A specialist appearing on Channel 4’s Live Well with the Drug-Free Doctor has stated that if you’re struggling with snacking habits, it is “not your fault”. What’s more, there’s a straightforward approach you can take to address the problem.
Urging viewers to “fight back”, presenter Doctor Rangan Chatterjee offered reassurance to those dealing with this issue that they are far from alone. He outlined how one patient’s battle with snacking resulted in weight gain, despite their sincere attempts to keep the habit in check.
Speaking about the patient, called Chris, he explained: “I don’t think Chris’ food addiction was his fault. And if you struggle to regulate your eating, I don’t think it is your fault either.”
He shared: “The amount of low-quality, high-calorie food that you are being tempted with every time you step out your front door is staggering. But there is something we can start to do today to fight back.”
He recommended: “Only eat foods your grandmother would recognise. This basically means minimally processed foods, as close to their natural form as possible.”
According to the professional, this “keeps your blood sugar stable and prevents the overeating driven by ultra-processed foods, which are linked to an estimated 14 per cent of early deaths in the UK.”
He added: “When you buy something, flip it around. Look at the ingredient label, and if you don’t recognise something on it, it’s probably best not to eat it.”
He went on to say: “It is no accident. These food companies are powerful and they make a lot of profit from you eating these kinds of foods. In fact, the ultra-processed food industry is worth around $1.9 trillion globally.”
Diabetes warning
Throughout the documentary, viewers learned that Chris’s diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was linked to carbohydrates rather than consuming large amounts of sugary treats.
“When Chris got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it wasn’t because he was having a huge amount of sweets. It was actually because he was eating loads and loads of starchy carbohydrates”, the doctor said.
The medic revealed that even a small handful of pasta could be more harmful than many people realise. He stated: “This amount of pasta can have the same impact on your blood glucose levels as eating six and a half teaspoons of sugar.”
Meanwhile, a “sandwich portion of processed white bread contains eight teaspoons of sugar. And a small portion of white rice can have the same impact on your blood glucose levels as consuming 10 teaspoons of sugar.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
