Why should I eat less sugar?

There has been a lot of discussion about whether sugar is good or bad. In fact there’s nothing actually wrong with sugar, it’s how much you have that is important.

Sugar is pure calories and it provides virtually no other nutrients, vitamins or minerals. It gives you a quick energy boost and makes things taste sweet. The body processes excess calories and turns them into fat so it’s important not to overdo it. Food experts suggest that we need to reduce the amount of sugar we eat and choose foods that provide us with energy but also with other nutrients and go for foods that are naturally sweet and better for our health.

Nutrients with a low Glycaemic Index rating help you to feel full for longer

Sugar and starch are both carbohydrates and our main source for energy. Foods such as bread, pasta, potatoes and rice consist mostly of starch. Fruit, vegetables, honey, jam, biscuits, candy and soft drinks are rich in sugar. Your body breaks sugars down to glucose very quickly, which causes a massive rise in your blood glucose level. This gives you an energy shot, but after a short time you need new energy. Most people take another cookie or something to get energy again. This way you keep eating because you feel hungry very quickly.

There is a simple solution for this problem: You should eat foods with a low or medium Glycaemic Index value. These foods are rich in starch and break down to glucose at a very low rate. You feel satisfied for longer time and have energy for longer.

The fact that a nutrient tastes sweet doesn’t say anything about the Glycaemic Index rating. For example take a look at the picture below:

Types of sugar

There are many kinds of sugar, but they all have the same main functions: giving a sweet taste to food and giving you energy. Common sugars are white sugar, brown sugar, fructose (which is found naturally in fruit), glucose, Demerara and the processed sugars such as glucose syrup and fructose syrup.

Dutch version For a Dutch translation of this article see: Minder suiker eten.

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 | Posted in: Nourishment | Posted by: Jeremy Walters

Comments

RAZZLE DAZZLE OX wrote:

I THINK SUGAR IS SOOO UNHEALTHYY !! BUT I STIL LIKE THE FOODS THAT ITS IN :)

# 09/04/2008 11:40

8PMMYERR wrote:

My whole tutor liek sugar,even though we all agree. its not to helthy :L:L

# 22/05/2008 07:26

.. wrote:

janna1995@hotmail.co.uk

# 22/05/2008 07:31

sexy chick 321 wrote:

sugar sucks it is SOOOOOOOO unhelthy i don't eat it thats where i get my sexy look from i also love boys DUH

# 13/10/2008 09:28

MMMEEEEE..! wrote:

i luv SUGAAAA
lol
YAY..!

# 29/10/2008 10:09

mmmmmmmmmmmmee!!!! wrote:

i love sugar so much! but i don't eat it very much cause it makes u fat

# 17/02/2009 09:55

66666666666666666666666666 wrote:

SUGAR IS DA BEST BUT BAD 4 U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# 17/02/2009 10:02

sweet suzii x wrote:

sugarr roccks but wee shood NOTT eeat itt

# 21/02/2009 07:35

...Emz wrote:

it's so nice but so unhealty......y cant they invent healthy sweets

# 26/02/2009 12:05

madie wrote:

hi i love sugar im also fat everyone says tht and also sugar is my thing!!! so i dnt care you cant stop me hahaha I LOVE SUGAR !!

# 01/07/2009 02:46

i love lauren! wrote:

OH EM GEEE I JUST LAV THE SHUGARHH MAAAAN! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
P.S I ALSO LUFF MA LAUREN!

# 23/09/2009 10:18

Emmmmmmmmily!! wrote:

My new years resolution is 2 cut back on SUGAR!! but i keep lookin @ the sweeeets in the shops nd i get very annoyin signals so i told my sis 2 blindfold me every time i went thru a sweeeet shop LOL xxxx

# 01/01/2010 09:44

ASAD wrote:

sugar is so bad 4 u

# 28/01/2010 11:58

edward cullen <3 wrote:

i love sugar..i eat loads but i aint fat at all...every1 says im 2 thin xx lol xx

# 07/03/2010 08:09

OMG XXXX wrote:

omg everyone i love sugar LOL its like the best my hole tutor loves it it LOL i wish it wasnt so bad for us :( and i dont think im fat but i proops am :') btw cant spell :') luv u all <3 xxxxxx

# 28/03/2010 14:07