“Light diet”, “low sugar”, “no added sugars”… On the shelves, it is difficult to navigate between the different “sweet” mentions. To stop making mistakes – and see things more clearly – TipsForWomens will enlighten you.
Sugar is everywhere. In our favorite yogurts, rusks, cans and other prepared meals. However – and despite all the affection we have for it – sugar is not a gift for our health. Brands then compete in ingenuity to attract us towards products that are supposedly less sweet. Like for example, towards food “low in sugar” or “no added sugar“…which do not always represent good alternatives.
“Light” industrial foods… are not necessarily healthy
According to the CLCV – the National Association for the Defense of Consumers and Users – which recently carried out a survey on preconceived ideas in food, the mention “low in sugar” means that the product contains at least 30% less sugar. compared to a similar product.
“For example, a low-sugar soda will contain 30% less sugar than a regular soda.“, indicates the association.
A first step towards a healthier diet, but not enough: the product often remains very sweet.
Worse still, the “low sugar” product often contains a high level of sweeteners – these famous false sugars associated with a “increased risk of cancer“, recalls Inserm, which carried out an investigation on the subject.
The WHO also advises against their long-term use in view of their “potential side effects” such as increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
More fat
Another important detail: manufacturers generally compensate for this reduction in sugar with a greater intake of fat. Which makes the products (“light chocolate, low-fat yogurt”, etc.) more caloric. A major problem, since the mention “low in sugar” can lead consumers to eat more of it.
Finally, low-fat industrial foods may contain other ingredients harmful to health such as additives or even salt.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
What about “no added sugar” products?
Here too, the mention “no added sugar” can be misleading. Certainly, the product does not contain sugars in addition to those which are naturally present in the product. But it still contains sugar! For example, a compote, a fruit, can be very sweet naturally. Be careful not to consume too much: yes to 2/3 fruits per day maximum – and no to the whole dish of melon.
To see things more clearly, the National Association for the Defense of Consumers and Users invites consumers to always check the labels:
“If you are looking for a sugar-free product, you should look for the words “sugar-free” or look at the nutritional value table often located on the back of the packaging. In this case, the label must indicate ‘Contains naturally occurring sugars‘”, recommends the CLCV.
