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MOST OF US ARE AWARE SUGAR NEEDS TO BE CONSUMED IN
MODERATION. BUT MANY OF US ARE CONSUMING FAR MORE
THAN WE THINK.
THERE'S SUGAR 'HIDING' IN FOOD AND DRINK THAT MIGHT
SURPRISE US.
MANUFACTURERS OFTEN ADD EXTRA SUGAR TO FOOD
BECAUSE IT MAKES IT TASTE BETTER. WHEN FAT IS REMOVED
FROM A PROCESSED MEAL, FOR EXAMPLE, SUGAR IS OFTEN
ADDED TO HELP DISGUISE THE BLANDER TASTE.
BECAUSE OF THIS, MANY FOODS WE THINK OF AS
WHOLESOME - LIKE YOGURT, GRANOLA BARS, LOW-FAT
SNACKS AND FRUIT-FLAVOURED WATER - MAY ACTUALLY
CONTAIN MUCH MORE SUGAR THAN WE REALISE.
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SUGAR IS NOT INHERENTLY BAD FOR YOU - IT'S THE AMOUNT
AND HOW FREQUENTLY YOU EAT IT THAT MATTERS.
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WHEN WE EAT FOOD, THE SUGARS ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO
GLUCOSE AND FRUCTOSE, WHICH ARE ABSORBED INTO THE
BLOODSTREAM.
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HOWEVER FRUCTOSE MUST THEN BE CONVERTED INTO
GLUCOSE IN THE LIVER.
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IF WE CONSUME MORE SUGAR THAN WE BURN THROUGH
ACTIVITY OUR LIVER CONVERTS THE EXCESS GLUCOSE INTO
FAT.
SOME OF THIS FAT STAYS IN THE LIVER BUT THE REST IS
STORED IN FATTY TISSUES AROUND THE BODY.
THIS IS WHY REPEATEDLY EATING TOO MUCH SUGAR CAN LEAD
TO WEIGHT GAIN, AND EVEN OBESITY, WHEN COMBINED WITH A
SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE.
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HERE ARE SOME OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS
THAT CAN BE CAUSED BY EATING TOO MUCH
SUGAR:
Diabetes: Consuming too much sugar in your diet can
lead to obesity, which increases your risk of
developing Type 2 diabetes. Those with this condition
don't produce enough insulin and aren't sensitive
enough to what's produced. Blood sugar levels aren't
regulated properly leading to thirst and tiredness in
the short-term and damage to blood vessels, nerves
and organs if left untreated.
Heart disease: Obesity also raises blood pressure
and 'bad' cholesterol levels while lowering levels of
'good' cholesterol. These all contribute to raising the
risk of heart disease.
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Fatty liver disease: Excess sugar can be stored as
fat in the liver. The condition has been linked to an
increased risk of diabetes and even liver cancer.
Tooth decay: When we eat sugary foods, bacteria in
our mouths break down the carbohydrates and
produce acids that dissolve minerals in our tooth
enamel. The longer the sugar is in contact with teeth,
the more damage bacteria can cause. Left untreated
this can cause pain, infection, and tooth loss.
Bad mood: Sugary foods like chocolate, cake and
biscuits have been labelled 'bad mood food'.
They can give you a quick burst of energy by causing a
sharp increase in blood sugar, but when levels fall this
can make your mood dip.
This cycle can make you feel irritable, anxious, and
tired.
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WORKING OUT HOW MUCH SUGAR IS IN YOUR FOOD OR
DRINK CAN BE CONFUSING AS IT APPEARS UNDER MANY
DIFFERENT DISGUISES, SUCH AS SUCROSE, GLUCOSE,
FRUCTOSE AND HONEY.
FOOD MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT REQUIRED BY LAW TO
SEPARATE ADDED SUGARS FROM NATURALLY OCCURRING
SUGARS ON A NUTRITION LABEL, BUT YOU CAN FIND OUT
HOW MUCH TOTAL SUGAR IS IN A PRODUCT BY LOOKING
FOR THE 'CARBOHYDRATES (OF WHICH SUGARS)' FIGURE.
MORE THAN 15G OF TOTAL SUGARS PER 100G MEANS IT
HAS A HIGH SUGAR CONTENT,
5G OF TOTAL SUGARS OR LESS PER 100G MEANS IT HAS A
LOW SUGAR CONTENT.