What about fructose?

“Fructose does not stimulate the release of insulin and we used to think of it as the answer to diabetes,” says Dr Popovic. “But what we didn’t know then is when you eat too much fructose – and it’s in just about all processed foods – your body produces visceral fat around your organs.”

Not only does this cause abdominal weight gain, it can affect hormone production. “Fat in and around your organs acts like another organ as it produces hormones and chemicals that increase the risk of cancer and inflammatory disease,” she explains.

Too much fructose can also be dangerous for your heart. “It raises uric acid levels in your blood, which causes gout and high blood pressure,” says Dr Popovic. “Excess fructose is also converted into the triglycerides that are the main culprit in stroke and cardiovascular disease.”