According to recent reports, sugar is as addictive as Class A drugs. Fiona Adams enlisted the help of nutritionist Angelique Panagos to help her kick the habit
As regular readers of this column will know, I am constantly exploring healthy eating, new exercise regimes and groundbreaking beauty treatments – in other words, striving to be as fit as a butcher’s dog (but without the obvious drawbacks of eating or looking like one). Reader, it’s exhausting! Nevertheless, for the sake of honest journalism I struggle on.
Back in April, however, I had the rather unsettling experience of being told by my GP that my blood pressure was too high and that I had to keep a diary of readings to monitor it. I was dumbfounded. I’d just been to the gym, cycled to my appointment and was feeling, I admit, pretty smug.
But, with a family history of hypertension and heart disease, I decided to consult nutritionist Angelique Panagos. While I was exercising every day, sometimes twice, I had to admit that there might be areas of my diet that could be improved upon.
Angelique, who lives in Wimbledon and practises out of South Molton Street, found fame on ITV’s Sugar Free Farm where she developed strict two-week diet plans for celebrities too fond of the sweet stuff. Sugar consumption is linked to heart disease and I fear that I, too, am a little overfond of it.
Before my appointment, I fill in a three-day food diary, detailing everything I’ve eaten or drunk, plus complete a comprehensive list of possible symptoms. On the whole, I think it reads well (apart from that lunch at the rugby club…), but Angelique soon exposes chinks in my healthy armour.
I usually have a glass or two of fruit juice during the day (packed with sugar), never eat before I exercise and eat breakfast too late after a workout. Coffee, I discover, is bad for me; I consume too many date-based snacks (too much sugar); and I should be upping my protein intake but cutting down on alcohol (again, too much sugar and hard on the liver while you’re trying to sleep).
Aside from these misdemeanours, my initial consultation explores my sleep patterns, hormones, stress levels and what I’m hoping to get out of it. Angelique emphasizes that she is not there to help clients “drop a dress size in a fortnight”, but to support and encourage a change in lifestyle and wellbeing. I want to lower my blood pressure, get a decent night’s sleep and kick that 4pm cake habit.
The next day Angelique emailed me a comprehensive plan, including a host of nutritious recipes and alternative meal ideas. We had agreed that I’d give up caffeine and alcohol for an initial two- to three-week period, to see how I felt, while following her plan. I kicked fruit juice and caffeine at once and started eating a small snack before exercise, while consuming nuts immediately after the workout to help muscles repair. I also switched to more protein-heavy meals (frittatas for breakfast, avocados and smoked salmon galore for lunch) and had a few more veggie options for dinner. I also, gulp, managed to give up alcohol for 10 whole days. If I craved a snack, I had protein instead of sugar.
It worked! At a follow-up consultation I was able to report how much better I felt and how much less hungry I was (no more 4pm slumping). I also had a positively saintly glow from lack of wine. My blood pressure is down, though not perfect – but wellbeing is a work in progress. As Angelique tells her clients, live well 90% of the time and live a little for the other 10%. Needless to say, I went straight home for a large glass of red. My 10%, you see.
For more information and to book a consultation visit Angeliquepanagos.com
Check out another one of our fantastic health stories like our recent interview with the Hemsley Sisters on healthy food
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