Does sugar have an impact on your energy levels?

You've read it everywhere: sugar is the new fat! With the good fats now rehabilitated, sugar has become the official new health killer - responsible for low inflammation and a plethora of diseases and conditions. 

Did you know, there are 61 different names for sugar?

You read that right, there are at least 61 different ways to sweeten your foods. Manufacturers have done a great job researching sweet substances and naming them.

Here are the names you can find on labels. Some are natural sweeteners, while others are artificial products.

1. Agave nectar
2. Barbados sugar
3. Barley malt
4. Barley malt syrup
5. Beet sugar
6. Brown sugar
7. Buttered syrup
8. Cane juice
9. Cane juice crystals
10. Cane sugar
11. Caramel
12. Carob syrup
13. Castor sugar
14. Coconut palm sugar
15. Coconut sugar
16. Confectioner's sugar
17. Corn sweetener
18. Corn syrup
19. Corn syrup solids
20. Date sugar
21. Dehydrated cane juice
22. Demerara sugar
23. Dextrin
24. Dextrose
25. Evaporated cane juice
26. Free-flowing brown sugars
27. Fructose
28. Fruit juice
29. Fruit juice concentrate
30. Glucose
31. Glucose solids
32. Golden sugar
33. Golden syrup
34. Grape sugar
35. HFCS (High-Fructose Corn Syrup)
36. Honey
37. Icing sugar
38. Invert sugar
39. Malt syrup
40. Maltodextrin
41. Maltol
42. Maltose
43. Mannose
44. Maple syrup
45. Molasses
46. Muscovado
47. Palm sugar
48. Panocha
49. Powdered sugar
50. Raw sugar
51. Refiner's syrup
52. Rice syrup
53. Saccharose
54. Sorghum Syrup
55. Sucrose
56. Sugar (granulated)
57. Sweet Sorghum
58. Syrup
59. Treacle
60. Turbinado sugar
61. Yellow sugar

This inflation of names has become necessary to keep consumers addicted to the sweet taste. Added ‘sugar’ is no longer restricted to sweet products, it is also added to a number of savoury products. It is even estimated that 75% of packaged foods in the US contains caloric or non-caloric sweeteners. How far behind are we in the UK?

How much sugar is OK?

This is the question that nobody can answer because nobody knows. Official organisations disagree on the upper limit. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a maximum daily consumption of 25g of sugar or 10% of an adult's daily calories. But who has time to count calories nowadays?

It is very easy to reach 25g of sugar with one item only. Here are a few examples: 

• 1 large banana (200g): 25g of sugar
• 1 Magnum (white, regular): 24g
• 1 Coca-Cola (330ml): 35g
• 200g Yeo Valley natural yogurt: 10g

What is best keep your energy levels steady?

The best way to keep your energy levels steady is to eat low (or medium) GL foods. These foods are mostly fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, pulses, lentils, meat and fish, dairy products. As rule, the more processed a product, the more likely it is to contain a form of sugar. 

Another incentive to check every single of item of food you eat is that you are more likely to lose weight (and keep it off) if you eat less sugar. Worth giving it a try, isn't it?

Looking to reduce your sugar intake? Get in touch to find out how I can support you.