Tutorial 5: Understanding Sugars in our Diet

Excessive sugar intake can have several negative impacts on our health:

1. Weight Gain: Consuming too much sugar can contribute to weight gain.
2. Risk of Chronic Diseases: High sugar intake increases the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
3. Dental Health: Excess sugar can damage teeth, causing dental caries.
   
4. Energy Drain: Too much sugar can lead to tiredness.
5. Nutrient Quality: Consuming excess sugar compromises the nutrient quality of diets by providing significant energy without essential nutrients.

To reduce sugar intake, the following dietary adjustments are recommended:

1. Limit Intake of Added Sugars: Limit intake of foods and drinks containing added sugars such as confectionery, sugar-sweetened soft drinks and cordials, fruit drinks, vitamin waters, energy and sports drinks.
2. Check Food Labels: Choose products with the lowest amounts of added sugars.
3. Reduce Sugar in Diet: Cut back on the amount of sugar added to things you eat or drink regularly like cereal, pancakes, coffee or tea.
4. Swap Out the Soda: Replace soda with healthier alternatives.
5. Eat Fresh, Frozen, Dried or Canned Fruits: These can be healthier alternatives to sugary snacks.
6. Limit Portions: Try to limit the portion size of sugary foods.

Remember, a balanced diet is key to maintaining good health. It's important to remember that eating too much of any food can contribute to weight gain.

Quiz

5.1 Connect the words on the left to the correct words on the right to explain the negative impacts of sugar on health and nutrition.

        Weight                        Caries

        Chronic                       Loss

        Dental                         Drain

        Energy                        Disease

        Nutrient                      Gain

5.2 Solve this puzzle to name a snack food alternative to sugary foods: [ _ _ u i _ ]

5.3 Reverse these words to identify a useful way to reduce total sugar intake.
    [noitrop stimil]

Chapter Modules

5.1 Reducing Sugar Intake

5.2 Sugar Substitutes

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