Sugar in moderationĪ ‘moderate’ intake of refined sugar can be an acceptable part of a healthy diet. They also prevent mould forming and act as a preservative.
Sugars are popular in the processed food industry because they add taste, colour, bulk and thickness to food products. Refined (or processed) sugar provides a quick, simple source of energy, but it doesn’t contain other nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Too much sugar in your diet can make your diet high in kilojoules or 'energy dense' and can contribute to health problems like obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. Sugar can take many different forms, including white, raw or brown sugar, honey or corn syrup. Sugars occur naturally in some foods, such as fruit and dairy products, and are also added to a wide variety of foods. The body breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars such as glucose, that can be readily used in the body. Sugar is a term that includes all sweet carbohydrates, although the term is most often used to describe sucrose or table sugar, a ‘double sugar’. Like all carbohydrates, they provide a source of energy in our diet.
