How much sugar are you drinking?

Image of a bottle of water on a bench, with high contrasted shadows

You’re thirsty – what’s the best drink to reach for? A fizzy drink? A sports drink? Fruit juice? Some flavoured milk?

Answer – none of the above. The best drink to reach for is always 100% water. Water is cool, fresh and always on hand. It’s also free (out of the tap). And it’s calorie/kilojoule free - unlike the drinks above, which contain sugar (excluding calorie-free versions, which are still acidic and can harm our dental health).

Even if we pay attention to how much sugar is in our food, we may not think about how much sugar is in our drink. And – even if the drink is perceived as good for us, such as fruit juice – you may be surprised to know the answer is often “quite a lot”.

  • Fizzy/soft drinks 600ml (16 teaspoons)

  • Sports drinks 750ml (15 teaspoons)

  • Fruit juice 350ml (10 teaspoons)

  • Energy drinks 350ml (9 teaspoons)

  • Flavoured waters 700ml (5 teaspoons)

Not only do these drinks contain unnecessary calories, they are generally not very good for our teeth. Sugar is a known cause of tooth decay and the acids in these drinks also contribute to tooth erosion (including the zero-calorie versions).

With National Oral Health Day coming up on November 5th, now’s a great time to think about how much sugar we drink. If you have children, it’s a great time to think about what they drink, too.

So, be kind to your bodies and your teeth and remind yourself that water, low or reduced fat unflavoured milk are the best drinks to reach for when we want to hydrate.

(Article Courtesy of Wellplace.nz)

Katie L.