2022-07-04

Of course, sugary food tastes nice, it can help lift our mood, and the glucose3 in it can give us an energy boost. But there are dangers too: a high-sugar diet is linked to obesity4, and being overweight can increase the risk of getting type 2 diabetes5. With these warning signs, I have considered changing my diet by replacing sugary snacks with fruit and savoury biscuits – but that's boring, I need my sugar fix!

I'm not alone. BBC journalist Radhika Shanghani, has gone one step further. Encouraged by some celebrities6 and nutritionists promoting a 'zero tolerance7' approach to sugar, she gave it up altogether, thinking it would make her healthier. Initially8 she says, "My first fortnight involves mood swings worse than puberty. I have agonising headaches and feel permanently9 hungover." These symptoms disappeared but she still found food shopping hard as she was stressing about buying the right things.

Her experiment wasn't a success. She eventually sought advice from Susan Jebb