Managing Sugar Cravings
By Peter Rule on
We all seek the taste of sweet foods naturally in our diet, however it can be easy to crave excess high sugar foods for many varied reasons.
We have 5 basic recognised tastes – sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami (savoury) however we can become imbalanced in our food choices due to stress, low energy, eating on the run, looking for psychological reward or treat or nutritional deficiencies, just to name a few.
Refined sugar is addictive due to the release of dopamine from the brain. Dopamine is one of the principal neurotransmitters involved in creating substance dependence on things like alcohol. The excess dopamine that is produced gives rise to powerful feelings of pleasure; however these excess levels also take a long-term toll on...
4 health habits to make the most of Go Sober
By Kirsty Welsh on
You’ve committed to a month without booze. That’s pretty huge! Here’s a virtual-fist pump from me to you!
It makes sense to maximise the next 31 days in terms of your own health gains; without alcohol in your body you can think clearer, move easier and you are creating a far more receptive environment for nutrient absorption, detoxing and cleansing. All these things move you closer to looking and feeling your best and most youthful.
Think of it as a 31-day health challenge, where you can actually do all the things you’ve been meaning to for so long!
I suggest that for the next 31 days you make healthier eating choices in general, but, and keep an open mind here… Why not try some lifestyle changes are directed at the mind-body connection?...
Mocktails for Go Sober
By Go Sober Team on
Giving up the booze doesn’t have to be boring – we’re not talking about sipping kale juice smoothies here. Think of it less of an exercise in detoxing and more of an opportunity to experiment with great flavour combination – without the unpleasantness of the morning after.
‘Mocktails’ have always been somewhat of the cocktail's frumpy sister, but whereas the cocktail can easily hide behind a boozy kick, with non-alcoholic concoctions flavour is king. Not only are they a healthier alternative to their alcoholic siblings, but they’re just as much a treat for the weekend.
We’ve cherry picked a selection of tasty recipes below, lovingly created by Georgi Radev – resident mixologist of one of London’s finest cocktail bars, Mahiki.
Macmillan...
Nutritious Breakfast Options
By Rosie Mansfield on
As Go Sober kicks off, now is the perfect opportunity to replenish your body and reap the benefits of being hangover-free. These healthy breakfast options are a tasty and nutritious alternative to the traditional fry-up and will keep you energised for an active weekend.
Poached Eggs & Avocado
Poaching is the healthiest way to cook eggs, which contain high quality protein to help keep you fuller for longer. Avocados are loaded with heart-healthy fatty acids, and can even help lower cholesterol levels.
Oats & Banana
Bananas are a time-saving breakie option which will give you a boost of energy due to the high levels of potassium levels. Use it as a topping for wholegrain oats packed full of b-vitamins and you’ll instantly feel...
Top tips for detoxing for Go Sober
By Melissa Ingram on
The goal of detoxing is to cleanse the body of toxins however the truth is our body is detoxing all the time, via our skin, liver, kidneys and bowel. Even if you’re very health conscious, detoxifying once in a while is still important to give your body a rest from chemicals.
While abstaining from alcohol during Go Sober, try not to overdo it on other stimulants. Why not try a complete detox and cut back or cut out altogether things like caffeine, cigarettes and sugar and give yourself the best possible chance of a healthy October!
Some dos and don’ts when detoxing
- A slow approach is advised and more likely to result in a lifestyle change rather than a quick fix.
- Don’t starve yourself – being hungry simply makes the experience unpleasant...
Surviving Go Sober
By Sarah Gibson on
Tips from psychologist Sarah Gibson
Thinking of taking on Go Sober? Wondering if you’ve got the willpower to see it through? For so many Brits, the prospect of a dry thirty-one day stretch can seem as gruelling as any marathon. Psychologist Sarah Gibson shares a few tips to help you rise to the challenge.
Link your goals to what you value
Remind yourself each and every day of how Go Sober relates to the kind of person you want to be: someone who helps people who are dealing with serious illness, someone who invests in their own health, someone who embraces challenge. Remember that such values-oriented action can have profound psychological wellbeing benefits as well as the obvious physical benefits of abstaining. It’s not just a win-win. It...
Using Meditation to Curb Cravings
By Geraldine Coren on
Meditation is a powerful tool for self-awareness that can help with food cravings on both the physical and mental levels.
We all know how powerful sugar cravings can be, whispering to us like a voice in our ear – and an impulse felt in the body too – distracting us from our goals to be healthy and vital. Yet we all know where acting on our cravings too often leads us. The cycle of trying to resist, then indulging, feeling guilty and even sick, berating ourselves when we know our behaviour isn’t good for us ... and then setting up the sugar craving pattern to be repeated all over again.
Most of us have heard of the benefits of meditation, how it can slow down a busy mind and calm the nervous system. But meditation is more than just...
Kickstart Yourself Back Into Movement
By Leanne Hall on
We’ve all been there. Hitting the gym regularly, eating really well and feeling fabulous. Then it happens...
Maybe we over eat at a work function, or take a week off the gym because we’ve been feeling unwell. Or maybe we just feel bored with our current fitness routine. Whatever the trigger, the result is the same. Motivation takes a drastic nose-dive and we find ourselves frustrated, and perhaps even depressed at the fact that we just can’t seem to pull ourselves together and get back on track.
So how can you get back on the health and fitness wagon? Well, here are my tips to help get you back to your healthy self again!
Identify Obstacles
When motivation disappears, the first question you need to ask yourself is this:...
5 Cleansing Yoga Poses
By Claire Obeid on
We clean our homes, and we need to do the same with our bodies! Junk builds up within us that needs some serious detoxing. We cleanse through three of the body's main systems. The circulatory system pumps blood throughout the body – taking oxygen to cells whilst carrying the waste away. The digestive system processes the food we eat – absorbing the nutrients we need and eliminating anything we don’t. And then we have the lymphatic system, which collects fluid from our cells and sends it to the lymph nodes to ditch any harmful bacteria. The eliminatory organs (lower digestive system, liver, kidneys, lungs and skin) then help us to expel all of those nasty little toxins.
That’s a pretty good system when it comes to detoxing! However,...
