Sugar has been hitting the headlines from the beginning of the year – if it’s not about fruit juice being bad for you it’s about sugar being the new tobacco. How do you separate the fact from the frenzy?
There is no conclusive evidence that sugar in itself causes obesity – but if you eat too many sugary foods, they can make you put on weight as they are likely to be high in calories, especially if they are also laden with fat (think doughnuts or cheesecake).
Sugar in liquid from, like fruit juice, will make your blood glucose rise more quickly than sugar in the fruit itself, as the fibre helps to slow down the rise in blood sugar. For this reason, it’s best to watch your portion size.
The biggest reason why sugary foods and drinks per se are unhealthy is because of their effect on teeth. There is substantial conclusive evidence that sugar can cause tooth decay, period. So, it’s best to eat sugary foods or drinks in small amounts with a meal rather than in between meals.