15/01/2021
Are you on a sugar reduction journey?⠀
⠀
Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates. They come in a variety of forms and are in everything from your morning toast to your vegetable smoothie.⠀
⠀
👉🏼Sucrose = table sugar, used to make cakes or add to your tea. Derived from sugar cane or sugar beet. ⠀
👉🏼Fructose = found in fruit⠀
👉🏼Lactose = found in milk and yoghurt. ⠀
⠀
The sugars naturally found in fruit/veg, grains and dairy are not ones that we need to avoid/reduce. It is the added sugars plus honey and syrups we need to think about.⠀
⠀
👉🏼There are some differences in the way that the body digests different types of sugar – complex sugars (found in starchy foods and carbohydrates) are absorbed more slowly and provide lasting energy, whereas simple sugars (like sucrose) spike our blood sugar levels more quickly and are more damaging to our teeth. Most people would benefit from consuming less sweet foods and added sugars. But there are also circumstances where increasing sugar intake can be useful – for example, for those who are trying to gain weight or for endurance athletes.⠀
⠀
👉🏼Should we all just go sugar-free? I don't think so. Sugar is something we cannot completely cut out of our diets. It is present in so many foods naturally. We shouldn't feel guilty for enjoying sweet foods, in fact, humans have evolved to enjoy sweet foods! ⠀
⠀
👉🏼The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recommends the average person needs to half their sugar intake, so we do all need to get used to eating less sweet food. We can also start to take our own small steps by making smarter choices. ⠀
⠀
👉🏼The evidence shows that if food manufacturers lower the sugar in foods we eat, this could help. Isomaltulose is a new type of sugar formulated that is 50% less sweet, producing a slower and lower rise in blood sugar. This type of food innovation could help us transition to less sweet version of foods and help take us all along the sugar reduction journey.⠀
⠀
