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Expert Q&A
Would you like to find out which super foods could really boost your energy or how you could fight the afternoon slump? Drop Angela your questions today and join us again soon for the answers!
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Your Questions Answered...-
1. Avril asks : Summer fruits are in abundance at the moment but what fruits have hidden sugars?
Virtually all fresh fruits, including summer berries, contain between about 5 and 10 per cent sugar (bananas are higher), but you don't need to worry about this naturally-occurring sugar as much as you do sugar that’s added to foods such as cakes, biscuits or fizzy drinks. Whole, fresh fruit contains “intrinsic” sugar that's bound up within the cellular structure of the fruit and is released slowly into the body. That means it's less able to damage teeth and is also released into the bloodstream much more slowly which is healthier in terms of appetite control and also if you are diabetic. The amount of added sugar in manufactured foods is generally higher than in fruit, and secondly it is more damaging because it is free or “extrinsic”. As such it's much more likely to damage your teeth and cause fluctuating blood sugar levels. You should bare in mind, however, that juicing changes the sugars in fruit from intrinsic to extrinsic, so fruit juice intake should be limited ideally to a glass a day.
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2. Sheila Martin asks: I’m a 60 year old diabetic who attends circuit training twice a week but I have no willpower when it comes to eating the wrong foods. Help!?
I always think that it should be called “won’t power” rather than “willpower” that we have a problem with! And if it helps, you are definitely not alone here!
The key thing for anyone struggling to stay on the straight and narrow with their diet is to be motivated enough, which means really focusing on a key benefit you’ll achieve by eating well which is critically important to you. It could be as frivolous as fitting into a certain item of clothing or as serious as being alive to see a treasured grandchild get married. It’s a case of picking your motivational mascot and sticking to it.
Don't be too harsh on yourself! You talk about the “wrong” foods, but actually there's only really a “wrong” diet, not “right” and “wrong” or “good” and “bad” foods. Sometimes by demonising foods we want them more. A better mindset is to allow yourself everything in moderation and to feel no guilt about the treat foods you’ve allowed yourself because you’ve factored them into your diet. As long as the bulk of your diet is healthy, there is no harm done! And, remember, if it's sweet foods you crave, you can make your own and substitute in Canderel in the place of sugar for a lower calorie option.
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3. Anne asks: What is the chemical composition of Canderel? Are there any constituents which are harmful to the body?
Canderel uses a unique combination of ingredients to ensure it has a sugar like taste and does not leave the bitter after taste commonly associated with some sweeteners. Canderel is manufactured using aspartame and acesulfame-K as its two sweetening ingredients. Neither of these two constituents is harmful in any way and each has been rigorously safety tested to the most stringent standards. And additional ingredients are added to Canderel to make the very concentrated sweeteners easier to dissolve and measure. These ingredients are commonly used in foods and other low calorie sweeteners. All ingredients in Canderel are approved by food regulators around the world.
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4. Paul Williams asks - I’m thinking about trying some protein drinks to build up my muscles, are these safe? Are there any dangerous side affects?
Generally I wouldn’t promote the use of protein shakes, as research shows that they are largely unnecessary for putting on extra muscle. Even for the most elite athletes, bulkier, stronger, muscles can be achieved through good nutrition and the right work out. Also, if you have protein far above your needs, this can cause ammonia poisoning to the kidneys as they get overloaded and are having to constantly break down excess proteins for excretion.
This said, if you are not achieving a good varied diet and are failing to achieve a couple of portions of protein a day then obviously a protein supplement could be beneficial. I would strongly encourage you to try and get your protein needs through pulses, beans, green leafy vegetables, nuts, fish soya and tofu first though. If you are set on using protein shakes then consider whey protein or a soya-based protein supplement, available in most health food stores.
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5. Brenda asks - What dosage of Canderel is suitable for a diabetic?
Essentially as long as you use within the bounds of a normal diet, you can’t over do it. You’d have to be eating absolutely masses of sweet foods to get anywhere near what might be considered an unsuitable level, so I’d simply not worry.
