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What about soft drinks – don't they make you fat?
Does eating too much sugar cause hyperactivity in children?
Doesn't sugar cause diabetes?
Won't eating sugar make me fat?
But doesn't sugar usually come with fat?
Aren't naturally occurring sugars healthier than added sugar?
But isn't sugar just 'empty calories'? If I eat a lot of sugar, how will I get enough vitamins and minerals?
Doesn't eating sugary foods cause a rush in blood sugar, followed by a low?
Doesn't sugar rot your teeth?
Will eating sugar, and other carbohydrates, give me 'Syndrome X' or the Metabolic Syndrome?
Is it possible to be allergic to sugar?
Will eating sugar give me spots?
What about soft drinks – don't they make you fat?
Many people believe that soft drinks are particularly "fattening" but the evidence is not at all clear. Some research suggests that it may be easier to take in a few extra calories in a drink than as solid food but, even if this is correct, there seems to be no difference between soft drinks and other liquids, such as milk or fruit juice.
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Does eating too much sugar cause hyperactivity in children?
In the 1970s it was suggested that hyperactivity in children (also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD) was caused by eating too much sugar. Detailed studies, however, have concluded that there is no link between sugar consumption and hyperactivity or any other type of 'bad behaviour' or learning difficulties. Children may become over-excited on occasions where lots of sugary foods are eaten (e.g. birthday parties) but this is a consequence of the situation, not their sugar intake.
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Doesn't sugar cause diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease caused by inadequate production, or complete lack, of the hormone insulin. Obesity has been highlighted as a major risk factor in diabetes development and over 80% of people with Type 2 diabetes (the most common type) are overweight. It is certainly not caused by eating too much sugar. Eating a healthy, balanced, low-fat, diet and increasing physical activity will help to prevent excessive weight gain.
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Won't eating sugar make me fat?
Many people still mistakenly believe that sugar is fattening. Sugar is a carbohydrate. Eating plenty of carbohydrates and taking part in regular physical activity is the healthiest way to maintain a desirable body weight.
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But doesn't sugar usually come with fat?
The main sources of fat in the British diet are meat products, dairy products and fat spreads (butter and margarine). These foods contain very little sugar.
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Aren't naturally occurring sugars healthier than added sugar?
There are many different types of sugar, including glucose (dextrose), fructose, sucrose (table sugar), lactose (milk sugar) and maltose. All these sugars occur naturally, and all are added to certain foods during manufacture. Most fruit and vegetables contain a mixture of glucose, fructose and sucrose:
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But isn't sugar just 'empty calories'? If I eat a lot of sugar, how will I get enough vitamins and minerals?
People rarely eat sugar on its own. Adding sugar to foods improves their taste and increases the range of foods that people will eat. For example, without sugar many breakfast cereals, which provide important vitamins, minerals and fibre, would be inedible.
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Doesn't eating sugary foods cause a rush in blood sugar, followed by a low?
Many people think that eating sugary foods causes a dramatic rise in blood sugar followed by a crash, which causes tiredness and food cravings.
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Doesn't sugar rot your teeth?
Frequent intakes of foods or drinks containing carbohydrates such as sugars can cause tooth decay, especially in people who do not brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
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Will eating sugar, and other carbohydrates, give me 'Syndrome X' or the Metabolic Syndrome?
Eating sugar or other carbohydrates will not give you 'Syndrome X'. It is caused, in the majority of people, by over-eating and an unbalanced diet, especially too much saturated fat ,and by not getting enough exercise.
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Is it possible to be allergic to sugar?
It is not possible to be allergic to sugar. This is a good thing because if someone were allergic to sugar, they would be unable to eat a huge number of foods, including most fruit and vegetables!
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Will eating sugar give me spots?
Sugar will not give you spots, no matter how much you eat. People get spots, or acne vulgaris, because their skin produces too much natural oil, or sebum. Various foods, including dairy products, sugar and chocolate, have been claimed to cause spots, however, there is no evidence that diet has any effect on sebum production rates.
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