SLIMMING for summer is never easy, but cutting down on sugar is a great place to start. Banish the breakfast bites you may not have realised were your worst enemy, and you'll be shaping up before you know it.
Does anybody still use sugar cubes? They might be somewhat out of fashion, but it's still worth keeping those square portions on your radar, as they could be a useful indicator for just how much of the white stuff you're consuming.
Six tiny teaspoons, is the amount of sugar the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends an adult eats in one day to stay healthy. But new research suggests we might be consuming as much as 14 sugar cubes in just one hot drink.
Since the tax on sugary drinks was announced in the Budget, the sweet stuff has become big news, but while we all know cans of fizzy cola are full of it, how many of us really know what's in our average breakfast?
Healthcare provider AXA has done the maths, and found some surprising villains in the sugar stakes, including my favourite natural yoghurt, honey and granola combo, which comes in at an alarming 8.6 sugar cubes - almost three more than my daily WHO allowance.
It's worth remembering: there are sugars, and then there are 'bad' sugars. Fructose, the natural sugar in fruit, is not considered to be as bad as refined white cane sugar. But it is still sugar - and can impact your teeth, as much as your figure.
Dr Sameer Patel, clinical director at dental practice Elleven, says: "Fructose is a common cause of cavities as the bacteria in the mouth feed on it, so be careful when you consume juice as part of a balanced diet." If you are partial to fruit juice, he advises drinking it through a straw, and waiting at least 30 minutes afterwards before brushing your teeth.
Dr Sally Norton, an NHS weight loss surgeon and founder of www.vavistalife.com, adds: "The sugar from fruit is 'natural', for sure, but that doesn't mean it is good for you - deadly nightshade is natural too! We need to keep on top of our consumption.
"When you want a vitamin hit, try blitzing vegetables with a hint of fruit - that way you know it's as fresh as can be, will preserve all the nutrients and you'll know how much sugar you're drinking."
Want to know how many sugar cubes are in other foods and treats? Check out this list for starters...
THE GOOD
2 boiled eggs - 1/3 of a cube
Bowl of plain porridge with water - 1/4 of a cube
Slice of wholemeal toast with butter - 1/4 of a cube
Plain butter croissant - 1/6 of a cube
THE BAD
Bowl of frosted flakes with skimmed milk - 5.6 cubes
Golden syrup porridge pot - 5.6 cubes
Almond croissant - 5.2 cubes
Medium cappuccino with semi-skimmed milk - 4.5 cubes
Pain au chocolat - 4 cubes
Bowl of no added sugar muesli with skimmed milk - 3.3 cubes
Bacon roll with tomato ketchup - 2.3 cubes
Tea with one sugar with semi-skimmed milk - 2 cubes
Sausage and egg breakfast muffin - 1 cube
Slice of white toast with butter and Marmite - 1 cube
THE UGLY
Caramel macchiato with vanilla flavoured syrup - 14.2 cubes
Blueberry and blackcurrant smoothie - 9.7 cubes
Strawberry and banana smoothie - 8.75 cubes
Blueberry muffin - 8.7 cubes
Bowl of plain yogurt with honey and granola - 8.6 cubes
Granola bar - 8.5 cubes
Full English breakfast - 6.7 cubes
Glass of orange juice - 6.6 cubes
For tips on how to curb your sugar cravings, visit axappphealthcare.co.uk
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