In the supermarkets and shops, shelves are stocked full of sugary snacks and drinks. Whilst it’s possible to enjoy these from time to time, regular consumption is an easy way to make sure you go over your required calorie intake and excessive sugar can lead to number of health issues. So much so that the UK government is set to introduce the Sugar Tax as a way of reducing the burden on the NHS due to the number of long-term health implications excessive sugar intake can lead to.

Jump to:

What Constitutes a Low Sugar Diet?

According to guidelines it’s recommended your sugar intake should not exceed 5% of your daily calories.1 This means a typical adult should not exceed 30g of sugar in the diet. The type of sugar which is most detrimental are free sugars, which include those added to fizzy drinks, fruit juices, biscuits, cakes and chocolate. 

There is also a specific ‘no sugar diet’ which includes the removal of all sugar including those in otherwise healthy food sources such as fruit and dairy. This is not advised as fruits are a good source of fibre and micronutrients. 

What are the Benefits of Reducing your Sugar Intake?

Weight loss

Eating a large number of sugary foods may mean you gain weight.2 Sugar has a low effect on satiety meaning you will not feel full after eating sugary snacks. This means it’s much more likely you will exceed your required daily calorie amount which may lead to weight gain in the long run. 

Switching your food choices for those with a higher protein and fibre content may result in weight loss. 

Tooth Care

Large amounts of sugar can wreak havoc on your teeth. If you want to stay fit and healthy and avoid a toothless smile, its best to make sure you are not going overboard with your sugar intake. Specifically, free sugars are the ones that do the most damage and put your dentist in a bad mood.4