Finding the hidden sugars

In the past few years, we've been so busy looking at the fat content of our foods that we haven't noticed that a lot of those fat calories have been replaced with equally unhealthy alternatives. Sugar, and ingredients that convert to sugar quickly in the body, raise insulin levels quickly too. Chronically elevated insulin leads to insulin resistance, obesity and, in many cases, diabetes. Is it any wonder that 1.4 million people in the UK now have this awkward and sometimes life-threatening condition?

If you think you don't eat a lot of sugar, it's time to take another look at labels on processed foods. You’ll probably be surprised. The 'real' health food is the kind that you prepare and cook yourself from fresh, preferably organic, ingredients. For an energy giving snack, you’re better off eating a piece of cheddar and an apple or a handful of raw nuts and seeds than a sugary, fatty, over-processed time-bomb in a pretty rustic wrapper.