WE ALL EAT TOO MUCH SUGAR
I continue to be shocked at how much sugar hides in foods marketed as healthy. For example, Granola, protein bars, iced coffees, fruit juices and bottled smoothies. We all eat too much sugar.
The advice is to keep free or added sugar to around 6 teaspoons a day, about 25grams, and sweetened drinks to less than one a week. Most of us are having three times that!
Start with sweet drinks, because they don’t look like desserts (a slice of cake is an occasional treat a sweetened drink is an everyday habit) they have become our biggest blind spot. They don’t make you full, the sugar hits quickly (leaving you craving more), each extra daily serving is tied to the risk of obesity, heart disease stroke and even depression.
Artificial sweeteners are no better. They affect gut microbes, blood sugar control and keep your sweet tooth ‘switched on’.
- Swap juice for sparkling water with lemon or orange slices
- Blend your own smoothies
- Instead of iced coffee with syrups try black coffee with cinnamon or cocoa
- Instead of energy drinks, black coffee or green tea.
- How about unsweetened flavoured plant milks?
Swapping just one drink a day can cut more than half of your sugar intake and you will feel it in your energy, mood and sleep.