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Doctors have issued this health warning to Britons Christmas One in five people are considered addicted after a new survey found Sugar,
The average Briton consumes 87 grams more sugar on christmas day That’s almost three times the daily maximum of 30 grams recommended by the NHS, compared to their usual 29 gram intake, according to a nationwide survey conducted by Superdrug Online Doctor.
young people do this consume even more16 to 24-year-olds should consume a total of 135g of sugar on Christmas Day – which is 106g more than recommended, which is the equivalent of eating half a box of celebration chocolates.
38 per cent of Britons use Christmas as an excuse to eat sugar and 28 per cent say they experience a “hangover” after eating sugar over the festive period.
As a result of these sugar spikes, survey respondents reported side effects such as weight gain (30 percent), tooth decay (22 percent), decreased energy and fatigue (21 percent), and struggles to sleep (17 percent).
Dr Babak Ashrafi, clinical lead of service development at Superdrug, warned that overindulgence in food on Christmas day could have “immediate and worrying effects” such as:
Insulin surge and energy crash
When the amount of sugar in the bloodstream increases, your pancreas releases large amounts of insulin to bring your glucose levels down. This sudden rise and fall can make you feel tired, shaky, and hungry again soon after eating.
weak immune response
Excess sugar can temporarily slow your immune cells’ ability to fight viruses and bacteria. Studies show that high blood-sugar levels can suppress white blood cell function for several hours, which is why high intakes can make you more susceptible to colds.
swelling and skin flare-ups
Excessive sugar consumption promotes inflammation throughout the body. In the short term it can make joint pain, water retention and swelling worse, and for some people it can cause skin irritations such as acne or eczema.
stress on the heart and blood vessels
When you consume too much sugar, your body produces more triglycerides and releases stress hormones like cortisol. All of these can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure and increased heart rate, which puts additional strain on your cardiovascular system.
cravings and mood swings
Sugar gives your brain a short-term dopamine boost – the same chemical associated with feelings of pleasure. Once this subsides, you may experience irritability, bad mood, and stronger cravings for more sugary foods, making it easy to fall into a cycle of overeating and overeating.
However, Colette Reynolds, The qualified nutritionist and child psychologist said that while consuming large amounts of sugar can lead to stomach aches or feeling unwell, “the really important thing is what happens outside of Christmas.”
“The goal is to help kids develop long-term, balanced relationships with all foods, including sweets. This process means occasionally over-indulging — for all of us, not just our kids — and then getting back to our normal routine.
“The best preparation is to maintain your regular eating routine as much as possible. This means prioritizing three main meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On the same day, make sure your children eat well, ideally two or three balanced meals containing protein and fiber. These nutrients help stabilize blood sugar levels and provide lasting energy.”
“It’s also helpful to talk about food in a neutral way. Avoid labels like ‘bad’, ‘full of sugar’ or ’empty calories’. Labeling foods can make children feel guilty about eating them. We don’t want to use sweets as a reward or punishment. This helps keep food and emotions separate.”