Sugar in the soft drink
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), added sugar ‘contribute zero nutrients’ and are just empty calories ‘that can lead to extra pounds, or even obesity, thereby reducing heart health.’
As daily consumers of sugar, it is important to be aware of the existing and added sugar contents of the foods and drinks we consume.
The AHA currently recommends that women consume no more than 100 calories from added sugar per day, and men 150 calories.
In 2014, however, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for a reduction of daily sugar intake to 5% of total daily calories in order to tackle public health problems, such as obesity and tooth decay.
Nutritionists discourage consumption of more than 13 teaspoons of sugar a day. One teaspoon of refined sugar provides approx. 4 calories.
A study published in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, identified a link between drinking more than one soft drink a day and increased risk od developing heart disease and diabetes.
