Sugar Smart
Too much sugar can lead to the build up of harmful fat on the inside that we can't see. This fat around vital organs can cause weight gain and serious diseases in the future like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Having too much sugar can also cause tooth decay.
How much is too much?
The maximum daily amounts of added sugar are:
Age 4 to 6
Age 7 to 10
Age 11+
Added sugar is that which has been added to food or drink to sweeten it. It could be added by the food manufacturer, by a cook, of by you at home. It doesn't just mean the sugar you add to your tea - it also includes honey, syrups and fruit juice nectars.
You don't need to worry about the sugar in milk and plain yogurts as this isn't added sugar. You also don't need to worry about the sugar in whole fruits and vegetables. But remember to keep dried fruit to mealtimes to protect your teeth.
However fruit juice and smoothies are sugary and can cause tooth decay.
Here some surprising, and not so surprising, examples:
There is a very useful app that you can use to scan the barcodes of most products. It will tell you the sugar, saturated fat and salt content.
Further advice about the contents of food can be found at the change 4 life website.