Most people are aware that consuming large amounts of sugar can damage your teeth and contribute to weight gain, but it’s not always easy to monitor sugar consumption. Seemingly healthy food products, such as breakfast cereals, fruit juices and ready-made sauces, frequently contain high quantities of ‘hidden’ sugar.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently advised people to significantly lower their daily sugar intake. The WHO will keep its recommended daily sugar consumption at under 10 percent of total calorie intake, a figure that was set in 2002, but a new five percent target has also been encouraged. The 10 percent level equates to around 50 grams of sugar a day for the average adult; about 12 teaspoons.
A recent study by researchers at the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found soft drinks were the main source of dietary sugar for Americans. Fruit juice, flavoured milk, coffee and sports drinks frequently contain high levels of sugar, often to the surprise of consumers.
This article reveals the sugar content of some popular soft drinks. The nutritional information is taken from leading brands of each type of drink. When reading, remember the WHO’s recommended daily intake is around 12 teaspoons of sugar a day, but they suggest you aim for just six teaspoons.
1. Cola
10.6 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres
35 grams sugar per 330 millilitre can; approximately 9 teaspoons
2. Chocolate low fat milk
10.1 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres
24 grams of sugar per 236 millilitre bottle; approximately 6 teaspoons
3. Orange Juice
9.1 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres
22 grams of sugar per 240 millilitre bottle; approximately 5 ½ teaspoons
4. Energy drink
11 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres
27.5 grams of sugar per 250 millilitre can; approximately 7 teaspoons
5. Vanilla latte
7.4 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres
35 grams of sugar per medium cup (470 millilitres); approximately 9 teaspoons
Contributed by Hamad Medical Corporation
