Yendarra School in South Auckland introduced a water-only policy. That meant no sugar-sweetened beverages were allowed on campus, whether sold at the school or brought from home. Junk foods such as pies, icy poles and ice-creams were … Continued