REGINA – If you have a sweet tooth the latest report from the World Health Organization may be a bit bitter.
The WHO said people across the globe are eating too much sugar and that residents in Western countries need to reduce their intake of added sugars to less than 10 per cent of their daily calories.
Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region nutritionist Chelsea Brown, said the recommendation is about bringing your diet back to the basics.
“The extra sugar takes place of healthy nutrients and foods, and adds extra calories to our foods,” she explained. “It just decreases the quality of our foods.”
The new guidelines recommend a 25 gram daily limit, which works out to around six teaspoons.
By comparison, a can of soda alone has 41 grams of sugar and even something like a packet of ketchup has about four grams.
The easiest solution may be to shy away from sweet treats, but Ashlee Mitchell with Sweet Ambrosia Bakeshoppe said there is a way to have your cake and eat it too.
“We have a sugar-free carrot cake that we make,” she said. “The icing and the cake itself are completely sugar free.”
Mitchell said the store originally put the cake on their menu for diabetics, but have seen a growing appétit for sugar-free options.
“Baking doesn’t have to be over the top and indulgent. You can have really good healthy options that go with sugar free.”
Brown partners with Regina Public Schools to help make the environment a healthier place that is focused on health options.
“It is all about balance and moderation but the tricky part is it’s difficult in the society we live in.”
You view the WHO report here.
Comments