By naturopath Margaret Jasinska

Did you know that Australian men are overrepresented in most obesity related chronic disease statistics? Once they reach age 55, far more men than women have type 2 diabetes. These men are also more likely to experience depression.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 75 percent of Australian men are overweight or obese, versus 60 percent of women. This increases the risk of fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and strokes.

The food you eat affects your mood

A recent study found that a diet high in sugar makes men more likely to suffer with depression. The research looked at 5000 men and 2000 women and showed that men who consumed more than 67 grams of sugar per day were 23 percent more likely to experience poor mental health in the next 5 years. This effect was not found in women.

Sugar isn’t only found in confectionary and soft drinks. Many  savoury and salty foods contain a lot more sugar than most people realise. Tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, salad dressings and many condiments are laden with added sugar. Hamburger buns and pizza crust are also usually high in added sugar.

The highest sugar consumers in Australia are teenage boys. The World Health Organisation recommends a maximum of 6 teaspoons of added sugar a day. The average male teenager consumes a massive 92 grams, (18 teaspoons) each day. Soft drinks and energy drinks are the biggest culprits.

Not enough people appreciate the adverse effects of food on their mood. If you want good mental health, you need good brain health. Your brain is just another organ in your body. It needs adequate amounts of specific nutrients to function well. It’s also important to avoid foods and beverages that can harm its health and function.

Tips to detox from sugar

• A lot of people feel quite anxious or experience a low mood when they try to cut down on sugar. Magnesium helps to calm the nervous system and can help improve sleep quality.
• People who eat sugar usually have an overgrowth of unhealthy gut bugs in their intestines. These bugs can cause abdominal bloating and symptoms of medically diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome. BactoClear capsules contain the essential oils of clove, oregano and thyme. They help with abdominal bloating, which is a common side effect of eating sugar.
• Your liver is a vitally important organ, responsible for multiple functions, such as the breakdown of hormones, filtration and detoxification of harmful toxins from the blood stream, regulation of blood sugar, protein and fat metabolism and the storage of essential vitamins and minerals. There are specific diet guidelines in the book Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It.
• Ideally your meals should be comprised of protein, non starchy vegetables and healthy fats. These foods are satiating and reduce the desire to snack on high carb foods. Take the time to prepare healthy and delicious meals for yourself. Fat adds flavour to meals and improves nutrient absorption. Examples of healthy fats to include in your diet are olive oil, avocados, coconut oil, oily fish, ghee, nuts and seeds and the fat from grass fed meat.
• If you know you have too many unhealthy habits and are wishing to improve your diet, doing the 15-Day Cleanse is an excellent springboard for getting on track with improving your health. Starting is always the hardest part. 15 days is not a long commitment, but it is long enough to start experiencing improved energy, weight loss and better sleep. Feeling good is a great motivator for continuing with healthy habits.
• If you have a sweet tooth and like to make desserts or put sugar in your tea, a fantastic alternative is Nature Sweet Sugar Substitute. We have great sugar-free recipes that use Nature Sweet. 

Reference: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jul/27/too-much-sugar-could-increase-depression-risk-in-men-study-suggests