The Truth Behind Honey's 'Health Halo' – Plus 6 Other Sugar Myths Busted
Sugar is the devil, we’re told on an almost daily basis. Numerous studies have unearthed alarming findings on the sheer amounts of the stuff lurking in our favourite foods, while excess consumption has been linked to plenty of nasty health issues, too. Everything from dental decay to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
But among all this knowledge and awareness of sugar – obviously a good thing – potentially harmful misconceptions can grow. Here are some myths that well and truly need busting – and what better time to do so than Sugar Awareness Week?
Myth #1. Fruit is bad for you because it contains sugar.
“I try to avoid fruit, because of the sugar” is something US-based registered dietitian Carrie Dennett often hears from clients – an issue, because most people don’t actually eat enough fruit and veg. In the UK, we should be eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day. But most of us are lucky if we get that in a week.
There’s an idea that ‘all sugar is created equal,’ says Dennett, who runs Nutrition By Carrie, “but that’s not exactly true”. Context is key.
“To some extent, sugar is sugar, but when you look at the broader context, there’s a big difference between ‘natural’ sugar that comes in a fibre-rich, nutrient-rich ‘package’, and ‘added sugar’ that comes in a ‘package’ that contains few nutrients, and may also contain excess sodium and low-quality fats, as with many highly-processed snack foods,” she explains.
Dennett explains that when eating a piece of whole fruit, our digestive system has to break down all the fibre surrounding the sugar before we absorb it, “so it’s not going to just spike our blood sugar”.
Eat your fruit with a meal, or with some protein and fat from nuts or cheese as part of a snack, and you’ll digest it even slower, she adds. “Even a small glass of 100% fruit juice, consumed as part of a meal once a day or less, is fine.”
