Sugars: Sugars and your health
Learn about sugars and how they affect your health.
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About sugars
Sugars are a type of carbohydrate. They provide the body with energy.
Sugars are naturally found in:
- fruits
- vegetables
- dairy products like unsweetened milk and yogurt, and cheese
These foods also contain other important nutrients such as:
- fibre
- vitamins
- potassium
Sugars are added to many foods during processing or preparation in order to add:
- texture
- taste (sweetness)
- colour (browning)
Sugars can also be used to preserve foods, such as fruit jams and jellies.
Sources of sugars
Sugars are found in high amounts in:
- fruit juice
- sugary drinks
- chocolate and candy
- bakery products such as:
- cakes
- donuts
- cookies
- pastries
- granola bars
- ice cream and frozen desserts
- honey and syrups (like maple syrup)
Limit highly processed foods to reduce the amount of sugars you eat.
How sugars affect health
Consuming too many added sugars has been linked to an increased risk of:
- tooth decay in children
- excess calorie consumption
Excess calories can lead to overweight and obesity.
Obesity is a risk factor for chronic diseases such as:
- type 2 diabetes
- some forms of cancer
- cardiovascular disease
Follow a healthy eating pattern where most sugars come from fruits, vegetables and unsweetened dairy products such as unsweetened milk or yogurt.
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