Everyday foods and drinks that are loading us up with sugar

SWEET DECEPTION

- LUTHO PASIYA

SOUTH Africans are consuming dangerously high amounts of sugar every day - far more than what health experts recommend.

A recent study by Wits University revealed that the average person could be taking in between 12 and 24 teaspoons of sugar daily, a staggering figure compared to the World Health Organization's (WHO) guideline of just six teaspoons.

Dietitian Mbali Mapholi has also cautioned: “Hidden sugars are often sneaky and can add up quickly throughout the day without us even realising it.”

“Many snacks and drinks that aren't noticeably sweet still contain sugar, meaning that many of us may be consuming a lot more sugar than we realise, which can significantly impact our health over time.”

This growing concern has prompted health organisations and experts to call for greater awareness about the dangers of added sugars, especially those hidden in processed foods and sugary beverages.

Both Nicole Jennings, a spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics, and Professor Pamela Naidoo, the CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA), have expressed concerns regarding sugar's role in exacerbating the nation’s health crisis.