The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that only 5% of your daily calorie intake should be added sugar. For the average adult, that is about 6 teaspoons of sugar or 25g per day. For children and adolescents WHO reccomend even less. The most recent figures from the National Health Survey suggest that on average, we’re also consuming too much sugar, over 30 teaspoons a day. Much of this is sugar the body just doesn’t need.
Tips to reduce your sugar intake:
- Slowly reduce the amount of sugar you add to hot drinks, instead of sugar you can add cinnamon to your hot chocolate or coffee. Cinnamon adds flavour without adding sweetness and also helps stablise blood sugar levels
- Avoid ‘low-fat’ diet foods, these often are high in sugar to compensate for the taste and texture of the product
- Try to have wholgrain bread, wholegrain pasta and brown rice instead of white bread, pasta and white rice. The wholegrain versions have more fibre, protein and vitamins
Visit BBC Truth about Sugar for more tips.
The infographic below is from Live Lighter a healthy lifestyle campaign in Western Australia. Read more at livelighter.com.au
