South Africans just can’t get enough of hoovering up the white stuff for a boost of energy, but while we know that sugar (what else would we be talking about?) can be detrimental to your teeth, waistline and gut, little attention is paid to the knock-on effects that can pose for your vital organs.
South Africans are estimated to consume up to 24 teaspoons of sugar per day—double the daily WHO recommendation.
According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health report:
Excess sugar intake, from sugar added to food products and especially sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), is considered a major contributor to excess weight and obesity in adults and children [1,2]. Excess weight and obesity are associated with the steady rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes, and various cancers.
Local Ingredients We Recommend
Ideal for baking and cooking, we’ve sourced a few local products to elevate your recipe.
Nomu Cocoa Powder
Buttanutt 100% Peanut Butter
70 % Cocoa Dark Chocolate Drops 200 g
Here are 3 delish recipes to help you reduce your sugar intake:
Double-Chocolate Zucchini Bread
All the sweet notes with hidden veggies. Let’s bake!
Course Dessert
Servings 12 people
2 cups white whole-wheat flour 225g1/4 cup cocoa powder 25g2 tbsp ground flaxseeds1/2 tsp baking soda1/2 tsp baking powder1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon1/2 tsp ground nutmeg1/2 tsp salt1/2 cup plain Greek yoghurt 118ml1/3 cup coconut sugar 48g1/3 cup mild olive oil or canola oil 59ml1/4 cup maple syrup 59ml2 large eggs1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract2 cups grated zucchini 250g1/3 cup dark chocolate chips 60g
Preheat oven to 180°C. Coat a 23 x 13cm loaf pan or a 20cm x 20cm baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt into a large bowl.In another bowl, whisk together the coconut sugar, oil, yoghurt, maple syrup, eggs and extract. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until just combined (with a few traces of flour still present). Add the zucchini and chocolate chips and stir to combine.Spoon the batter into the prepared baking pan and flatten the top with a rubber spatula. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the bread comes out clean, about 45 minutes for a loaf pan and 30 minutes for a 20cm x 20cm baking pan. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the pan and invert onto a cooling rack. Wrap leftovers tightly and store at room temperature for up to four days.
Keyword chocolate
High-Protein Chicken Salad
High in protein and a great option to meal prep for your family.
Course Salad
Servings 6 people
450g cooked chicken breast or rotisserie chicken, shredded about 4 cups shredded1/2 cup diced red onion about 1/2 medium red onion or 60g1/2 cup diced apple about 1/2 small apple or 75g100g quartered or halved grapes 2/3 cup165g plain 2% fat Greek yoghurt 2/3 cup2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, or more, to taste1/2 tsp garlic powderSalt and pepper, to taste12 slices slices of whole grain bread6 medium lettuce leaves
In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, red onion, apple, grapes, Greek yoghurt, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix until well combined.Using a 3/4 cup measuring scoop, portion out the chicken salad. Serve with a lettuce leaf and 2 slices of whole grain bread.
Keyword chicken, salad
5-Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Ideal for that 3pm slum. These easy to make peanut butter cups are simply delicioys.
85g all-natural peanut butter, or nut butter of your choice 1/3 cup1 tbsp plain or vanilla collagen peptide powder1 1/2 tsp honey1 tsp vanilla extract255g 70% dark chocolate, chopped
Line a 12-well muffin tin with paper liners and set aside In a small bowl combine the peanut butter, collagen powder, honey and vanilla, stirring until smooth. Set aside in the fridgePlace the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on 60% power in 1-minute increments, stirring between cooking times, until all the chocolate has melted, or 3–4 minutes. Alternatively, melt the chocolate in a metal bowl set over a pot with a few centimetres of simmering water on the stove, stirring until smooth. (Be sure not to get any steam or water in the chocolate or it will seize.)Spoon about 1 tsp of the chocolate into the paper liners, spreading the chocolate to the edges. Using a 1/2 tsp measure, put a heaping spoonful of the peanut butter mixture in the centre of each muffin cup. Spoon the remaining chocolate over the peanut butter, about 2 tsp per muffin cup.Refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 4 hours.Remove the peanut butter cups (still in their liners) from the muffin tin and store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
You can also read about What Happens When You Stop Eating Sugar, According To Nutritionists
The post 3 Delicious Recipes To Help Slash Your Sugar Intake And Boost Your Heart Health appeared first on Women’s Health. More
