SUGAR

There has been a lot of talk about sugar recently. But too much of anything in the diet is not a good idea. 

The eatwell plate includes sugar and foods and drinks containing sugar-- but not in large amounts. Really the whole of the diet is about balance.

It should be remembered that it is the added sugars that are the ones best avoided in excess. While the sugar that is locked into the inside of fruit is not so much a problem.

The maximum recommended for most is 90 g per day. for women and 120 g for men.  As a teaspoon holds about 5 g of sugar that means a maximum of 18-24 teaspoons full per day. 

For someone who takes 3 sugars in teas and has about 7 cups a day then it does not leave much for the jam, sweet biscuit, pudding, ice cream or other food which contains sugar. 

 

So the message really is to be careful and to balance the diet with not too much, fat, salt, alcoh;l or sugar.

Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean Diet was the topic of a confrence I went to this week near Towcester.

The word diet is derived from the Greek for way of living--so not just about food.

Much of it links with what I said previously on diet and happiness. The Mediterranean Diet in the traditional form is associated with longevity.

It ties in with many of the other ideas on healthy eating --which means lots of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, pulses and some olive oil.

Lots of information on www.oldwayspt.org