Page 77 - Masala E-magazine Vol 9 Issue 6 Junel - July 2018

Many labels promise “no sugar,” and we, as consumers,
believe just about anything as long as the packaging
looks great. But did you know that so many products
have hidden and added sugars in them which are not
healthy for your body? Added sugars are various types
of sugars and syrups put into the preparation of food
and drinks. These do not include foods, such as
fruits, that already have natural sugars. You will be
surprised to know how many dairy products have
added sugars in them. These include:

• Packaged breads, like whole wheat bread
• Fruit juices, shakes and 70 percent of the drinks
that are found in the supermarket
• Cereals, fl avoured oatmeal and granola bars
• Low-fat drinks including coffee, energy drinks
and tea
• Protein bars
• Sweetened milk and yoghurt
• Tomato ketchup, including other bottled sauces
and dressings
• Dried fruits
• Restaurant foods, as sugar is used in sauces

It is scientifi cally proven that added sugars can negatively
impact every organ in our body, increasing the risk for many
chronic diseases, including stroke, diabetes, and of course
obesity. What is worrying is that added sugars are not easily
recognisable on food labels. They come in many forms including
corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, sucrose, confectioner’s sugar
and many more. If you see any of these names, you should drop
those products and look for healthier options.

Besides the increasing risk of chronic diseases, sugary foods
actually bring about many more side effects. Do you ever feel
tired or sleepy after indulging in a fruit shake or iced tea from a
local vendor? That’s the effect High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
has on your body, and most of the vendors use this ingredient to
sweeten their drinks.

Eating all those foods also leads to additional cravings, because
sugar has a tendency to make you want more after you have
it. Moreover, consuming fl avours with added sugar causes a
spike in blood glucose levels, which then leads to a sharp drop
as well. This defi nitely affects your energy levels, concentration,
digestion and mood.

Another big side effect of consuming added sugars are
the extra calories. White breads and sweetened beverages
particularly have high calories and not much nutritional value,
leading to weight gain, high blood pressure and diabetes.

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