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6. Antonia Buskell asks - What can I put in my summer salads to make them more filling without adding lots of calories?
How about some pulses, like butter beans, canellini beans or such like? Or some homemade baked croutons maybe? Lean protein is filling and turns a salad from a snack into a main meal so is always worth adding to your salad too. I’m thinking of lean chicken breast, tuna or veggie meat for example.
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7. Roy Diamond asks - Does Canderel contain Aspartame?
Yes it does. Aspartame is one of the most scientifically studied ingredients on the market, aspartame safety is supported by over 500 scientific studies conducted over three decades and is an EU approved ingredient also known as E951. Aspartame is made up of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine which are the building blocks of protein and are found naturally in a number of foods such as meat and dairy products. As an ingredient, it therefore brings nothing new to the diet, and is metabolised in the same way as other amino acids. Aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than sugar.
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8. Mrs S. Simon asks - My husband loves pies but I’m worried about their impact on his health. Would fruit pies made with Canderel be any better for him?
Home made fruit pies such as apple and blackberry pie or a gooseberry pie can be a reasonably healthy option and more so if you use Canderel to cut down on the calories and sugar. But remember pastry still contains a lot of saturated fat, which could lead to your husband having raised cholesterol and blocked arteries if he makes it too much of a feature in his diet. As well as using Canderel and plenty of fresh, seasonal fruit, perhaps you could only use pastry on the top and make sure to roll it really thin. Even with these changes I wouldn’t suggest he have pies more than once or twice a week! A wholemeal crumble is a better alternative as it’s generally lower fat and it’s easier to use a softer, healthier (polyunsaturated) spread to make it.
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9. Debbie Donnelly asks - Having tried every diet possible, I’m 20 stone with back pain and struggling to lose weight. What can I do to lose weight without having to do hard exercise?
You need to look closely at what you are eating and ideally to do this by keeping a food diary for a while detailing exactly what you are eating, when and where, and in what portion sizes. Can you identify times during the day when you are most liable to overeat, and what types of food might you be eating which are not filling you up sufficiently? Once you have the hard facts down in front of you, you might be able to have some better idea of how to proceed.
Joining a club such as Weight Watchers where you will get moral support and a tried and trusted scientifically proven diet is a good idea. Or go to the National Obesity Forum’s website (http://www.nationalobesityforum.org.uk) for some great take home weight loss tips. Your diet needs to include plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and some lean protein and low fat dairy products. And you need to be reducing your calorie intake and expending more calories on physical activity to succeed. This does not mean you have to workout very hard or become a gym bunny. Physical activity that you can incorporate into your life - brisk walking, going up and down stairs and so on, counts, so try to be active in this way for an hour a day.
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10. Jemima Reese asks - How many carbohydrates are there in one Canderel tablet?
The carb content of one Canderel tablet is so negligible as to count as zero.
One Canderel tablet contains only 62mg of carbs. When compared to a teaspoon of sugar which has 5 grams of carbs and 20 calories, this amount is so negligible.
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11. Elizabeth asks - What does eating well really do for your health?
In the shorter term, it’s sometime hard to see how a healthy diet helps, because our bodies are remarkably adaptable and can survive on even the most atrocious diets, especially when we are young.
Most of the benefits of healthy eating are longer term ones, like helping protect against cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis in the future. Indirectly, eating the right diet and being in energy balance (using up the same amount of calories as you consume) also protects you against a plethora of obesity-related disease which include diabetes, some cancers and joint ailments.
There are also more immediate benefits though, which include better energy levels and improved concentration. It’s worth eating healthily throughout your life, but it’s never too late to start either!
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12. Mohammed Wahid asks - Is Canderel better for diabetes sufferers in place of sugar or other sweets?
Yes, it’s better because Canderel doesn’t affect blood sugar levels like sugar does. If you’re using it in baked goods like cakes and puddings though, bear in mind these will still have an effect on your blood sugar and insulin requirements because of the carb content you are getting from flour.
