& LIFESTYLE

THE easiest way to kick those perky midday chocolate cravings at work? Put a block on your sweet tooth outside of the office.

“Try to reduce the amount of sweeteners you consume,” says Dr Knight. “This can help you get used to less sweet tastes which, in turn, should reduce your sugar consumption.” “SUGARS can be labelled in more than one way,” says Rhiannon, “and if you’re not familiar with them, you may not realise you’re eating them.”

Nectar, dextrose, fructose and molasses are all examples of sugars under different guises – so keep an eye on the ingredients list and, if in doubt, a quick online check should clarify. THERE’S nothing better than a cold glass of OJ in the morning, but overindulging on breakfast juices is an easy way to go well over the recommended sugar intake before you’ve even left the house.

“While they do contain vitamins and minerals, it’s easy to over consume juices, and they’re terrible for your teeth due to the combination of high acid and sugar levels,” says Dr Knight. She recommends drinking no more than a 150ml serving per day. OPTING for a low-sugar alternative is the simplest way of cutting down your daily intake.

“If you switch an 85g pot of fruit fromage frais for plain Greek yoghurt sweetened with chopped fruit, you’ll save 10g of sugar, which is half the daily recommended amount for a six-year-old,” says Dr Knight.

“Meanwhile, standard tomato ketchup has around 23% sugar, but you could easily switch this for a reduced or sugar-free version instead.” EVERYONE needs a snack between meals occasionally – but too many sugary treats can easily start to add up.

“Snack foods such as protein bars often contain added sugars and artificial sweeteners,” warns Rhiannon. For a nutritious and cheap pick-me-up, she suggests grabbing a handful of nuts and a banana instead. “MANY fizzy drinks have a lot of added sugar,” says Knight. “In fact, a can of Coca Cola has 35g of added sugar, which is more than the recommended limit for an adult.” She recommends switching your high-calorie fizzy drinks