The truth about sugar – is it all bad?

By Kamyra La Fauci, Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)

“Should I remove all sugar from my diet when trying to lose weight?” is one of the most common questions we get asked. Read on for our answer…

Definitely not! In recent years, sugar has been the next big thing to blame for the rising obesity levels worldwide and unfortunately all sugars (carbs), good AND bad have been placed on the naughty list.  It is important to remember that not all sugars are created equal.

Naturally occurring sugars such as fructose found in fruit and lactose found in cow’s milk provide us with many health benefits when consumed as part of a healthy balanced diet. They are low GI sugars, meaning they are released into our bloodstream more slowly, and the fruit and dairy they are found in also provide us with key nutrients such as protein, fibre and micronutrients like vitamin D, calcium and Vitamin C… just to name a few. The same goes with “smart carbohydrates” like multigrain bread, brown rice, rolled oats and sweet potato.

Bottom line: Opt for low GI sugars and smart carbohydrates and reduce the amount of refined, processed sugars for optimal health and weight loss.