Here is how to avoid the sugar rush this Christmas

December is well known for being a month of overindulgence. I can’t buy a pint of milk without walking past a line of chocolates, decorated with festive pictures.

I’ve swapped out my bedtime tea for hot chocolate and my weekend warmer is now a mug of mulled wine.

I recently navigating myself towards the biscuit aisle in the supermarket, craving something sweet for after dinner.

That’s when I realised, the sugar monster had struck.

Eating sugar, triggers sugar cravings.

It’s a frustrating cycle that is surprisingly quick to break, though those first few days can be really tough.

Due to the health risks of a high sugar diet, it’s worth pushing through.

Over consumption of sugar can lead to increased risk of weight gain and diabetes, both of which can contribute to heart problems, joint pain and overall ill health.

Eating sugar can also leave us feeling lethargic, making us less likely to stay active and more likely to crave sweet foods.

Eating sugar when you are tired is a bit like adding newspaper to a fire as fuel.

Your energy will surge initially, but that burst will be short lived and you’ll soon need to add more.

If, like me, you don’t want to let the sugar monster win, then it’s important to find sources of fuel that will burn for longer, sustaining your energy throughout the day.

Foods that are high in protein and fibre help stabilise our blood sugar, supporting our energy.

Protein rich lunches and breakfasts include eggs, beans, meat, nuts and fish.

Simply adding some sugar free peanut butter to your morning toast, or adding butter beans to a veggie soup can change a meal from high carb to a balanced plate, with very little effort.

It’s also important to snack regularly and not yourself get too hungry.

The hungrier we are, the stronger the sugar monster grows and the harder it is to win the battle.

In my weight loss clinic, I find myself advising people to eat more rather than less, to keep their energy up, their blood sugar balanced and help them make positive food choices rather than giving in to the emergency snickers they’d normally rely on.

If going cold turkey at Christmas sounds too difficult but you don’t want to enter January with extra inches around your middle and a habit of scoffing Quality Street after dinner, there is extra help.