The Truth About Sugar

Have you ever thought about how much added sugar is in your favourite beverage? Nutrition expert, Amanda Nash from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, answers that question and more.

How much sugar is in a can of soda pop?

The main source of added sugar in the Canadian diet comes from sugar-sweetened beverages. A can of soda has ten teaspoons of sugar.

What are other large sources of sugar?

Your sports drinks, your energy drinks, your fruit beverages and even 100% fruit juice.

What if you are a big coffee or tea drinker?

Those fancy, flavoured coffees and teas, which are so popular right now, are chock full of sugar. Take a chai tea latte for instance, a 12 ounce size from a coffee shop, has eight teaspoons of sugar.

Is all sugar harmful?

Using the example of that chai tea latte, some of that sugar quantity comes from milk, which is a natural sugar. Natural sugars are different than added sugars in that they have nutritional benefits.

So what can you do to control your sugar intake?

One solution: Make your favourite beverages at home. This way you are aware of how much sugar you are putting into your body. Here are some simple instructions from Amanda on how to make a chai tea latte at home.

We make it at home. Because when you make it at home, you control the ingredients. So you’re saving some money, and you’re saving on that sugar.

Put four cups of milk into a saucepan.

Add three tea bags of your choice.

Add cinnamon or cinnamon sticks to add flavour.

Wait ten to 12 minutes, allowing the mixture to come to a steam.

Add vanilla.

Optional: add one tablespoon of sugar or honey.