Fresh fruit key to cutting added sugars in diet

sugarSix in 10 Brits (58%) believe eating more fresh fruit is the most effective way at cutting sugars from their diet.

Excessive sugar consumption is one of the major causes of tooth decay in the UK, and the Oral Health Foundation claims these results show there is a better understanding of the differences between refined and natural sugars, leading people to make smarter choices.

‘We have certainly seen a shift in people’s attitudes towards their diet and how it connects with their overall lifestyle,’ Dr Nigel Carter OBE, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, said.

‘As a nation, we are more invested in our health than ever before, which has led to a greater focus on learning more about healthier diets, and better choices when it comes to filtering out “good” and “bad” sugars.

‘Over the last decade we have also seen greater investment in Government campaigns, like NHS Healthy Choices and the traffic light food labelling policy – both of which have been effective in making it easier to understand what goes into our foods.’

Sugar cravings

A quarter of respondents (28%) found that sweeteners can help to curb sugar cravings.

Furthermore, one in five say they would be more motivated to quit added sugar with financial incentives (22%) while others would like more help and advice from health organisations and campaigners (14%).

‘Fresh fruit comes with a stigma of being costly compared with sugary alternatives but for nutritional value it’s one of the best foods we can purchase,’ Dr Carter continued.

‘Over many years we have seen confectionery manufacturers continually decrease the size of their products while increasing their prices, however, fresh fruit often remains the same size throughout the season and costs remain relatively stable.

‘Making you feel fuller for longer, you will also need to buy less of it than foods packed with redundant added sugars.

‘There is a slight cautionary warning that while it’s healthier for our body, replacing confectionary with fresh fruit, still has the potential to damage your teeth.

‘Snacking on fruit throughout the day, particularly between meals, will force our teeth to be under constant attack as the acid in sugar reacts with the bacteria in the enamel that coats our teeth.’

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