Knowledgeable shares the ‘surprising’ sources of sugars in Western food regimen
Whether you tuck right into a chocolate bar or deal with your self to a slice of cake, it’s no shock that candy treats are wealthy in sugar. While it’s tremendous to have the candy ingredient in small quantities, extreme sugar consumption can hike your danger of health issues, resembling sort 2 diabetes and heart disease. Worryingly, an knowledgeable has shared that the Western diet comprises some “unexpected” meals packed in sugars which may appear inconspicuous.
Breakfast cereals
If you’re a fan of getting a fast granola breakfast earlier than you rush out of the door, Mark Gilbert, Commercial Nutritionist at The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan, has unhealthy news for you.
This seemingly wholesome breakfast staple, alongside 4 different standard meals, comprises giant quantities of sugar.
Gilbert stated: “The most common sources of unexpected sugar in the Western diet are cereals, including granola and muesli.”
The nutritionist defined that the contents of those crunchy meals are sometimes as much as 30 % sugar.
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He stated: “Some have zero and are made of pure wheat or oats and some get over a third of their calories from sugar.
“Another thing to be aware of is that just about everyone overestimates the serving size of cereal.
“Manufacturers may claim these foods to be low in calories, sugar and other unwanted nutrients but if you have the typical serving size, it will contain far more than intended.”
Unfortunately, the identical applies to cereal bars, which are sometimes one third or extra sugar, Gilbert added.
Low-fat yoghurt
These breakfast choices are adopted by low-fat yoghurt, which has “half of calories” coming from the candy ingredient, the nutritionist defined.
He stated: “Low-fat yoghurt can have half or more of its calories from sugar. Some of that sugar will be naturally occurring from the milk the yoghurt is made from.
“So, check the ingredients list to see if sugar has been added as an ingredient.”
Fruit juice
The nutritionist added that one other seemingly wholesome staple – fruit juice – shouldn’t be higher with “almost all calories” coming from sugar.
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Baked beans
Last however not least, humble baked beans may pack “over two teaspoons” of sugars per serving.
While all of those meals would possibly come as a shock, Gilbert added that the “most hidden” sources of sugar within the Western food regimen aren’t technically sugars in any respect.
He stated: “They are highly-processed carbohydrates – rice and flour.
“These carbohydrates are composed of long chains of sugar called starch and some of them are broken down and absorbed so quickly that they have very similar effects on the body to eating actual sugar.
“In reasonable amounts, these starches may be fine for people who are healthy, exercise regularly and are not overweight.
“But for those who don’t follow a healthy lifestyle, sugar and rapidly-absorbed starches cause large blood sugar fluctuations that increase the risk of ill health and obesity.
“So, these foods are very likely a big contributor to the obesity and diabetes epidemics we find ourselves in today.”
To take management of your sugar consumption again, the nutritionist really helpful preserving an eye fixed out for the meals above and checking their label.
“You can often find exceptions, which are low in sugar,” he added.