Drinks sneak sugar through

Karen Collier
April 27, 2012
Herald Sun

UNSUSPECTING consumers are swigging 3000 teaspoons of sugar a year hidden in popular drinks, a study has calculated.

The shopper survey found many Australians seriously misjudge the amount of the sweet stuff in non-alcoholic beverages.

Even supposedly healthy options such as some fruit juices and iced teas are crammed with far more sugar than we realise.

Packaged juice had an average 8 1/2 teaspoons in a standard bottle – yet most people guessed three to six teaspoons.

Few knew iced teas contained seven or eight teaspoons on average.

Half thought vitamin water had less than two teaspoons, when it was actually six.

Soft drinks were highest, at up to 10 teaspoons in a single can.

New draft dietary guidelines released by the National Health and Medical Research Council recommend Australians limit intake of foods and drinks with added sugars, and in particular, restricting sweet drinks.

The World Health Organisation says added sugars should not make up more than 10 per cent of our total energy intake.

One teaspoon equates to 4.2g of sugar. Serving sizes for the surveyed drinks were 375ml-600ml.

The Pure Profile research, commissioned by the makers of new product Flave Water, asked 1000 adults about consumption and estimated sugar content for soft drinks, iced tea, vitamin water, reconstituted juice and sport drinks.

Dietitian Jemma O’Hanlon said as well as tooth decay, sweetened drinks could contribute to weight gain and obesity.

“If people are consuming more of highly processed, sugary foods and drinks, this means they’re having less of the healthy foods like fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and dairy foods,” Ms O’Hanlon said.

“You don’t receive that feeling of fullness from a sugary drink, so people tend to forget that these still contribute to their daily kilojoule intake.”

GET IT RIGHT

FOCUS on eating a variety of foods from the five food groups – fruit, vegetable, breads and cereal, meat and alternatives, and dairy and alternatives.

DON’T worry about the natural sugars in fresh fruit and milk, nor the small amount of added sugar in yoghurt. These foods are packed full of nutrients which makes them a good choice.

HIGHLY processed foods and fluids such as confectionery, soft drinks, cakes and biscuits are nutrient-poor yet high in kilojoules, and these should be limited.

DRINK more water as opposed to any other fluids. Water is sugar and kilojoule-free.